Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“She’s good.”
“Good,” she says quietly, turning back to the counter, where she proceeds to slather her toast.
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m not sure.” She lets out a breath then turns to face me. “I don’t know her well, so I don’t know if I was just imagining things, but when she left here the other morning after she helped me clean up, she seemed in a hurry to leave. I just…” She shakes her head and her face goes soft. “I didn’t know if I said something to upset her, or if she was just in a hurry to get home because you guys were back.” She shrugs, taking a bite from her toast and leaning back against the counter.
“What were you talking about?” My girl is shy and has always been that way, which is why she doesn’t have many friends. Most people don’t understand that about her and assume she’s being standoffish or even rude, when that isn’t the case.
“I just told her she should come hang out and bake with me one day. After I said that, it felt like she couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
“She’s shy. Sometimes it takes a bit for her to warm up to people,” I reply softly, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but wanting her to understand she shouldn’t take offense.
“I can tell she’s shy, but I don’t think it was that.” She pauses, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “We were laughing, and it seemed like she was having fun until I told her she should come back.” She jerks her shoulders up. “After that, it just seemed like I said something wrong.”
Her words are a kick in the gut. Tina has always been close with Steven, but her relationship with Aubrey is and has been in constant turmoil. For a few years, I insisted Aubrey do things with Tina. The girly type stuff that I, as a man and as her father, had no interest in doing. But over time, Aubrey has become more and more adamant about not wanting to have a relationship with her mom, and Tina has been more of a bitch to her for the exact same reason.
“You didn’t say anything wrong.” I rub the back of my neck and drop my eyes to my boots. I stand, picking up my coffee when I do.
“She’s very sweet,” Shel says softly, and my eyes go to her. “I just didn’t like the idea that I hurt her in some way. That’s all.”
“She and her mom don’t have the best relationship. I’m sure you offering to do something as simple as baking a cake with her made her sad, because as much as she doesn’t agree with the way her mom acts or the things she does, she still wishes she was able to hang out with her, have a good time, and do shit like laugh and bake cakes,” I explain. Her mouth goes soft and her eyes turn from mine as she takes the last bite of her toast. She blinks rapidly for a moment, like she’s fighting back tears. “Just give her some time. She’ll come around,” I insist, and she nods and moves toward the sink to turn on the water and wash her hands.
“She told me she and Gramps used to put together puzzles,” she says out of the blue. I move closer and lean in so I can see her face.
“They did,” I agree, placing my hand on her lower back as she turns off the water and leans against the sink.
“He must have really cared about her and Steven both.” Her eyes move to mine, and I nod.
“They grew up thinking of him as their grandfather. They were both crushed when he moved, and devastated when he passed, the flowers out front are from Aubrey, she’s insisted on keeping them up when he left.” I admit, and her chin begins to wobble.
“I wish he would have told me about them.” Seeing the tears swimming in her eyes, I don’t give her a choice as I tuck her against my chest, wrap my arms around her, and rest my chin on top of her head. “Not sure you were at a place to hear about my kids and his relationship with them, and knowing Pat, he was trying to protect you from that,” I say gently, and she pulls in a shaky breath then leans back and looks up at me.
“I’m sorry if I made you feel like you should regret Steven and Aubrey. I would never want that. They’re both amazing kids,” she tells me quietly. My arms spasm around her as my mouth opens, but before I can reply, she’s out of my grasp, muttering something about going to get her bag, leaving the kitchen. Leaning my head back, I wonder how to proceed from here. My eyes drop to the counter where our cups are sitting side-by-side, and I know I may not have a plan, but I will be moving us forward.