Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
“Alright, I can’t fault you there. Why don’t we start at the home décor store first, maybe see what the furniture store has, and then the boutiques? Maybe one of them is hiring. If not, I need some new fall decorations and, well, your dad isn’t home, so I can sneak them in, and he’ll be none the wiser.” Mom acts like Dad would ever say anything about the shit she traipses into the house. The man cherishes the ground she walks on, and he knows about her habit of redecorating for every occasion possible. Honestly, it’s a wonder they can park her car in the garage with all the totes she has lined up.
“Anything in particular you’re looking for this time of year?” I hum at the end of the question, eyebrows lifting and watching as she formulates an answer. This is how my mom shops—it doesn’t matter if it’s for home stuff, clothes, or groceries, she wings it completely.
“I don’t choose what to buy. The items choose me, Kody Goodwin. Goodness, it’s like you don’t even know me.” She’s laying it on thick today. It’s a good thing I’m chugging coffee like it’s an IV to my mainline artery.
“Well, lead the way. Maybe I’ll let you buy me lunch.” She hooks her arm through mine as we casually walk down the red brick sidewalk.
“Don’t be silly. Your father is buying our lunch as well as anything you may find you like.” I roll my eyes. It may be Daddy’s credit card, but it comes out of the same account.
“Oh, so a seafood dinner, dessert, and bottle of wine would be fine?” I joke. She stops in her tracks, head turning on a swivel. I watch as she sees me trying to hold back my laughter. It’s of no use.
“You’re as bad as Shaun and your father put together. I’ll spring for a steak salad at your favorite restaurant. How about that instead?” she asks.
“I thought Daddy was paying the bill.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
“He is, but I don’t want seafood today. So, there.” We start walking again. The silence between us doesn’t bother me; it’s kind of nice not to fill it up with useless chatter.
“I missed this, Mom, a lot, and I’m really glad I’m home.” I move my head to her shoulder as we walk. The inches Mom has on me allow it. It’s times like this with her I’ve missed the most, not the shopping. The talking about nothing and everything, giving her shit and her dishing it right back. The being in our small town and running into one another, random moments in time. It was hard when we lived states apart. Sure, we’d see each other when I’d fly down or they’d fly up, but it’s not the same.
“Well, you don’t have to miss it anymore. And my God, Kody, Richie was just awful,” she admits.
“Wait, you never liked him? Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask, shocked because this is the first time I’m hearing about how she feels about my ex-husband.
“Honey, no one liked him. Not me, not your father, and certainly not your brother. He always gave me the ick, like he was trying too hard to be something he wasn’t. Anyways, your father and I talked, and we decided the best course of action was to stay quiet. Remember when you were a teenager, and we’d say no? You’d figure out a way to do it anyways. Well, we didn’t want to lose you by saying something about your husband. Though, to be honest, I wish I had now, thinking back on it. You’d have moved home a hell of a lot sooner, or maybe that’s me projecting what I wanted all along.
“Wow, I’m shocked. No one let on, well, except for Shaun. He’d make comments here or there. He always did, no matter who I was with.” I’m stunned, but at the end of the day, my mom is right. I didn’t see the red flags, and I damn sure wouldn’t have listened. My blinders were fully on for the entirety of that rollercoaster until I was ready to get off.
“It doesn’t matter now. You’re home, right where you belong.”
“I am. Now let’s go see the damage we can do on Daddy’s card and have a good time,” I suggest, washing away the heaviness of our conversation.
“Let’s do that.” We continue our path, shutting the door on Richie yet again. Only I hope this time, it’s for good.
7
JAMESON
“Josephine, you almost ready?” I ask while cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast. Yesterday, we hung out with my parents until about lunchtime, then we had to stop by the grocery store to stock up on food for the week. Next time, I’ll remember to go without the snack monster. The bill was double than what it usually is, and now the fridge and pantry are filled with an overabundance of food.