âDonât worry about it. Katherine always speaks her mind. She means no offense.â
Fannie nodded, her hands tightly clasped in nervous anticipation.
With a warm smile, Lily offered her reassurance.
âJust speak your mind. Itâll get easier once we start talking.â
Katherine stretched and yawned, adjusting herself to get comfortable.
After a moment of silence, Fannie gathered the courage to speak up.
âMiss Nash, Iâve heard rumors of your upcoming wedding.â
Katherine leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand with a curious glance.
âAre you here to offer congratulations?â
Stay connected at gⱯlnÏνâ¯ðsâ¤com âI wanted to know if youâve really considered this. Bobbyâs liked you for a long time, you know.â Fannie took a deep breath, her voice steadier as she locked eyes with Katherine.
Katherine smirked slightly, dismissing the concern.
âBobby? He lied to you. Weâre simply good friends.â
âThat canât be true. He confessed to me that heâs been in love with you for years.â Fannieâs brow furrowed in confusion and frustration.
âWe were meant to marry, but he backed out because of his feelings for you.â
Seeing no benefit in further debate, Katherine pulled out her phone and dialed Bobbyâs number.
Bobby, a pleasure-seeker, was the endless source of concern for his father, particularly when it came to settling down. Katherine knew why Bobbyâs father had seen Fannie as an ideal matchâa level-headed and virtuous woman who might steer Bobby towards a steadier course. However, Bobby had ruined it. Katherine believed it was a good thing, though. Fannie could do much better than Bobby, whom she regarded as nothing short of a rascal.
The phone rang persistently before a groggy Bobby finally picked up, his irritation palpable through his sleepy grumble.
âWhatâs up? Canât a man catch some sleep on a Saturday?â
Katherineâs voice was light, tinged with amusement.
âRough night out, or just the usual?â
âWhy do you even care, pregnant lady?â
âIâve got a question for you,â Katherine said, glancing at Fannie before switching to speakerphone.
âIâve heard that youâve liked me for a long time. Is there any truth to it?â
âAbsolutely!â Bobby shot back without missing a beat.
âIâve loved you since we were kids. Now, I spend my evenings drinking away the pain of you getting hitched to Shawn. You didnât realize? I end every night crying myself to sleep over it.â Katherineâs breath caught as she froze in disbelief. Was Bobby really doing this now? Had he really embarrassed her like that in front of Fannie?
Then Bobbyâs tone shifted to one of jest.
âUnless, of course, Iâve suddenly gone blind.â
âAlright, got it,â Katherine said dismissively.
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