Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Gideon stared at the pond for a moment and swallowed painfully. He knew how lonely it was to feel utterly cut off from your past. From the memories and experiences that had defined you. From the people with whom you had created those happy memories. In his case there was still hope. His siblings and father loved him, of that he had no doubt, and maybe one day they could all sit down together again and reminisce about better, happier times. Beth no longer had anyone with whom she could remember the laughter and tears and life-altering moments.
She was completely adrift, with no one left to anchor her to her past.
How isolating that must be for this introverted woman who’d been bullied throughout her childhood. Whose grandmother had been her rock—the only one to unconditionally love and support her through thick and thin.
They sat in silence for a few moments, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
“I’ll sort it out for you,” he said, draining the last of his drink and setting the glass down with a little too much force, resulting in a jarring clank.
“Shit, sorry.” He lifted the glass immediately and checked the base for cracks. Luckily, there were none, he smiled guiltily and put it down with a little more care.
“I should probably be getting back home,” he told her, and wondered if she heard the reluctance in his voice as clearly as he did.
If she did, she gave no indication of it. Instead, she smiled and nodded.
“Thank you for taking the trouble to do this, Gideon.”
“It was no trouble.”
“And you really don’t need to help with the pond. I’ll get it sorted out eventually. When I can afford the expense.”
He made a noncommittal sound in response to that, already working out what he would need to start the project.
Chapter Fourteen
“I’m getting married, Gideon.”
“What? No way! You’re shitting me, right?” Gideon’s response was less than ideal, but his sister had thrown him for a complete loop.
He hadn’t even known she was dating anyone.
Then again, his siblings rarely confided in Gideon about anything anymore. He was so far out of the loop that most of the news he received was usually months old.
“The engagement party is in three weeks’ time. It’s a weekend event. I would like you to be there.”
Gideon swallowed down his hurt at the information. He’d always assumed that—even though they hadn’t been close as kids—him and Kenny were on good terms now. But to be informed of her engagement, a mere three weeks before the party, told him that he was as much an afterthought to her as he was to the rest of the family. This felt too similar to what Nox had done.
“Will everyone be there?”
The long silence that followed his question was telling.
“Yes.”
For his father and brothers to have already confirmed their attendance meant that they must have had plenty of advance notice.
“Do you really want me there, Kenny?” His question was quiet as he tried valiantly to keep the hurt that he felt from bleeding into his voice.
“Of course, I do, Gideon,” she said, but there was no mistaking her exasperation. She paused for a moment before continuing in a gentler tone of voice. “But I don’t want the usual drama that occurs every time you four get into a room together. It is exhausting being the mediator. This is my engagement party. I don’t want to be the peacekeeper; I want you all to behave like adults and not leave me walking on eggshells, wondering when all hell is about to break loose.”
His lips tightened as he considered her words. She was right. The men in her life tended to behave like massive pricks whenever they were within close proximity of one another. Needless flexing and one-upmanship that always ended in futile shouting matches, with insults—and the occasional priceless vase—hurled at one another. Until they all stormed out, like petulant little boys, leaving poor McKenna to pick up the pieces and soothe bruised egos afterward.
God, they were colossal tossers and Kenny deserved better.
“Just promise me that whatever they say, no matter how ridiculous or unjustified or hurtful, you won’t let them get to you.”
Gideon sighed deeply at his sister’s heartfelt plea, wondering how the hell it had come to this.
“I promise, Kenny. It’s your day. I won’t let anything ruin it.”
“Thank you.” She sounded somewhat mollified by that. “And in case you’re wondering, I’ve extracted the same promise from Dad, Nox, and Niall as well.”
Relieved that he hadn’t been the only one on the receiving end of her censure, Gideon grinned.
“So tell me about this fiancé of yours. How the hell am I just hearing about this guy now? How long have you been seeing him?”
There was another long silence and Gideon was tempted to switch to video just to see what was going on in Kenny’s usually expressive face.