Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 123212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
I’ve tried to give him space but I’m only human, and the need to feel his arms around me has been pulsing through me all day.
It’s so hard to believe that it was only this morning that I was up in Colton’s bedroom, listening to him tell me how he can’t stay away from me anymore. He explained the reasoning behind the Jade nickname and then in a split second, his lips were on mine and I was ready to give myself to him.
A split second can change it all.
I hear soft murmured voices and I follow them into one of the many formal dining rooms and find myself silently hovering at the door. I peek in, not wanting to interrupt while hoping to find Mom, only it’s Harrison and Maryne sitting at the table with papers spread wide and looking more stressed than I’ve ever seen them.
“I think we should stick with an open casket and have him dressed in that fancy three-piece suit he always raves about,” Maryne says, keeping her voice low.
Harrison’s eyes bug out of his head as he gapes at her, lowering his reading glasses down his nose. “You want to bury the man in a one-hundred-thousand-dollar suit?”
Maryne gapes right back at him. “That’s how much that thing cost?”
“What did you expect from Charles Carrington? If the man was going to splurge on a nice suit, he was going to make it count.”
“Good point. I don’t know why after all these years I’m still surprised by the man. But I stick with my suggestion, I think he would have wanted to look his best for his final day.”
Harrison nods. “I think you’re right,” he says with a heavy sigh, looking as though he somewhat misses the man despite him being an ass. “I’ll arrange for the funeral home to put him in a regular suit when the casket is closed. Colton may want to hang onto Charles’ suit for safekeeping.”
Maryne’s hand falls to Harrison’s shoulder and she gives it a gentle squeeze as a tear rolls down her cheek. “That’s a lovely thought,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible from my position by the door. “Have you seen him today? I don’t think he’s eaten any of the food I left out for him.”
Harrison shakes his head. “No, not since Officer Browning took his statement. He’s been hiding out somewhere, but you know what it’s like trying to find someone in this house. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. He'll emerge when he’s ready.”
My heart shatters and I fall back against the wall, feeling his pain as though it was my own. My father’s death is still too fresh in my mind and it's like it’s happening all over again. Colton and Charles had a rough relationship and though Charles was a prick to him and he ran his mother and sisters away, there’s still a part of him that always held onto the hope of one day gaining his father’s approval, but now that will never happen.
Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things you will have to suffer through. Instead of having the time to grieve that loss, Colton was thrown headfirst into his father’s position without pause. Now, as the head of the Carrington family and CEO of many multi-million-dollar businesses, he has the whole world watching him. I don’t doubt that he’s feeling the pressure.
Ever since I came to Bellevue Springs, I’ve wanted nothing more than to hate Colton Carrington, and right now, I’m finding it an impossible task. He’s a broken soul and my heart is screaming to be the one who gets to fix it and if I can’t do that, then maybe he’ll just let me be close if only for a little while.
Maryne lets out a heavy sigh and I listen as papers are ruffled around on the table. “Okay,” she finally says. “Here are the options for the casket. I’m thinking that he would appreciate the Malaysian 14-karat gold with the red velvet lining.”
“I was thinking the same,” Harrison says. “It’s sophisticated. Charles would have appreciated that. Now, where are we with the florist and the guest list?”
A phone rings, cutting the conversation short. “Ah, this is probably the funeral home confirming the church.” Harrison scoops the phone off the table and steps back. He gets busy with the phone call as Maryne grabs a pen and starts marking off final choices, the same way she does when she’s planning one of the Carrington’s elaborate parties.
“Ocean?” Mom’s voice comes from behind. I spin around to find her walking down the hallway, watching me curiously. “What are you doing, honey?”
“I, uh … I really don’t know. I was trying to find everyone but then overheard them discussing funeral arrangements and well … why are they doing it? Shouldn’t Colton be involved? Out of everyone here, he knows Charles the most. Wouldn’t he want to be the one making these decisions?”