Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
“I appreciate that,” I said. “And how are you doing?”
He was silent for a moment, then replied. “I’m getting there, Chloe. I’ve had two joint counseling sessions with Derek and his counselor. I think they helped. Helped us both. We have another one next week.”
“Oh,” I said, “That’s good.”
He held the phone. I think he hoped I’d ask questions about that. Or give him clues about what I thought about Derek at this point. When I didn’t say anything, he said, “Thank you for asking.”
“Take care of yourself, Michael,” I replied.
He hesitantly said goodbye. But I suspected he wanted to ask me about my relationship with his son.
After that call, I scanned the papers for any news in New York, for any follow-up about Shannon’s funeral, but nothing. Then again, I already knew the Steele family had a way of sweeping things under the rug.
I’ve been to my parents’ place twice.
And both visits were quite therapeutic. The first one was the three of us for an overnight visit. We went to dinner and a movie.
I had to explain why I had a security detail. I told them there were still unresolved issues related to Derek’s mother’s death.
Mom and I did some antique store hopping the next day and had so much fun that she invited me for another weekend to go to an antique and craft show with her while Dad was away at a dental convention.
I fibbed, saying Derek was away for work both times. I don’t feel good about fibbing, but was not remotely prepared to share the details of my Derek saga with them.
On my last visit, she insisted that she and Dad soon come spend the weekend at our house with me and Derek. She said she wants to give us the family collection of board games, for us to play some together.
I got weepy. So did she. We hugged it out and we talked about Bryan.
She opened up a bit, too, telling me that she felt like there was a distance between us for the past decade or so, that she felt like I didn’t want much to do with them, like I had moved on with my life and left them behind. She didn’t do it with accusation, she chalked a lot up to grieving after Bryan, saying she knows she wasn’t very present for my last few years before going away for college.
I assured her I want her and Dad in my life, that I’m thrilled to be spending time with them. I also told her that Derek ran an investigation and found information on my birth parents. Mom looked hurt and upset about that. I told her I had no desire to open the file and read it. She told me that she sent my birth mother annual birthday pictures for four years and that the last year she did that, the letter was returned to her as my birth mother had moved and not given a forwarding address. Mom and Dad remained at my childhood home all this time and had never heard from her. She obviously moved on with her life.
In a roundabout way, it kind of feels like Derek gave me my family back. There was some sort of turning point when he took me there to talk about us getting married that made my mom decide to put in some effort. And I’m so glad she did.
Grace has invited me to lunch twice, the second time with her and Naomi. I made excuses both times. She told me they think I’m a miracle worker and wanted to know how I did it, how I convinced Derek to agree to get help.
My response was that I would be happy to stay in contact if she didn’t ask me about Derek. She asked if I wanted an update about him. I declined. She gave me one anyway, saying he was in a rigorous program and that she’d visited him at the thirty-day mark. I didn’t ask how he was. She told me he was doing well anyway.
Alannah has been here for me, as always. We do dinner together at least twice a week. I’ve told her everything. She has strong opinions on the Derek matter, and though she mostly keeps them to herself she made a point of saying that although she plans to hold a grudge, she would not hold it against me if I gave him a chance, since he went to the trouble of getting help and the fact that he’s left me alone for all this time might mean he’s taking his treatment seriously. The way she laid it out, I know she thinks I should give him a chance.
She told me she’d hold her grudge silently if I do. So long as she sees that I’m happy. If not, there’s no chance she’ll be silent.