Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
I wonder if that has changed now. Frank is clearly a different man since he’s come back home. He’s no longer the boy that went off to be in the Navy. He’s come back as a man. A giant one at that. He’s always been tall and lean, but he’s packed on some muscle, making him all the more attractive.
It’s clear he’s going to be sticking around if he’s going to take the job as the new chief of police after the last one resigned along with the mayor. They were really run out of town, but nonetheless, alderman Katherine Reid has been appointed to take over the mayor’s slot for the time being.
She’d asked Frank if he’d be interested in taking over the spot of chief of police. He’s a good man who cares about this town, and I know he would be great at it. I might be mad at him, but that’s the truth. There is no one better suited for the position than him. He tends to be fair and way too level-headed. The man has iron control. How else could someone be so stoic all the time?
It’s going to be hard seeing him every day. I suppose it’s better than not knowing if he was safe out there in the Navy doing God knows what. I really have no clue what he did because Frank never told me a thing. He never responded to any of my letters, but I kept sending them anyway, thinking he was busy. Then he showed back up in town and half pretended to have no clue who I was.
God, I’m pathetic. I’ve spent years pining for a man who hasn’t given me much thought at all. I must have made up all those times I could have sworn he was staring at me back in high school. Or misunderstood why he got in a fist fight with James after he asked me out on a date. All along, I was the same to him as all the other girls. That reality was a slap in the face for me. One much harsher than the one I laid on Frank that afternoon.
Steph refreshes the ladies’ coffee as they keep on gossiping. The bell on the diner door rings. I look up to see Emma walking in.
“I was worried you weren’t going to make it,” I say when she drops down across from me.
“Sorry, I got sidetracked.”
“You don’t say.” I lift a brow, knowing exactly who sidetracked her.
“What?” She reaches up and makes sure her hair isn’t all over the place. Her lips are a bit swollen, but what really catches my eye is the ring on her finger.
“I’m the one that should be asking questions.” I grab her hand to see the giant ring. “You didn’t tell me!”
“It happened last night, and I knew I was having breakfast with you today and wanted to tell you in person.” I admire the ring. It’s a simple band with a solid square giant stone that suits Vincent and Emma perfectly. It’s a mix of both of them. She doesn’t tend to be flashy, and he wants everyone to know that Emma is now engaged. Hence the stone being big but still simple.
“I guess your mom and I have some planning to do.”
“You’re right about that.” She grabs one of the menus on the table like she doesn’t know everything on it. “I don’t know shit about weddings, but you’ve got all those bridal magazines.”
I pick up a menu too, wanting to hide the heat that rushes to my face. Yeah, I do have a lot of bridal magazines. I’ve always had a bit of a storybook fantasy in my head about what my life would be. But, unfortunately, no matter how I want it to go, life is always throwing me curveballs.
“Are you girls ready to order?” Steph asks. Emma spouts off a giant order while I go with my normal eggs and yogurt. It’s simple, and I don’t have to worry about messing with my blood sugar. “So, what’s going on with Frank?” Steph starts to ask after she jots down our order.
“You think I’m going to gossip about my own brother?” She shoots Steph a look, letting her know she’s serious.
“Fine,” she huffs. “I’ll be back with your food in a little.”
“So?” I ask for myself, knowing she will gossip with me. Emma and I became best friends a few years back when I’d passed out and she’d been the first responder.
She was quick to realize what was happening. I know it’s part of her job for her to never divulge information, but still I’d asked her not to say anything to anyone about it. I don’t know why I’ve kept it a secret for so long. I think because it makes me feel different. Which is something I’ve always felt since I wasn’t born in Harrisville. I’d come to live here with my grandmother after my mom picked up some bad habits. I haven’t seen her in years. She didn’t even show last year when Grams passed. Some things never change.