Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“Your mom is going to talk to you and Steven this weekend about her plans to move to Anchorage.”
“I told you,” Aubrey says, looking at Steven. “I told you that she was going to move away with him.”
“Shut up, Bre,” Steven growls, as I hear footsteps coming back toward us.
“Aubrey, don’t. Now is not the time for an attitude,” I stop her, seeing she’s getting ready to say something in return.
“Fine,” she huffs, glaring at Steven and crossing her arms over her chest.
“Once your mom talks to you both, we’ll sit down and figure out how we’re going to move forward, but I don’t want this to be something you two fight about. Do you both understand?” I ask, looking between them, and they nod.
My cell on my hip rings, causing me to sigh, because I know it’s work and I can’t ignore it, even though I want to. “Hello?”
“I know you just left, but there was a fight that broke out at the Harbor, and both men involved were sent to the hospital and are asking to press charges against each other. Arney’s already there, but he needs backup,” Darla says, and I look at Shel. We made plans two weeks ago to have dinner with Austin, Lea, Rhonda, Ben and their son Braden and two weeks ago we had to cancel when I got called out for work and it looks like that is going to happen again.
“Tell them I’m on my way.”
“Will do,” she says, hanging up.
“Sorry, baby, I gotta go. Take the kids out to Austin and Lea’s, and I’ll meet you there or at the restaurant as soon as I get done taking care of this.”
“Go on, we’ll be fine,” she replies, making me wish I could kiss her in a way that expressed what I’m feeling. Because as long as her list of shit she needs from me is, my list only includes two things: our kids being happy, and moments like this, when I know she understands my job is important and doesn’t ask a million questions about when I’ll be back, or get angry at the fact I have to leave to begin with.
“Be good,” I point at Aubrey and Steven, then walk to Shel and drop my mouth to hers for a quick touch before heading out.
Knocking on the door at Austin and Lea’s house a half hour later, I listen to the sound of a baby giggling on the other side and smile. Rhonda and Ben are either already here, or Lea has once again confiscated Braden, their son. Something I know she’s done often since his birth, which drives Austin crazy, since Lea is pregnant and, as Austin puts it, should be resting. She obviously ignores him, since she has Braden as much as Rhonda will let her.
Seeing Lea come to the door and her smile through the glass, I—not for the first time—feel happy as hell for my friend. Lea and Austin dated in high school. They were solid when they were teens, and everyone knew they were planning on getting married after graduation. Then Lea’s father passed away in a boating accident, and instead of staying in town and marrying Austin, she moved away and eventually married someone else, only to move home and find herself back with Austin. Since then, they’ve been inseparable, and are now married and have a son of their own on the way.
“Hey, Zach.” Lea smiles as soon as she has the door open, and then leans up on her tiptoes, kissing my cheek. “Come on in. We’re all in the living room waiting for the guys.”
I step into the house, sliding the door closed behind me. “They still at the Harbor?”
“Nope they are both upstairs attempting to put together a crib,” she says over her shoulder, as we head for the large open living room. “They could probably use your help, since they’ve been at it for three hours now, and last time I looked, it was still in a hundred pieces.” She laughs, and I smile at her then stop in place, the sight in front of me making my heart contract.
The kids—Aubrey, Hunter, and Steven—are all hanging out on the large sectional that faces the giant stone fireplace in the middle of the room, with a game in front of them spread out on the coffee table, while Shelby is seated in a chair off to the side, with Braden on her lap and a book open in front of them. I hate that I didn’t get to experience her with our kid, to see her in moments like this everyday. But something in me wonders if it’s not too late for us to have another child.
“Hey, Zach,” Rhonda says, coming toward me and pulling my attention to her, and I lean down, kissing her cheek.