Total pages in book: 10
Estimated words: 9522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 48(@200wpm)___ 38(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 9522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 48(@200wpm)___ 38(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
“Hey Tones. What’s up? Ann-Marie said you’re dropping the kids by. Did something change?”
“Yeah. Can you pick them up instead? They’ll be ready.”
“Yeah of course. We’re going round to the park. We can be there in ten,” she says, hanging up the phone. Getting up from my desk, I find the kids in the living room watching the telly.
“Are you guys dressed?”
“Yeah, pops. Mum said we were going to Aunt Evie’s for the night,” Tony, Jr says in his typical uninterested tone of voice.
“Right, son. Evie will be here in ten minutes. Shoes and jackets on,” I say.
“Okay, Daddy,” Katherine says, getting up to do what I asked her to. Tony on the other hand makes no move to get up.
“Suck up,” he says to his sister.
“Degenernite,” she says, sticking her tongue out at him. It’s adorable how she messes up the word. I laugh at that.
“Up, let’s go. She’ll be here any minute now.”
“Fine,” he grumbles, turning off the telly.
Once they are gone, I go upstairs and find Annie asleep on my side of the bed, still fully clothed. Moving toward her, I pull her sneakers off followed by her socks. Her toes are painted neon yellow this week. She gets pedicures every week and I am always surprised by the color. I shimmy her pants down her legs, knowing she sleeps better without pants on. I carefully pull the blankets up over her body. She stirs but doesn’t wake up.
Turning the light off, I let my Annie sleep. Back downstairs, I pick up toys and shoes, putting them where they go. In the kitchen, I grab a stack of takeout menus to get something ordered in. I place the call and order some Indian.
“Hey,” Annie says and I look up at her. She’s leaning on the door jam, watching me. She’s changed into pajamas and her hair is still wet.
“Hey, love. How was your nap?”
“Much needed. What did you order?”
“Chicken Tikka Masala, vindaloo, saag paneer, naan, and some samosas.”
“All my favorites,” she says smiling at me.
“Of course, my love.”
“I’m sorry I fell asleep. I’ve been so tired lately.”
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask.
“Yes and no. Shocked is more like it.”
“Shocked? How so?”
“I’m pregnant again,” she whispers.
“What?”
“I’m forty-five and pregnant, Tony. What are we going to do? I’m too old for this. You’re too old for this. I don’t think I can do it again,” she says immediately, starting to cry.
“Oh love,” I say coming around the counter and pulling her into my arms. She sobs into my chest. “You can do this. We can do this. You are an amazing mother. Everything will be okay. These things happen especially when we did nothing to stop it,” I say chuckling. She giggles and I am glad I was able to lighten the mood.
“Okay, I had my freak out, I’m all good now.”
“I know just what you need,” I whisper in her ear.
“Chicken tikka masala,” she whispers back.
“For starters.”
After we eat, I take her to bed and love her for the rest of the night.
Before I met Annie, I was a shell of what a man is supposed to be. I didn’t know what I was doing the night I met her, but I do now. She made me want to be a better man. I am the father I am because of her. Seducing her was the best decision of my life and I thank God every day she’s in my life now.
It’s only going to get better from here.