Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“No, you don’t. And you’re too young to have one. You can give her my number though, or Grandma’s.”
“Okay. Can you write Grandma’s number down for me?”
“I will and I’ll put it in your backpack.” I plan to write Goldie’s name on an index card with mine and my mother’s contact details on there so she can hand her number out at any time. Not that I have the time, but I’d figure something out if she was invited to parties or playdates. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
A few bites into dinner, the timer goes off. Goldie’s off her stool before I can even move. She’s lightning quick with getting her stepstool in front of the oven and shutting the timer off but waits for me to open the oven.
“Step back a bit so you don’t get burned from the hot air.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
As soon as I open the door, the smell of baked apple pie wafts through the air. I inhale deeply, close my eyes, and take in the fall aroma.
“I’m ready for Halloween,” Goldie says, pulling me quickly back to the task at hand.
“Do you know what you want to be?” I reach for the potholder and slowly pull out the tray my mom put the pie on and set it on the trivets.
“I think I want to be a witch or a ghost or a princess.”
All three are characters she wanted to be last year, and she ended up being Olaf from Frozen.
“Okay, we’ll go shopping for a costume soon.”
“When can I have pie?”
“Let’s finish dinner, we’ll call Mommy, then after you take your shower, we’ll have pie.”
“Plan,” she says, giving me a fist bump.
When Goldie says she’s done, I hand her my phone and watch as she heads to the living room to call her mom. I like to give her some private time. I don’t have the need to be up in Goldie’s space all the time. She’s used to living with Ana, and while Goldie spent her summer and vacations here, she knows this is different.
After I get the dishes done, our lunches packed for tomorrow, and the leftovers put away, I head into the living room. Goldie’s on the couch, lying on her stomach while she video chats with her mom.
“Mom, Daddy is here. I gotta go shower. Don’t leave.” Goldie gets up and leaves Ana on the phone, upside down. I pick it up and sit down.
“Hey.”
“She made a friend?”
I nod and recap what Goldie told me over dinner and tell Ana I’ll put some cards in Goldie’s backpack to hand out if someone asks for her number.
“This is a good thing.”
“It is,” I say to Ana. “What’s new?”
“I filed for divorce today.”
I’m shocked, but surprised it happened so quickly. “Does he know?”
“Yeah, I called and told him. He’s sorry and wants a second chance, but I’m not willing to give it. I would never trust him again, especially around Goldie.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“So, I’ve been thinking. What do you think about me moving to Magnolia?”
I work hard to mask how I’m feeling. “I think that would be great.” And it would be great . . . for Goldie. For me, not so much.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Wade Jenkins. We may not be lovers, but we are best friends. I know everything there is to know about you. Spill.”
I sigh and rub my hand over my face. “I kissed Lemon today.”
Ana’s eyes widen and she covers her mouth. “You did not!”
I nod. “And then we argued. She thinks I cheated with you, and I can see why she thinks that because we disagree on the whole break up thing, but the worst part is . . .” I pause because how do you tell a mother that another woman is jealous of her child?
“But what?” Ana prods.
“Lemon’s jealous of Goldie.”
Ana’s eyes narrow. “How can she be jealous of her?”
“Look, what I’m about to say makes sense to me because if you knew Lemon and me back then, you’d get it. Being that I dragged you into this shit, you’re an innocent party in all of this. Lemon and I had plans, you know this, and when she looks at Goldie, she not only sees a reminder of the night she asked for a break, but also sees a little girl that could’ve been her child if she hadn’t broken up with me.”
“Oh, Wade.” Ana shakes her head. “I’m sad for you and her, but I’m also angry because Goldie is innocent in all of this.”
“I know. Deep down, Lemon knows this as well. She’s a good person.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t move there.”
“What? No! You’ll move here because our daughter is here. My parents are here, and you’ll have support. You’ll have me. Lemon . . .” I say her name and sigh. “If we’re meant to be together, it’ll happen. If not, maybe it’s time I move on.”