Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Dammit, Sterling. No. I’m not interested in what they’re selling. Not today.”
“I’m going to need you to come and tell them that yourself.”
“Fuck.” I hear Archer mutter. Three heartbeats later—yes, I counted—my man appears in the doorway. He glares at his brother, then turns his red puffy eyes to me, shoulders slacked. “I’m sorry—” He lifts his head. “Scar?”
“Hey, Popeye.”
“Is everything okay?” He looks out to the driveway at my car. The door is still hanging open.
“Everything is fine.” I smile up at him, and his entire demeanor relaxes.
“What’s going on, baby?”
I want to close my eyes and savor the sound of him calling me baby. I want to jump into his arms and never let him go. Of course, that’s why I’m here. I can’t walk away.
“I forgot something.”
“Oh.” He clears his throat. “Come on in, and I’ll help you look for it.”
“I don’t need to look for it. I know where I left it.”
“Okay, well, do you want to come in and get it? Or tell me where it is, and I’ll get it for you?”
“I’m looking at it.”
“What?”
“My heart. I forgot my heart, but I’m looking at it.”
“Scarlett.” There is a waver of uncertainty in his voice.
I step inside and close the door behind me. I don’t bother checking if anyone can hear me. I know by now the entire house is aware that I’m here, and as quiet as this place is, I know they’re hanging on my every word. That’s okay. I need them to hear this too.
“I was crying so hard I couldn’t see. My heart was breaking, and the pain was just too much.” I pause to collect my thoughts. “I didn’t even make it past the corporation limit sign.” I laugh. “I was sobbing and reached for my tissues that fell to the floorboard, and then I remembered that I had letters.”
“Letters?” Sterling asks, taking a small step toward me.
I nod. “My mom. We knew she was dying and she wrote me letters. They were labeled for different times in my life. One stood out that said, ‘Read when you are at a crossroads in life.’ I thought she’d lost her mind. I was always super curious about what was inside, but I never opened it. I assumed I would know what felt like the right time.”
“Did you read the letter?” Archer asks. His eyes are filled with pain and maybe even a little hope as he hangs on my every word.
“I did. It turns out my mom knew what she was doing. She told me that I brought joy to her life and told me she loved me.” I wipe at my tears, but they keep falling. “She told me that her wish for me was to be happy. She said she hoped I would do something with my passion for photography, but most of all, she hoped that I found a man to love me as my dad loved her.”
“You’ve found him.” Archer’s voice is steady as he takes another step toward me. “I never met them, and I’m sorry for that. I wish I’d have had the opportunity to meet the amazing people who raised the woman I love.”
“She said— Shit, can I just read it to you?”
“If that’s what you want.”
I nod and reach into my back pocket and pull out the letter. I skim until I get to the part I wanted to say. He can read it all later. “She wrote: ‘Life is just a collection of days when you can’t share it with those you love. Our family was small, and I hate that I’m leaving you in this world all alone. I know that he’s out there, Scarlett. When you find him, tell him I said hi. I know that if you love him, your father and I would have too.’” I fold the envelope back up, shoving it into my pocket.
My eyes find Archer’s, and he’s watching me closely. I can’t read his expression. “My mom says hello.”
“Baby,” he whispers, and he rushes toward me, closing the short distance between us, and picks me up in a bear hug. “I love you,” he says, his face buried in my neck.
“Uncle Arch is using his arm porn! Good job, Uncle Arch.” Blakely calls out, and I burst out laughing.
I’m laughing so hard my body is shaking. Archer is, too, and he places my feet back on the ground, keeping me tucked close to his side. I take a minute to catch my breath and let my eyes scan over his family.
“My dream was to be a photographer. When I lost my mom, I lost my way. She and Dad were all that I had. No other family. No siblings. I was alone. I promised my mother I’d chase my dream. I decided the day I lost her that my dream would be to travel the world and take pictures. I never wanted to feel the kind of pain that I felt when I lost her ever again. I’d been successful in that until this morning.” I look up at Archer.