Elizabeth jerked her head around. “Brady, what did you say?”
“A boy in Sunday school class said my grandpa would bring me a present from Paris…whatever that is.”
“You do not ask for presents, Brady.”
Tom tried to answer, determined to rescue Brady. But Elizabeth would have none of it. “It’s time for you to go to bed, Brady,” she said sternly.
“Yes, ma’am, Mommy. I’m sorry I got in trouble.”
“I know, sweetie. I’ll be up in a minute to see you.”
“I’ll come help you get ready, Brady,” Jack said.
The little boy extended his hand to the big man and they went up the stairs together.
“He’s a good man, Elizabeth.”
“Yes, he is, and he’ll make some woman a great husband.”
“But not you?”
“No, Tom, not me.”
“Why? Did you love Reggie that much?”
Elizabeth bowed her head. After a moment she said, “No, Tom, unfortunately, I didn’t, but by the time I realized it, it was too late. I already had Brady. I decided to make the best of it, but then Reggie came back and—and we created Jenny.”
“Surely you don’t regret Jenny?” Carol asked.
“No! Never! But I don’t want to risk marriage again, when my judgment is so awful.”
Tom laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Honey, you can blame Reggie for that. He learned to play the role that people wanted to see. You’re not the first one he misled.”
“But I don’t want to run that risk.”
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