Blind date turned proposal (Josie and Dexter) novel Chapter 1354

A chill ran down Josie's spine. “And then?”

“Then, after what felt like an eternity, Daddy found me...” Grape didn't even dare to lift her head to look at Josie. She retreated further and further, seeking refuge in Mark's embrace.

“The wolf you've been taking care of, you brought it back from there too, didn't you?” Josie asked.

Grape dared not lift her head. Her bowed stance was answer enough.

Josie was holding back her temper. She could roughly guess when it had happened, and all she felt now was a lingering fear. “Why didn't you tell me about something this serious?”

Claudia stepped forward and urged, “Don't be too harsh.”

Mark was protective as well. “It's all in the past, isn't it? She didn't tell you because she didn't want you to worry. The child was very brave. Anyone else would've bawled their eyes out. Grape, did you cry?”

“No...”

Mark gave a thumbs up.

“Brave? She was brave, all right. Didn't I tell you before not to follow a stranger?” Josie asked.

What upset her the most was that no one had bothered to tell her about the incident.

“But that young lady l-looked a lot like you, Mommy...”

The moment those words fell, a silence fell over the entire ward.

Josie cast a sidelong glance, locking eyes with Claudia. The latter also looked surprised. Mark frowned, asking, “How similar?”

Cautiously, Grape answered, “Very similar... Extremely similar. The only difference was the difference in height.”

Josie tilted her head back, taking a deep breath. She had a good idea of who it was.

She immediately wanted to reach for her phone to call Dexter, but Claudia stopped her, urging, “Hold on a moment.”