Family Matters (DiCarlo Brides book 4) (The DiCarlo Brides) by Heather Tullis Read Free Book Online

until Rosemary could take over.
    The two uncles stalked out before Cleo had done more than put her hand in Rosemary’s.
    Mike stopped on his way out to glared at Rosemary. “You aren’t a fit mother. If you were, you wouldn’t have given her up in the first place.”
    Rosemary felt Cleo’s hand tighten in hers and she froze as the men disappeared.
    “What did he mean?” Cleo asked.
    Rosemary closed her eyes for a couple of seconds. Cleo knew she had been adopted, just not who her birth mom was, until now. “How about if we talk about that when we get back to your home?”
    “You promise?”
    “Cross my heart.” Rosemary did the actions as she spoke.
    Cleo studied her for a moment, then nodded. They went in and sat again, though this time Rosemary pulled Cleo onto her lap so she could wrap her up tight in a hug.
    “Are things okay?” the attorney asked.
    “Yeah. We’re fine. Or we will be fine,” Rosemary amended. Maybe not anytime soon, but eventually. “Is there anything else you need to tell us?”
    “I’ve been in contact with your attorney.” His brow lifted. “Family law isn’t exactly his specialty.”
    She chuckled. “No, but I want him involved even if he passes the bulk of it off to someone in his office. He understands the unusual dynamics of my situation better than anyone.”
    “That’s understandable. It looks like the house still has a balance owing, and there are a few bills that will need to be discharged out of the insurance.”
    “No problem. Tell me where to send a check and how much and I’ll make sure the bills get paid until things are settled.”
    He nodded. “I’ll send that all along in an email.”
    “Thanks.” Rosemary accepted the rest of the papers and stood. They put on their coats, then Rosemary took Cleo’s hand again and led her out to the front where they caught a cab. She just had to remember to take one step at a time and she’d be okay. And if that didn’t work, there was always the elliptical.
     

 
    They had been back at her home for only a few minutes when Cleo looked up at her. “What did Uncle Mike mean, you gave me up already?”
    Rosemary had hoped to have more time to consider this. She wanted to strangle Mike. She sat on the sofa and patted the spot beside her. “You know I met your parents when I was about your age.”
    Cleo squinted at Rosemary. “You’re not really going to tell me, are you? Are you my birth mother?”
    She felt her chin muscle twitch. “Yes. I am.”
    “Why did you give me to my parents?” Cleo’s forehead wrinkled.
    “I thought that was what I was explaining when you interrupted me.” Rosemary forced a little smile to show she wasn’t mad.
    “But, you weren’t talking about that. You were trying to distract me with stuff that’s... irrelevant.”
    Rosemary smiled in delight. She loved how precocious Cleo was. A big reader, the little girl had always used words far beyond most kids her age. “Nope. But it might have sounded like it. Just sit back and listen.”
    When Cleo was settled, Rosemary began again. “Your parents moved here when I was ten. I remember it was Thanksgiving the first time I met them, so it was right after my birthday. Your mom was really sweet and always had something nice to say to me. I lived around the corner.”
    “Your mom still lives there. She’s not very nice to me.” Cleo pulled a face.
    Rosemary debated for a moment, then leaned in so she was almost nose to nose with the girl. “Do you want to know a secret? She’s not always very nice to me, either. But your mom was. She always made me feel welcome and she taught me to cook. My mom was gone from home a lot with her boyfriends, and when they were there, the guys never seemed to like me much.”
    “She had more than one boyfriend?” Cleo’s eye were wide as pies.
    “Not at a time, silly.” Rosemary tapped her nose, though she had wondered sometimes if her mom had strung more than one guy on the line at a time. She was