Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Under the weight of this newfound consciousness, Robert decided he shouldn’t make her worry any longer and typed the message he’d picked up his phone to send.
“I need a favor.” He pushed send, staring down at the screen. Maybe he should have started with a “hello, sis…”
Less than fifteen seconds passed before Autumn responded.
“It’s one o’clock in the morning and you want to chat?”
Hmm. He hadn’t considered the time difference.
“I knew you’d be up.” Which of course he hadn’t.
“I don’t know why I worry about you. What favor?” Autumn shot back. He couldn’t deny their twin bond, which allowed him to practically hear Autumn’s aggravation—frustration, sarcasm, and all—through her words.
“I need you to send me some sort of reading pad. Something that has audio and earphones, good earphones that cover the ear. I don’t know the buying options here in Germany, so maybe load all George RR Martin’s books and whatever books complement his genre. Also, load all Dad’s books on there, but it’s got to have audio, even if the books aren’t on audio. Make sense?”
Maybe as much as a minute passed before she answered.
“What? Robert that’s asking a lot. I’ve got a lot going on. When do you need this by?”
Since he was asking the world, he might as well dump more pressure on her.
“Tomorrow? Can you overnight it today to arrive tomorrow? For sure by the next day. I’ll be heading home then.”
He could practically hear her screech as her thumbs furiously typed if the three little dots were anything to go by.
“What! No, I can’t. Call Dad’s assistant. She’ll do it. I really do have too much going on.”
The time difference made reaching out to his father’s office a difficult task. In seven hours, he’d be knee deep in patients and forget to make the call which was the whole reason he’d enlisted Autumn in the first place. “Can you call her in the morning for me? I’ve got to go to work.”
“This isn’t as easy as you think. It’s asking too much. Why do you need it?”
Yeah, there was another glaring reminder of what a self-absorbed ass he had become. Technically, this information was where he should have started this text message exchange.
“I found the honor guard who stayed with Daddy and me that night at the funeral. Remember? I want to gift all this to him. He’s a reader. We’ve been reading together. I was hoping to give it to him personally, from the both of us, before I leave day after tomorrow.”
He pushed send and waited, startling when his phone rang in his hand. Robert shoved back in the chair and smiled as he answered as if he didn’t know who called. “Hello?”
“You found him? Are you sure it’s him?” she asked, her voice raspy and thick, clearly she’d been sleeping so he’d forgive the dumb question.
“Of course, it’s him. Who would even know about his generosity and why would they lie?”
“What did he say? Did he get our thank-you message?”
Robert nodded to the empty room before she finished asking the question. “He did. He read Dad’s books, and it helped him overcome a situation in his life. That’s why he did what he did. He did it out of respect,” Robert explained. The words filling his heart with admiration.
“Is there a chance he’s gay?” Her voice sounded excited and wide awake now as she shifted gears on him.
“Is who gay?” a male voice in the background said. Autumn had been going out with Cameron Connors for about a year now and seemed happy with him. Cam had been his work colleague and friend for years before he and Autumn ever got together. He was a good guy and clearly the relationship had progressed if he was there with her in the middle of the night in Minnesota, not DC.
“The honor guard that was at my dad’s funeral happens to be in Germany with Robert, and he’s read Dad’s books. That was why he stayed overnight with Daddy and Robert that night at the capital.” Autumn succinctly filled Cam in before turning the conversation back to him. “I bet he’s nice looking, Robert.”
He shrugged that one off. Landon was very nice looking—he’d give her that, but he was so much more. Robert valued his friendship and wanted to repay him for his kindness. “He’s been hurt, and he can’t do much of anything else, so he reads. I want to give him a gift he’ll use. I also want to get his rehab care transferred to the States so he’ll need a US device, if that’s even a requirement. Can you make it happen for me before I leave here?”
“Yeah, I’ll figure it out and text you later.” Autumn’s words made him smile. He could always count on his sister to move mountains.
“Thank you. How’s Nonnie?” he asked, wondering about their aging grandmother, Kennedy Adams.