Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
He looks down at me and finds me watching him. “It’s a surprise.” He winks.
“Well, you kids have a good time. We’ve got this one.” His dad smiles at Kendrix, and my heart swells at the love this family is so easily willing to give.
Don’t get me wrong. My family was loving. I know they loved me, but what they did to me… I don’t know that I will ever be able to forgive my parents. And my father, did he know about what she did? That’s still a huge unanswered question. Did he go along with her plan? Was it his idea? Will she ever tell me? Do I really want to know?
“Laney?” I break out of my mental fog to find Kent and his parents watching me intently.
“Sorry. I was lost in thought.” I offer them the brightest smile I can come up with. “Kendrix, Mommy loves you.”
“I loves you too. Bye.” She waves, her smile big.
“We’ll be back in a few hours,” Kent informs them.
“Take your time,” his mom tells us again.
Hand in hand, we head back to his truck and are on our way back out of the driveway. “Where to?” I ask, hoping he’s willing to give me a little bit of a hint.
“I’m taking you on a day date.”
“And that would be where?” I ask again, trying to get it out of him.
“You’ll see.” He pulls out of the driveway and drives a few hundred feet before turning into the same road we took the day he brought us to the meadow. We bounce through the field, and the fresh layer of snow we got yesterday causes the truck to slip and slide.
“Are we going to get stuck?”
“No. I have four-wheel drive.”
“Why are we sliding?”
“It’s not good on ice.”
“So, we’re going to get stuck?”
“Relax, beautiful. We’re fine.” He grins over at me and quickly turns his attention back to the path in front of us. Instead of going to the open meadow, he makes a turn toward the right.
I fight the urge to ask again what we’re doing, but this frustrating man next to me won’t budge. Of that, I’m certain. Instead, I take in the view. The trees are covered with snow, and they glisten and shine as the sun hits them. The sun is deceiving though. It’s been well under freezing since I arrived in Jackson. It’s a far cry from what I’m used to in California, but I’m enjoying the season immensely. Just another notch in the “pro” column when it comes to Tennessee.
I’m so lost in the scenery it takes me a few seconds to realize we’ve stopped moving. “Not to seem ungrateful, but uh, what are we doing?”
He laughs. It’s a profound rumble from somewhere deep in his chest. “I’d never think that, and we’re going ice skating.”
“Really?” I ask, sitting up a little straighter in the seat.
“Yep. We’ve done this a few times, back then. When you were on winter break. This pond—can’t even really be called that—is shallow. My dad dug it for my mom when they first bought the property before I was even born. She loved to ice skate. It’s barely two feet deep, so it doesn’t take much for it to freeze over.”
“Do we have skates?”
“Yeah, we’ve got skates. We’ve also got blankets and a heavier coat and gloves for you. I even managed to sneak in some homemade hot chocolate. My mom’s recipe.”
“When did you manage to do all of that?”
“While you were in the shower. Kendrix was watching cartoons, and I snuck it all out to the truck.”
“Is the hot chocolate still hot?”
“Yes. I have it in a Yeti bottle. It’s going to be perfect. Now, you ready to do this?”
“I don’t know how.” I hate that insecurity washes over me. It’s not only that, but I don’t want to disappoint him.
“Yes, you do. I taught you. Right here in this very spot.”
“Really?” There have been so many times I wished my memories from those years would appear, but never more since my time here in Tennessee. Not remembering this man is a tragedy.
He nods. “Yes, and it’s just like riding a bike. It will come right back to you.”
“I don’t remember any of that, Kenton. You might have to teach me all over again.”
He shrugs. “If I do, then I do. Just gives me more of a reason to hold onto you.”
“Okay.” I grin at him. “Let’s do it.”
“Be right back.” After pushing open his door and getting out, he jogs around to the back of the truck. I turn in my seat and watch him out the back window as he opens the tailgate and pulls out two pairs of ice skates. He jogs to my door and I roll down the window. “Move your seat all the way back to give yourself some room, and lace up.” He hands them through to me, then leans in for a kiss, before jogging back behind the truck, while I get to work putting on my skates.