Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“That might be the longest movie I’ve ever seen,” I said, just as I heard the faint sound of a ringtone. I reached for my phone at the same time Beau bumped my head up, taking his phone from his back pocket. It turned out it was his phone ringing. “It’s my mom. She video-calls every Sunday evening.”
That jackknifed me straight up, and I immediately tossed the pizza back on the box and pushed my hair back into place. I wasn’t sure that I knew she called every Sunday since she texted both of us all the time.
“Hey, Mom,” Beau said to the video call. Kailey, Beau’s baby sister, played with a toy in his mom’s lap.
“Hi, babe. Kailey, say hi to Beau. Is that Dash there with you?”
“Hi, Linda,” I chimed in, but Kailey held my full attention. I waved, giving her my brightest smile. Every time I saw the almost one year old, she looked more like Beau to me and seemed to grow inches between visits.
“Hi, Dash. Are you off tonight?”
“I took the day off. We just finished watching Avatar,” I replied as Kailey’s nanny came into the frame and lifted Kailey into her arms.
“I’ll be up in a few minutes,” Linda said to the nanny. “Don’t start her bath until I’m there.” Words I’d never heard my mom say to my nannies.
His mom’s transformation was truly remarkable. Her chestnut hair was elegantly swept up. She looked as youthful as Beau and effortlessly beautiful, happy, and content. I envied those feelings. My parents, particularly my father, still had a strong hold on me. I wanted him to regret what he’d done to us. A focus on vendetta was taking over that place inside me where my reasonableness used to reside. And my guy was in sync with everything about his family. Well, except Carter himself, who Beau obviously hadn’t accepted.
“Dash, Wesley asked you to call him in the morning, early. He’s sorry he missed your call last night,” she said. “I was going to text you. He and I just hung up the phone.”
Beau turned to look at me—more like a glare—but I didn’t look at him to know for sure. That silent stare spoke volumes, asking when I’d had time to call Carter while I was with Beau last night. And ultimately what he wanted to know was why I was calling Carter at all.
“How’s Kailey doing? She seems to grow every time I see her,” I asked, trying to steer the conversation in any other direction at least for now.
“She’s good. Beginning to walk. Wesley’s upset he’s missing her first steps,” Linda said. I, of course, grinned broadly, but Beau stayed awkwardly silent and stone-faced. “When she can’t stand on her own, she gets angry. Has Beau shown you the videos?”
Well, no he hadn’t but that was where Linda shined. She included Beau in everything, making sure he felt secure in their new family.
“Kailey’s gonna be a handful,” Beau said proudly.
“Honey,” his mom hedged, trying to form her words. “The reason why Wesley’s trying to get ahold of Dash is that he wants us to designate you as Kailey’s guardian if something happens to us.”
“Mom, nothing’s going to happen to you,” Beau interjected as if that was the dumbest thing he’d ever heard.
“No, Beau, this is important to us,” Linda said. “Wesley has a big extended family, so these decisions have to be made and documented. Wesley has named Dash as his executor to the trust we have for both you and Kailey.”
Beau swiveled his head in my direction again. This time there was no denying his accusatory expression. My explanation of attorney/client privilege wasn’t going to go over as well as I’d hoped it might.
“Dash named executor?” Beau asked. “He probably should have told me before making that commitment.”
“I felt it was better to let the information ride until you found out,” I whispered. “I know how you feel about him.”
“I don’t feel anything about him,” Beau scoffed, dismissing the claim.
“Save such a lie. We three know that’s untrue,” Linda said. “Son, I’m safe and secure, as is Kailey. Wesley’s a wonderful husband and great father. I’m truly very happy. Wesley feels the same way I do. We love each other.”
Beau stared at the screen, his face morphing into a passive expression.
“He’s no longer pouting,” I said to her when he didn’t speak. She and I both knew Beau wasn’t pondering her words. Instead, he turned his dislike into himself, handling it privately.
“Go give Kailey a bath,” he finally said. “Dash took the day off to spend time together.”
“Shocking,” his mom teased. Her raised eyebrows spoke even louder than the words as she looked at me.
“Hey now, I was just on your side, and I like Carter,” I said teasingly. “Stay mad at Beau, not me.”