Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 123171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“A dumpster?” My stomach is one second away from falling out. “Oh, god, it has to be a hoarder’s paradise down there then.”
“Oh, it is,” Elijah answers. “Don’t be shocked when you find a dead cat or two.”
“Hey, my sister took very good care of her animals,” Dad counters. “Better than she took care of herself.”
“Okay.” I stab several pieces of penne on my fork. “What’s the going rate of a dumpster these days?”
Dad holds up his hand. “You inherited the house, but we don’t want this to fall solely on you. Your mom and I already discussed this, and I’ve put in some calls. If we get lucky, we can get a dumpster delivered tonight and the three of us can tag-team the basement before we have to leave.”
“The three of us?” Elijah echoes.
“Yes. We could use some muscle,” Mom tells him.
“Good thing I’m here,” I say and shovel the pasta in my mouth. Elijah makes a face and I mirror it right back, complete with a mouthful of food.
“When does Everly get home?” Mom asks, glancing at her watch.
“The bus comes around three-fifteen,” I tell her and look at the clock on the wall. I don’t even know what time it is. It’s been a long fucking day.
“Well,” Dad says, clapping his hands together. “Let us know how we can help.”
“The porch?” Everly drops her backpack on the floor, turning around to look out the living room window. “Thor was on the porch?”
“Yep.” I bring my coffee to my lips, feeling instant relief once the caffeine hits me. “He’s banged up and will be on stall-rest for the remainder of the week but needs to be walked for fifteen minutes at a time, three times a day. We can take him out to hand-graze too. The vet…” I continue, trying to keep the anger off my face and out of my voice, “was concerned about him ripping his stitches if he goes out and runs around.”
“He probably would. I can’t believe we’re gonna have a baby!”
“We need to take this one day at a time, Ev. Freya is rough shape. The pregnancy is going to be really hard on her.”
Everly, who just got home from school, kicks off her shoes and leaves them in the middle of the walkway from the door into the living room. It’s not big enough to be considered a foyer.
“Hey, shoes.” I point at them, slowly shaking my head. “And hang up your backpack.”
“Where?”
“Um,” I start, looking around, realizing I said that out of habit. “Coat closet. Just shove it in for now. Mimi and Papa are helping clear out the house while they’re here.”
“Already?” Everly uses her foot to push her shoes into the closet. I don’t bother telling her she’s using more energy to do that instead of just picking them up. “Isn’t that disrespectful to the dead?”
“Aunt Kim left knowing we would stay, so I can only assume she would have anticipated us making this place our home.”
Everly’s head slowly bobs up and down. Tears fill her eyes and I know she’s still having a hard time processing all of this. I didn’t want to tell her the truth at first, but there’s no point in keeping things from her. I’ve never been a good liar, and it’s pretty much impossible to lie to my own daughter. She’s my ride-or-die, and I’ve been bracing myself for the last few years for the inevitable day where she closes herself off to me. I’m Mom, after all; though, I’m far from conventional.
Letting out a breath, Everly crosses the room and takes the coffee from my hands. “I’m guessing you’ve had too much already.”
“Hah. Nice try, acting like you’re worried about my health.”
“I am.” Everly looks right at me with big eyes. “So worried I’m going to drink this for you.”
I roll my eyes. “Good thing I literally just put on a fresh pot.”
“Oh, in that case.” She hands me back my coffee and goes into the kitchen to get her own. “Where is everyone?”
“Papa and Uncle Elijah went into town to rent us a dumpster. Mimi is in the basement and probably doesn’t realize you’re home.
“A dumpster?” Everly looks at me in horror. “There’s going to be a dumpster in front of the house?”
“It’ll probably be to the side in the driveway. The basement is full of crap. Like literal crap.” I take a big drink of my coffee and set it on the kitchen counter. “So, don’t worry about homework today. You’re on cleaning duty.”
“Really?”
“What? You think I’m going to do it all?”
Now it’s Everly’s turn to roll her eyes. “I don’t have much homework. The teachers are still going easy on me because of a death in the family. Actually, everyone is. I don’t want to sound like an asshole and say it’s nice, but it is.”