Shocking Sapphires - Ann Omasta Page 0,23

in L.A. right away. You weren’t planning to come home with him, were you?”

I ignored the mocking tone of her voice as I struggled to breathe. The thought of losing Grant was bad enough, but I couldn’t handle losing Scout. He was a son to me. I stared down at the little boy as his eyes grew heavy in his stroller.

Not seeming to sense that she had just set my entire world off-kilter, Eva leaned around me to look outside. “Oh good, they’re starting to arrive.”

My gaze followed hers to the news vans pulling in and setting up camp outside. When I turned back to Eva, she was reapplying her lipstick that Grant had smudged with his kisses, using her cell phone as a mirror.

“Grant doesn’t want anyone to know about his condition yet.” My voice was barely more than a whisper, but she evidently heard me.

“He has hidden out in this little hole long enough. It’s time for him to re-emerge into society, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.” Eva’s voice was overflowing with confidence that this was the right decision for him, but I knew it wasn’t.

Grant was gaining strength every day, but his ego was still fragile. Having the paparazzi hounding him day and night would no doubt send him spiraling backward with his progress.

“He’s not ready for this!” I half-shouted at the oblivious woman as she smacked her freshly glossed lips.

“He’d better be because it’s happening,” she answered as she headed toward the sliding glass doors. As an afterthought, she turned back and said, “You can keep watching the child until I get other arrangements made. I’ll send someone to fetch him soon.”

With that, she sauntered outside to schmooze with the news crews as my entire world imploded around me.

18

Molly

Somehow, I managed to drive my Jeep to my apartment, despite my shaking hands. Once inside, I called Avery. I hadn’t been a very good bestie to her lately, since I’d been so preoccupied with Grant and Scout, but she was the kind of lifelong friend who would understand.

“Molly!” she sounded chipper as she answered the line.

“I need you.” Those three simple, desperate words were all I could manage.

Avery proved herself to be exactly the kind of friend I thought she was by immediately responding, “I’ll be right there.”

In record time, she rapped on my apartment’s front door. As soon as I opened the door, she pulled me into a warm embrace. Once we broke apart, she walked into my apartment, closing the door behind her. After stooping to give Scout a warm greeting as he rocked back and forth in his automatic swing, she stood, turned to me, and asked “What is it?”

It was a wonder the woman could understand any of my words as I sobbed and unloaded on her the stress of losing Grant and Scout.

She must have gotten the gist of it because when I paused to swipe the tissue she handed me across my face, she said, “Eva Wingate is a total bitch. Someone needs to put her in her place. You’re practically Scout’s mother, and Grant should get to choose who he wants to be with, not have it dictated for him.”

It was wonderful to have someone unequivocally take my side, but deep down I had known all along that Grant would eventually resume his big-time life in Hollywood. How could he not?

My days with him had always been numbered. What I hadn’t allowed myself to consider, though, was the reality that he would be taking Scout with him when he left. I honestly didn’t know how I would be able to live through that. I had bonded so much with the little guy that I didn’t want to even think about going back to a life without him being a major part of it.

Avery set about brewing a pot of hot tea, making herself at home in my kitchen. After she delivered a steaming mug to me, I blew on it then said, “I appreciate your loyalty and friendship, but even you must see that Eva is better for Grant than I am.”

“I see no such thing,” Avery said vehemently, but I knew she was just being stubborn. Evidently unable to think of a reason why I would be a better choice for Grant, she went the other direction by saying, “And a person would have to be blind and dumb not to see that you and that sweet baby boy are meant to be together. Do you think