As soon as the words were spoken, laughter from a group of women nearby echoed; it sounded less like joy and more like ridicule.
Robert Southgate and Liam Moore turned to look, only to see four or five women in gowns standing behind Ruby Mercer and Arlene, unsure whose daughters they were.
Their eyes glanced intentionally or unintentionally toward Ruby Mercer.
"Oh dear, who does she think she is to show up here? It's embarrassing on her behalf."
"Exactly, with a child of unknown parentage and still bold enough to flaunt it around."
"Didn't Mr. Moore acknowledge it? Didn't he say the child in her womb is his?"
"Mr. Moore acknowledged it, so what? They say they've been neighbors for a long time. Maybe Mr. Moore felt sorry for the poor mother and child being abandoned and decided to be kind-hearted."
"That's possible; maybe it's just neighborly love. People take it as love? Daring to show up in such a manner, I'd be hiding at home, afraid to come out."
