Chapter Twenty-five

Derek didn’t know what to expect when he arrived at Rosemary Lane’s picturesque townhouse the following day. When she opened the front door, he didn’t need any introduction to figure out who she was because she looked like the older version of Rachel.

“Hello, ma’am, I’m here to see Rachel and Zoe,” he said and cleared his throat self-consciously. He felt like a teenage boy coming to ask for permission to see his girlfriend.

Rosemary raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

“Derek Fraser. I’m Zoe’s father.”

“Is that so?” Asked Rosemary with an unimpressed expression. “Does Rachel know that you’d be showing up here today?”

“No, but it’s important that I see her and talk to her, please,” he appealed.

“I don’t understand the deal with you, Mr. Fraser.”

“Please, call me Derek.”

“Why do you keep chasing my daughter across the country when you have no intention to do right by her?”

“That is what I have come here to do, ma’am.”

“Who are you talking to, Mom?” Rachel asked from inside the house.

“Why