still have an extremely close relationship with their father and would go on to be very happy children, once they saw that their father was better off with their auntie.
Paige went into the living room and turned on Kem’s CD and then walked back into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, pulled out a head of lettuce, an onion, a tomato, mayo, ketchup, and a package of Jennie-O ground turkey patties. She loved almost anything made of turkey, but this particular ninety-three percent fat-free version with natural seasonings was her favorite.
She turned on one of the burners, pulled a nonstick saucepan from the cabinet, sprayed it with butter-flavored Pam, and opened a package of whole wheat buns. She pulled one of them out, placed both halves in the skillet, and let them brown for a few minutes. Then she removed the buns, set them on a plate, and sprayed them with fat-free butter spray. This product really did taste like real butter, and she was so glad Karla had suggested she switch from one of the other brands to this one. Finally, she placed her turkey burger in the skillet and cut up her veggies. It wouldn’t take more than ten minutes or so for it to cook all the way through, so Paige leaned against the counter, thinking. She thought about how neat it was going to be once she was finally able to fix meals for Pierce. It would be such a joy, having a reason to prepare all the complicated recipes she’d been wanting to try. Of course, Camille was a pretty good cook, too, and Paige quickly gave credit when it was due, but she wasn’t better than Paige. Camille even admitted it herself, so this was yet another way Paige would be able to satisfy Pierce more favorably.
When her burger was ready, Paige melted a slice of lowfat cheese on it, removed it with a spatula, and placed it on the bun. As soon as she did, her doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone but grinned when she realized it might be Pierce and rushed to the door.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t him.
“What do you want?” she said and Owen brushed past her without being invited in.
“Is that any way to talk to the man who loves you? The man who was interrogated by the police and willingly gave them a DNA sample? The man who still wants to marry you?”
“I can’t believe you came by here without calling,” she said, closing the door.
“Oh, so now I need to ask permission?”
Paige sighed and went back into the kitchen.
“You’re too much,” he said, following her. “So, I guess I don’t even exist now.”
“I was just about to have dinner, Owen, so what is it you want?”
“The same thing I’ve always wanted. For you to be my wife.”
Paige took a bite of her sandwich and wished he’d leave her alone.
“So, you’re not going to say anything?” he asked.
“What is there to say?”
“A lot.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Okay, look, baby. I’m sorry I came over here unannounced, but I can’t help how I feel. I’m in love with you, Paige.”
As hungry as Paige had been, her appetite suddenly vanished. “Owen, we’ve already been through all of this. The night you proposed and then again a few days later.”
“I know,” he said, moving in front of her. “But I really wish you’d reconsider.”
Paige sniffed her nose a couple of times and frowned. “Have you been drinking?”
“Well, if I have, it’s because of you.”
“Owen, I’d really like you to leave.”
“No. I’m not leaving until I get what I came for. I won’t go until you agree to marry me.”
His words were a bit slurred, and Paige didn’t like where this impromptu visit was going.
“Owen, I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you and me, but you and I are over.”
“You lowdown trick.”
Paige raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You lowdown, connivin’, schemin’ trick. You used me and played me like some childish knucklehead, and I want back every dime I spent on you.”
“You must be out of your
Paige went into the living room and turned on Kem’s CD and then walked back into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, pulled out a head of lettuce, an onion, a tomato, mayo, ketchup, and a package of Jennie-O ground turkey patties. She loved almost anything made of turkey, but this particular ninety-three percent fat-free version with natural seasonings was her favorite.
She turned on one of the burners, pulled a nonstick saucepan from the cabinet, sprayed it with butter-flavored Pam, and opened a package of whole wheat buns. She pulled one of them out, placed both halves in the skillet, and let them brown for a few minutes. Then she removed the buns, set them on a plate, and sprayed them with fat-free butter spray. This product really did taste like real butter, and she was so glad Karla had suggested she switch from one of the other brands to this one. Finally, she placed her turkey burger in the skillet and cut up her veggies. It wouldn’t take more than ten minutes or so for it to cook all the way through, so Paige leaned against the counter, thinking. She thought about how neat it was going to be once she was finally able to fix meals for Pierce. It would be such a joy, having a reason to prepare all the complicated recipes she’d been wanting to try. Of course, Camille was a pretty good cook, too, and Paige quickly gave credit when it was due, but she wasn’t better than Paige. Camille even admitted it herself, so this was yet another way Paige would be able to satisfy Pierce more favorably.
When her burger was ready, Paige melted a slice of lowfat cheese on it, removed it with a spatula, and placed it on the bun. As soon as she did, her doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone but grinned when she realized it might be Pierce and rushed to the door.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t him.
“What do you want?” she said and Owen brushed past her without being invited in.
“Is that any way to talk to the man who loves you? The man who was interrogated by the police and willingly gave them a DNA sample? The man who still wants to marry you?”
“I can’t believe you came by here without calling,” she said, closing the door.
“Oh, so now I need to ask permission?”
Paige sighed and went back into the kitchen.
“You’re too much,” he said, following her. “So, I guess I don’t even exist now.”
“I was just about to have dinner, Owen, so what is it you want?”
“The same thing I’ve always wanted. For you to be my wife.”
Paige took a bite of her sandwich and wished he’d leave her alone.
“So, you’re not going to say anything?” he asked.
“What is there to say?”
“A lot.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Okay, look, baby. I’m sorry I came over here unannounced, but I can’t help how I feel. I’m in love with you, Paige.”
As hungry as Paige had been, her appetite suddenly vanished. “Owen, we’ve already been through all of this. The night you proposed and then again a few days later.”
“I know,” he said, moving in front of her. “But I really wish you’d reconsider.”
Paige sniffed her nose a couple of times and frowned. “Have you been drinking?”
“Well, if I have, it’s because of you.”
“Owen, I’d really like you to leave.”
“No. I’m not leaving until I get what I came for. I won’t go until you agree to marry me.”
His words were a bit slurred, and Paige didn’t like where this impromptu visit was going.
“Owen, I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you and me, but you and I are over.”
“You lowdown trick.”
Paige raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You lowdown, connivin’, schemin’ trick. You used me and played me like some childish knucklehead, and I want back every dime I spent on you.”
“You must be out of your
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