Chapter 46 He Needs To Come Back

• The early morning sun cast a warm glow through the tall windows of Layson Norman’s home. Diana—his mother—lingered near the living room, already occupied with cooing at little Ralph, who was gurgling happily in the nanny’s arms. Layson, having just come downstairs, greeted them with a slight nod before continuing on his way. He had a long day ahead, but first he needed to handle a few family matters.
• Far across town, another corner of the Norman family was stirring. Diana had come to check on Ralph, but her real aim had been to talk to Layson about Dexter Norman, who was still stubbornly living on his own. To her surprise, the conversation took a quick turn when she realized Layson had even bigger problems—like the unexpected child he was caring for.
• “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Diana asked in a low voice, arms folded over her chest. She was more than a little upset that Layson had kept the baby a secret for so long. Despite having lived in the Norman family for decades, she sometimes felt as though her adopted son—Layson—never confided in her. Now that Dexter had gone off on his own and Layson was dealing with a child, she found herself wounded by their distance.