Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Chloe hasn’t left my side since finding me in the hallway earlier. She went from being my little helper to being my shadow. If I want to try something on, she is in the fitting room with me.
“Ice cream now? Please,” she asks softly. Her little voice hopeful and so polite.
“Let’s ask your grandma, sweetie,” I say with a smile.
“There you two are,” Eileen says as we return to her and our bags.
“There was a bit of a line. I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it,” I say and laugh.
Chloe danced at my side as we waited our turn. I felt bad for the poor little thing. I wondered how long she’s been potty trained and if she would revert to wetting her pants. A few nice ladies noticed her dancing and allowed us to skip the line.
“I think we may have just made it,” I breathe in relief.
“Oh my, I’m glad you did. How about we get that ice cream before we start back for the house?” Eileen says.
Chloe squeezes my hand and nods her head. I look down and she beams up at me as she nods. I return the smile, tickled by the joy I feel emitting from her.
Her arms go up for me to lift her and my heart tightens for the thousandth time. I scoop her up before claiming my bags. Eileen gives me a side-glance. She has warned me about spoiling Chloe more than once today.
“Something tells me you two are right on time for each other,” she says as Chloe places her head on my shoulder.
“I think you’re right. Thank you for allowing me to come along,” I reply.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know you. It has also been a few weeks since I’ve had this much adult interaction. I should be thanking you.”
“This must have been a shock for you,” I say, drawing my brows.
I was shocked when it set in that Brodi had been hiding his daughter from everyone. His mother being here to help him says a lot about a mother’s love. It makes me ache for my own.
“You have no idea. I wanted to strangle that Brodi,” she huffs.
I smile. I noticed that she calls him Brodi when she seems to think more affectionately toward him. She may be annoyed with him, but it’s clear she still loves her son.
“I know the feeling,” I reply.
“Ah, yes, I believe you may have tried to make good on that,” she says, side-glancing me.
My cheeks heat. I bow my head. I did feel bad about the bruises on Brodi’s face after the fact. Tears well as I think of all the emotions I felt in that moment.
“I don’t know what to do. A part of me… a part I’ve tried to bury away loves that man so much. Another part of me—” I cut the words off.
I probably shouldn’t be having this conversation with his mother. I just need to have it with someone before it consumes me. This isn’t something I want to dump on Sid from long distance over the phone.
“Love is an interesting thing. It can bind you to a soul without your permission. My husband and I went through something like what you and my son are going through.
“There was a time I didn’t think I’d ever forgive him. Eventually, we both learned we’re better together than without each other,” she says.
“Respectfully, I don’t think that’s going to happen for us,” I say softly.
I regret the words the moment they’re out of my mouth. I’m skating a dangerously thin line. I’m supposed to make this woman believe we’re getting married.
“I said the same thing. Yet here I am thirty-eight years later. Married to one of the most stubborn men in the world,” she says and laughs.
I smile and look down at a sleeping Chloe.
“Oh, wow. That was fast. Can we get some of that ice cream to go?”
“I’ve already called ahead to the kitchen staff. I had a feeling her nap was going to win out soon,” she says with a smile.
“Right.”
I should have seen it too. Just like I should have noticed sooner that we should have gone to the bathroom before Chloe mentioned it. All things I would have known to think of….
“Cee, I don’t think I learned to read a toddler as well as I do now until Clay turned her age. You’ve only been with her for a few hours,” Eileen says as if she has read my mind.
I nod, still feeling the sting. I should have more experience. That’s the part that hurts.
I swallow hard and follow Eileen to our ride back to the house. I get lost in my conflicting thoughts as we travel in the SUV.
* * *
Gregor
I know there was no way to keep them separated forever, but I wanted Cee to have time to adjust. My stomach is in knots. I don’t know what to expect when they return.