Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“I don’t care. I just want to see him for myself. Talk to him. Anything. Five minutes.”
Halton smiled. “I think we can do better than that. Your records and all the cards and letters you kept are the ace in the hole, Dom.”
I sat back, shaking my head in disbelief. “I almost gave up. Threw them all out.”
“Good thing you didn’t. It shows you never stopped trying.” He studied me. “You prepared for this? For what could happen?”
“I am. I’ve been looking at houses with Josh in mind. A room of his own in case he ever wanted it. A place for him with me.”
Halton smiled. “Good goals. We’ll take it a step at a time, okay? Three weeks from Tuesday until we meet. I was lucky to get a date that fast. The judge had an opening. It will be a private meeting with us and her side and the judge.”
I reached across the table and shook his hand. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “We’re just getting started, Dom.”
Halton and Fee’s car disappeared around the corner, and I looked down at Cherry. “You have plans this afternoon?”
“Nope,” she replied. “You are my plans.”
“Come home with me. I have something to show you.”
“Is that a euphemism for something?”
I laughed and bent to kiss her. “No, I actually have something to show you. I need your opinion.”
“Okay. I’ll follow you.”
“No, drive with me. You keep me calm.”
She smiled in understanding. “A lot to take in,” she surmised.
“Yeah. The thought that maybe in a few weeks I could see Josh? After all this time? Unbelievable.”
I held out my hand. “Please.”
She linked our fingers. “Okay.”
We didn’t talk a lot on the drive, both of us lost in our thoughts. So many things were changing—and all of them good. I glanced over at Cherry, who was staring out the window, a soft smile on her lips.
All the good was stemming from her.
I lifted her hand and kissed it. She leaned her head back on the leather and smiled at me. “What was that for?”
“For being you. For being here with me.”
“You’re very sweet, Mr. Salvatore.”
I chuckled. “I have my moments.”
I pulled up in front of the house I’d been looking at and indicated it. “I want your opinion.”
“Oh, okay.”
We walked around, inspecting the little bungalow. It was small but decent. I frowned as I looked at the backyard. “Good if it were just me,” I mused. “But not big enough anymore.”
“I agree,” Cherry said. “No space for Josh to grow or be outside.”
In the car, we headed to my place, but I stopped a few blocks over. The house Cherry had admired was still for sale, and it had an open house sign out front. I looked at her. “You wanna look?”
“Oh yes,” she agreed enthusiastically. “I would love to see inside.”
We wandered through the house, and I watched Cherry fall in love. The hardwood floors, the wood trim, even the old-fashioned layout of it. “I love rooms,” she explained. “I know open concept is popular, but a formal dining room, a separate living room? I love that.”
Upstairs, the three bedrooms were a generous size. The backyard was fenced, and the double garage was in great shape with tons of room.
“Perfect for a family,” the real estate agent said.
She was right. This house deserved a family. Not a single guy on his own.
Except, the niggling thought that maybe I wouldn’t be on my own kept popping up in my head. Maybe Josh would be here at times.
Maybe Cherry.
Maybe the three of us together.
Cherry was examining the closet the previous owner had expanded. “Look at all this space… It’s incredible!”
She loved this house. I did too.
With a start, I realized I could see her here. With me.
Not on occasion, but every single day. Living with me. Sharing my life.
Completing my life.
I wondered how she was going to feel when I told her.
I tried not to laugh. I had a feeling it was going to be fireworks.
But it was gonna happen.
I was determined.
Tuesday, I called Cherry to confirm dinner. She sounded tired when I spoke with her.
“Can I take a rain check?” she asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just been a day. The girls are driving me mad at the salon—they’re so lazy. I’ve been after them all day to do their jobs. Apparently folding towels and cleaning is below them now,” she huffed. “I have a headache, and I’m not in a great frame of mind. All I want is to head upstairs and have a nap and a quiet night.”
I was disappointed, but I understood. “Sure, baby. No worries. I’ll call you later, okay? Or you call me when you get up from your nap. If you want company, I’ll drive in.”
“I’m going to take a couple of Tylenol and a Gravol. The Gravol makes me sleep hard, so you might not hear from me.”