Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“You’re welcome, babe.”
I turned around so he could fix the necklace around my neck. “Feel like dinner?” Rex whispered, his breath warm.
I turned my head and looked up at him. “No.”
He gazed down at me, his eyes darkening. “My bedroom? I’ve wanted to have you to myself all day.”
“Sounds good,” I agreed, and led the way to his bedroom.
The sunset streamed in through the window, casting orange, red and yellow hues on the bed. Rex turned the key and then came and joined me on the bed. He stared deep into my eyes before he kissed me.
We made love passionately, intensely, and sweetly, and by the end of it, I had tears in my eyes. I knew I couldn’t carry on like this. I needed some space to be away from him, to think and get my head straight again.
“What’s wrong?” Rex asked, his forehead creased with concern.
“I need to go back to Bison Ridge.”
“What?”
“Just for a few days. I need to think.”
“Think about what?”
“Remember when you needed time to sort your situation with Kayden and I gave you all the time you needed without ever knowing what was going on?”
His face closed over. “Okay. I get it.”
“Thanks, Rex.”
“I’ll get my secretary to book the Presidential Suite at The Lake Club for you.”
I smiled sadly. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not pretending anymore. What I am is what I am.”
“You won’t be pretending. You’re my woman, and my woman stays at the Presidential Suite.”
My chin trembled with the effort not to cry. I wanted so badly to bawl. No one had been so protective of me, since my father died.
“When do you plan to go?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What time? I’ll get the plane ready for you.”
“Oh, Rex,” My voice broke. “Don’t. You’ll just make me feel bad.”
He looked genuinely perplexed. “Why would you feel bad because I want you to travel in comfort and not waste time with senseless rules and regulations at the airport?”
I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Okay. Okay. Thank you.”
50
WILLOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8fHNdrZTSI
It was so strange to return to the Lake Club without Rex.
I met Mrs. Johnson in the foyer. She tutted and went on about the big wedding that never was. She had heard that Steven was no good, and Tiffany had done the right thing to ditch him.
I wanted to laugh at the stories she was telling me. They were all lies, obviously spread by Nicole to save face, but I didn’t. I said nothing, just nodded, and occasionally made some polite noises of agreement.
Upstairs, I leaned against the door, and it was like I could see the past as if it was a movie. A magical, elusive movie that would live forever in my mind. Rex and I, having breakfast, me trying caviar for the first time, us drinking champagne at the nest of sofas, having sex right there on the floor.
Slowly, I walked into the bedroom and stood in front of the big bed. I could see us, on top of the sheets, tangled and clawing at each other. I left the bedroom and walked into the bathroom. There I was, with my jeans snarled around my ankles, breathing hard, in a state of shock because I never knew, never dreamed, sex could be like that.
The doorbell ringing startled me out of my reverie. I went to answer it. Solomon stood outside.
“Welcome back, Miss Garrett. It’s good to have you back,” he said.
I experienced a strange feeling of affection for the stiffly polite man in front of me. “Hello, Solomon. It’s good to be back.”
“May I get you anything, Miss Garrett? Some champagne, perhaps?”
“No thank you. I’ll call if there’s anything I need.”
“Please do, Miss Garrett.”
I closed the door and suddenly, I couldn’t bear the utter emptiness of the room. Without the larger-than-life presence of Rex, the suite was too silent, too hollow. There were too many ghosts here. I opened the door and looked out into the corridor. Solomon was just reaching the elevator.
“Solomon, um… could you arrange a car for me please?”
“Of course, Miss Garrett. Where to?”
“The cemetery.”
He nodded. “The car will be waiting for you outside in five minutes.”
“Thank you.”
I went back inside the suite and stood by the door for about two minutes, then I left.
The cemetery looked all at once, lonely and magnificent. The ancient oak tree stood alone, its trunk gnarled and dark against the snow-covered land. I walked along the little path that had been meticulously cleaned by the old caretaker, Mr. Watcombe. A lone Robin-red breast followed me curiously, hopping on the ground a few feet from me.
Both my father and mother’s graves were in impeccable condition. Nicole could never let anyone know how she really felt about my mother, so she kept both graves in great condition.
I kneeled next to my mother’s grave. “Oh, Mom, I don’t want to make the wrong decision. I’m so afraid I won’t know how to be a good mother to Kayden.”