Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Though it was winter, I’d heard a few birds chirping. I’d seen a deer. Grant had been the one to point out the slices of life. Earlier, he’d shushed me before I could speak while on the walk from the woods. We paused and watched before it became aware of us and took off. In this short time, I’d realized that I wasn’t a city girl. I wasn’t even a beach girl. I was a snow bunny. Who would have thought?
Changing the subject, I said, “Your cousin seemed nice. Are the two of you close?”
Grant was over by the fire as I’d opted to clean up.
“We grew up like brothers,” he said.
“Are you related on your mother’s or father’s side?”
“Father’s.”
“Your uncle in New York?” I asked.
“That’s the story.”
“You don’t believe it?” I said, putting the last plate away.
He walked around and sat on the back of the sofa. “It’s kind of a long story.”
“I have time,” I teased, slinging the drying towel over my shoulder.
When he smiled, it lit up the world. Oh boy, I was in serious trouble.
“I mentioned before how I’d only seen my uncle once in my life.” I nodded. “He’d come with a choice for my father. Either go back to New York to work for their father or sign away his rights to the company.”
“He signed away his rights,” I said, already knowing this part of the story.
“Dad had a passion for planes. He’d already pissed off his father when he ended up with an aerospace engineering degree and not a business degree of some sort. Dad had used money from his trust fund, and had been taking flying lessons under the radar. Here actually.”
“The airpark?”
“Yes.”
“He came all the way to Maryland for lessons?” I asked.
“Yes. Partly because he didn’t want to be found out. But also because he met someone.”
I grinned, loving the direction the story was going until I remembered his parents weren’t together.
“Unfortunately for him, Natalie was with someone at the time.”
“Oh, her name was Natalie,” I teased.
“It is. But the story gets better.”
I went and sat next to him.
“Tell me more,” I said.
“The thing is, these two were never in sync. When she was single, he wasn’t and vice versa. Dad only gave up when he found out Natalie was engaged.”
“Don’t stop there,” I said, nudging him.
“That’s when he met Mom.”
My jaw dropped. I hadn’t been expecting that. “What happened with Natalie?” I asked.
“She and Mom became best friends. In fact, she was here when my uncle showed up.”
The pieces fell into place. “She’s Liam’s mom.”
“She is.”
“But you don’t think your uncle is Liam’s dad?”
“I think it’s one possibility,” he said.
“And the other?”
“Mom left shortly after Dad signed away the family fortune. He was left with a son and Natalie was there to help.”
“Oh no,” I said.
“Oh yes. I may have another brother.”
“Does your dad think so?”
“He’s never said. But Dad stepped in for his ‘brother’. I don’t know. It’s just a guess, but neither Natalie nor my dad has ever mentioned the possibility.”
“Does Liam know?”
“I don’t think so. He was too young to notice how Natalie and Dad were always together after Mom left, and even more so when he was born. Dad will tell you they were two single parents helping each other.”
“You think they comforted each other in other ways,” I guessed.
“Dad isn’t the kind of guy to shirk his responsibilities. It’s likely he assumes since Natalie never told him it could be him, it isn’t. Point of fact, Liam was born premature.”
“I feel like I need popcorn for this story.”
“Not very different from yours. Love and money don’t mix.”
“I say it can’t be love if you choose money,” I said. “Speaking of, have you ever been in love?”
I had no idea why I asked that. Did I really want to know the answer and have it in my head for the next thirteen days?
“Once,” he said.
“And?” I said, egging him on.
He folded his arms. “One summer, that’s all we had. Then she was gone to college. You?”
Because I’d brought it up, I had to answer, even though I didn’t want to.
“Twice,” I said. He’d given me some details, so I did the same. “Once in college and once after.”
“Cal?”
I found a spot on the floor and kept my eyes there. I’d hoped he wouldn’t ask.
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Things were pretty serious between you two?”
“Not from his point of view.”
“He broke your heart then?”
I sighed. “Not really. He never promised me anything. I just read the situation wrong.”
“Do you think you’re reading the situation wrong between us, or are you just gun-shy?”
I shifted to face him. “I’m a realist. We live in different states.”
“We work for the same company,” he countered.
“Just another reason we shouldn’t.”
“It didn’t stop you and Cal.”
I had to bite my tongue for a second. “How about another reason?” I waited a beat. “You hooked up with my sister.”