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)
He trailed a finger over one of Kylie’s silky blonde curls before looking back at Rodney. Robert had changed so much; he couldn’t really remember the man he used to be. His peers obviously thought he’d lost his mind. His family had been indulgent and supportive, but maybe not quite sure what had happened to him. That man, who was maybe twenty feet away, expertly spinning his sister around the dancefloor, had been his life support, accepting Robert however he came.
Landon believed in him and thought he could pull off a culinary career if he wanted one. He’d even encouraged Robert to try.
Maybe he had just made the decision.
Robert released a pent-up breath as he revealed the plans he’d been chewing on for a while now. “I’m retiring from medicine, at least for the foreseeable future, but I’ve been cooking, taking lessons. I think I’m… I mean we, Landon and I… I think we’re going to start a pop-up lunch tent in DC.”
Rodney’s brows shot up in surprise. His mouth opened then closed again before he finally got out, “Like street food?”
“Something like that.” Robert nodded, adjusting Kylie in his arms as she moved to a better position. “I’ve gotten pretty good at vegetarian cuisine. I’ve been making these tacos—Landon likes them spicy. They’ve drawn some interest from a buddy of mine who has access to a professional kitchen. He’s a trained chef and a partner at a restaurant chain nearby. I think we’re going to take him up on his offer to use his kitchen. We only started talking about this over the last couple of weeks.” Robert stopped speaking, realizing the information dump he’d just laid on Rodney’s shoulders, but he couldn’t seem to contain his enthusiasm. “You got more than you counted on when asking that question, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.” Rodney grinned. “You’ve really made some changes to your life.”
Robert nodded, unable to hold Rodney’s gaze so he looked down at Kylie as he fought the edges of doubt trying to creep in. “I’m enjoying it all. I like my life now.”
Rodney nodded his understanding, if not approval, sitting back in his seat. He could feel Rodney’s fixed stare on him for several long seconds. “You’re so much like Kane. Everything he did had to be in order, set a certain way before he could commit. Paulie pushed at him a lot in the beginning. Your father worked long hours like you did, every single day. He was the hardest working man I’ve ever known. I was barely nineteen years old and the military had disabled me. I was lost. I lived in New York and I heard about Paulie and what he was doing here. I came all this way, looking for a job and a life. Paulie and Kane took me in before I even had a chance to fill out the application. Kane taught me how to be a good man, a gentle man. He taught me it was a choice not a destiny. I see so much of him inside you. Now, Autumn… She takes after Avery, and I suspect that little one will too.”
Robert smiled and nodded, still looking at Kylie. He’d heard these same references many times before. Nostalgia of times long gone seemed to keep Rodney’s tongue going.
“I remember the day Avery walked inside this restaurant. We were in awe of such a celebrity being here. Your dad’s only focus was on Kane. He swept your father off his feet then kept sweeping. He was a force, and that day, Kane’s life picked up and moved to a new course. I believe he started actually living that day and was smart enough to never look back. I see that same change in you. He’s good for you like Avery was good for Kane. You’re not gonna miss what you’ve let go of.”
Robert had never considered such a comparison, and for some reason, he agreed. Even though he knew nothing more about that time in his fathers’ lives than the memories sporadically shared over Robert’s life. Rodney nodded toward Landon, and Robert looked that way as the music came to an end. Landon caught his quick peek. Like normal, Landon had a way of picking up on Robert’s emotional cues. His husband’s smile turned quizzical as he encouraged Autumn back toward the table.
“But Avery left his mark on you, that’s for sure. You’re the spitting image of that man.”
“Yeah. Always hear how much I look like him.” He smiled at the thought of his dad. “I was hoping to show Landon around. It’s part of the reason we started our honeymoon in Minnesota. He wanted to see where I grew up,” Robert said, looking up as Landon touched his shoulder. The gentle caress moved across his shoulders until Robert could capture the hand in his and bring it to his lips. His gaze stayed on Landon’s as his lips pressed against his knuckles.