Chapter 36 The Proposal

• Three days of silence stretch between Michael and me, broken only by the constant buzzing of my phone—reporters seeking comments on the "Walton Heir Bombshell" story. I've instructed Tina to deflect all calls while I focus on damage control with the twins.
• "Mom, why are there people with cameras outside?" Alex asks at breakfast, peering through the kitchen blinds. His cereal sits forgotten, soggy flakes floating in milk.
• "They're just being nosy," I say, gently pulling him away from the window. "Remember what we talked about? Some people are very interested in your father's family."