Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Kaylee winked but didn’t answer me.
“Kaylee, is she doing this all for free?”
She looked everywhere but at me.
“I’m going to take that as a no.”
Finally looking at me, she sighed. “Okay, she is being paid, but the person paying her is doing it as their part of helping out.”
“Who is it?” Sophia asked.
Kaylee chewed on her thumbnail. “I promised I wouldn’t say.”
“Josh?”
“Nate?”
Sophia and I had asked at the same time.
Kaylee laughed. “No, but you’re not far off.”
“Is it a member of the Shaw family?”
“Oh, yes. A founding member.”
I laughed. “Stella?”
Kaylee reached for my hand. “Please don’t tell her I told you. When she heard we were going to keep the food simple, she insisted we had to do something more. She has worked with Jo numerous times, and they came up with the menu together, and Stella is covering the costs.”
“I’ve never met a family who does so much for their community like the Shaws,” I said as I sat down in one of the chairs.
Kaylee smiled. “They are an amazing group of people, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
“I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Sophia stated as she sat down in another chair.
Taking Sophia’s hand in mine, Kaylee took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I can’t wait either.”
I felt tears prick at the back of my eyes. What would it be like to be a part of such a loving family? My mother, of course, loved me and did her best to make my life as good as possible, but I knew she still struggled with what had happened with my father. She blamed herself, while I blamed myself for not having the courage to tell her what was happening.
“Haven? Sweetheart, what is wrong?” Kaylee asked, reaching up and wiping a tear from my face. I hadn’t even realized I had been crying.
Reaching up, I felt the wetness on my face and buried my face in my hands.
“Haven,” Sophia whispered as I felt her kneel before me. “What in the world is wrong?”
I dropped my hands and tried to speak, but nothing but a sob came out. Kaylee sat in the seat next to me and took my hand. “What is it, dear?”
With a deep breath, I slowly exhaled and attempted to get myself under control. What in the world had just happened to me?
“Haven?”
The sound of Nate’s voice caused me to look to my right and see him. He wore a pained expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he quickly made his way over to me.
I stood and was about to tell him everything was fine, but a sob slipped free. Nate quickly wrapped me in his arms and held me as I cried into his chest. I wasn’t sure what had happened and why the dam had decided to break at that moment, but being in his arms instantly made me feel better.
“What happened?” Nate asked.
“I’m…I’m not sure. She just got upset,” Sophia stated.
“Most likely the stress of everything got to her,” Kaylee softly said as she rubbed my back.
Once I got my crying under control, I stepped back. Nate cupped my face in his hands and looked into my eyes.
“Are you okay, princess?”
Oh…my heart tumbled in my chest as I stared back at the man I had been in love with for as long as I could remember. With a nod, I whispered, “I’m fine. I’m okay.”
Turning to Kaylee, I tried to smile. “I’m so sorry for breaking down like that.”
“Oh, you don’t have to apologize at all, sweetheart. We all have moments like that, which is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Nate pulled me back into his arms. “Do you want to go home?”
“No, honestly, I’m okay. I just had a moment.”
When I stepped back, Nate searched my face once again. “I’m here now and can help with whatever you need.”
I smiled as I drew in a breath. “I could use help doing the table decorations.”
Nate stood up straight and clapped. “My specialty.”
I laughed along with Kaylee and Sophia.
Taking my hand in his, Nate gave it a slight squeeze. “Tell me what you need me to do.”
Chapter Eighteen
NATHAN
“I am exhausted,” Haven said as she dropped onto the sofa in the family room.
Handing her a beer, I sat next to her. “So am I.”
“I think the community party was a success. Don’t you?”
With a nod, I replied, “I do. And some of the suggestions for the name are hilarious.”
Haven giggled. “My favorites are The Puppy Playhouse, The Cozy Pup Playground, and Wag More, Bark Less.”
I smiled. “It was a good idea to let the community vote.”
“Yes, that was a brilliant idea. And the way your uncle Brock got the Hamilton newspaper there to cover the party and do the voting was brilliant.”
“I think so as well. This will be the dog park to end all dog parks.”