Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess novel Chapter 16

His voice was like a feather tickling the heartstrings.

Josefina looked at the gifts galore, which were enough to stock a supermarket. "Alrighty," she said. She had just cooked up some newfangled pills and wondered if Brandon would be a good guinea pig.

After hanging up the phone and scribbling her signature, the delivery guy split.

Garrett rolled in from outside, his driver in tow, arms laden with takeout. Eyeballing the yard full of gifts, Garrett's face went from shock to all smiles. "Kiddo, it looks like you hit the jackpot shopping today. Nice! If you love it, grab it. I hustle to make the dough, and you gals get to blow it."

Garrett wasn’t even mad when he assumed she'd gone on a shopping spree. Billy couldn't hold a candle to that.

With a chuckle, Hattie clarified, "These aren't my purchases. They're prezzies Oliver sent over for Josie."

"What!" Garrett's face did a double-take.

Josefina explained, "I saved Brandon, and this is his way of saying thanks. He's hoping I'll keep an eye on his granddad and play doctor."

Garrett was gobsmacked again. "Josie, you're into medicine, too?"

Hattie's face was a picture of sympathy. "Oh, my poor baby girl. What kind of life did you have with the Antonios? To have such mad skills at such a young age must have been tough."

Hattie held Josefina's hand, feeling more and more cut up about it. Her own flesh and blood had been through the wringer. This left her feeling guilty and heartbroken.

Hattie suggested, "Sweetheart, let's return the gifts to the Baldwins. No need for you to make bank. Your job is to spend it. Leave the grind to us."