Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He nodded, grasping her free hand that wasn’t holding the dog. “I’m glad you’re here to share the celebration.” He grinned at her, beyond thrilled that his father had beaten the damn disease.
She forced herself to smile at him and pretend all was well. She could give in to her emotions, afterward.
When she was alone.
* * *
Despite the celebration around them, Mike sensed something was off with Cara.; Her smile didn’t reach her eyes and her expression of happiness felt forced. He wanted to pull her outside and find out exactly what was wrong, but Ella announced coffee and cake. Sam whooped in excitement, and Mike knew they couldn’t escape yet.
“I can always count on my youngest boy and his stomach,” their mother said, laughing.
“Even I’m hungry for some of your mom’s chocolate cake,” Simon announced.
Mike slid his hand into Cara’s. She scooted the dog off her lap and they headed for the kitchen, but he had a distinct sense of unease He just had no time to ask what was going on in her head. Over dessert, the celebration continued with family jokes and fun toasts to Simon even though the only drinks on the table were coffee cups.
Sam cleared his throat and looked at Simon. “Here’s to your shoving my big brother out of your office and reclaiming your rightful place as chief.”
No sooner had Sam raised his glass than Mike realized exactly what was bothering Cara. He was startled that he hadn’t thought of it sooner, but his father’s good health news had overshadowed everything else. Suddenly, his own stomach cramped as he understood the source of her worry.
He reached beneath the table and squeezed her hand. She didn’t squeeze back. And considering that he didn’t know what the hell to say—or do—he didn’t blame her.
When the doorbell rang, Mike was relieved because it took the pressure off. Pressure he was starting to feel in his chest, and he wasn’t certain whether it was because he could finally think about leaving Serendipity or because he suddenly didn’t want to go.
“I’ve got it,” Simon said, and since this was probably the first time in ages he’d been excited to have company, everyone let him do the honors of answering the door.
“So Erin, how was—”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Simon’s voice carried into the dining room, interrupting whatever his mother was about to say and scaring even Mike.
“I haven’t heard that tone since I borrowed the car when I was fifteen,” Mike muttered, rising from his seat.
Everyone scrambled to see what had Simon so upset, Mike heading out first.
“You aren’t welcome here,” Simon said, and Mike’s gut twisted into a painful knot as his gut told him exactly who the unexpected visitor was.
Sure enough, Rex stood in the doorway, his gaze running over Simon. “Is that any way to greet an old friend?”
“Rex!” Ella said, her dismay at seeing him as obvious as Simon’s.
“Hey, beautiful! You look even younger in person than you did online.”
Cara sidled up beside Mike and slipped her hand into his, silently offering her support, but Mike had a feeling it was Ella who was going to need it.
“You’ve seen her online?” Simon asked, his suddenly wary gaze shooting between his wife and his former best friend.
Mike drew a steadying breath. “How about we do this inside?” He didn’t need the neighbors witnessing this spectacle.
“You’ve got five minutes,” Simon muttered and stepped aside so Rex could enter.
Mike felt his brother’s and sister’s gazes darting from Rex to Mike, as if looking for the similarities, and Mike’s skin crawled in fear that they’d find some.
“Could we get some privacy for this meeting?” Rex had the balls to ask of Simon.
“No. This is my home,” Simon said, his voice clear and strong. “My wife and my children. My son,” he said, his gaze falling pointedly to Mike. “You’re interrupting a family dinner, so we’d appreciate it if you had your say and then were gone.”
Rex’s face flushed. “I heard you had cancer. I wanted to come see that you were okay.” He shifted on his feet, obviously surprised he hadn’t been welcomed with open arms.
There was a narcissistic bent to Rex that Mike hadn’t been aware of before now. Rex had honestly thought Simon and Ella would be happy to see him after all these years.
“You heard about me how?” Simon asked.
Mike’s heart pounded in his chest. Both he and his mother had avoided telling Simon anything about being in contact with Rex. They’d agreed to wait until Simon didn’t have so much to worry about, until the cancer was gone. But Rex’s timing took that choice away from them.
Ella placed a hand on Simon’s arm. “He reached out on Facebook a few weeks ago,” she said.
“Then I went to Vegas to run down a lead on that cold case I’d been asking you about,” Mike added, refusing to let his mother take sole responsibility. “I mentioned not wanting to burden you because you had too much going on.”