Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
I pull back before peering into her glistening eyes, “I’ll grab some on the way back.” Once I’m certain she has a hold of things better than Caleb or me, I rub her arms before reluctantly heading for the door.
I’m not surprised to spot Caleb on the other side. Not only is he shoeless, he also can’t leave knowing his cousin is upset.
“She needs this time, Caleb.”
He stares at the door for a handful more seconds before he strays his eyes to me. “What do you need me to do?”
I smile, grateful things don’t seem as intense between us as I thought before replying, “Follow me in my car so I have a means to escape.”
He smiles, assuming I’m joking. I am not. Today is family day at my father’s church, meaning not only will all my sisters be there, so will my chatty aunts.
When Caleb jerks up his chin, I start down the stairs, only stopping when I recall his disdain for members of my father’s congregation. It makes sense when you realize his grandfather was a priest who was charged with the molestation of several churchgoers. “There’s a park a couple of spots up from the address I’ll text you. I will meet you there.”
He smiles and nods again, the angst on his face disappearing in a nanosecond.
An unexpected bout of happiness smacks into me when I park my father’s car at the side of his church before walking to the park where Caleb should be waiting. Looking at my family dynamic from the outside in is crazily wild but also endearing. Family day doesn’t just consist of my siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It includes our extended family as well—my sorority sisters, my Little League coach and his army of girls, and my Girl Scout leader.
Even Heidi is here, and despite my promise to Caleb that I’d skip festivities so we can continue our watch of Octavia, I can’t bypass Heidi without squeezing her to death with one of her betrothed hugs.
I save all my mollycoddling for her because I know how much she hates it.
“Jess, I thought you said you couldn’t come.”
I take a moment to relish her familiar scent before dropping her eyes to her rounded stomach. “And not see you knocked-up for the second time? I thought you said one kid was enough?”
“He is enough.” Her expression softens. “But I miss the baby stage. Lachie was so cute until he learned how to walk.”
“So we’re holding this one down when she tries to crawl this time around?” When she nods, I rub her expanded belly before straying my eyes over the barbecue my father hosts after every sermon. “Where is Lachie? I should probably squish him too. I don’t want him growing up not knowing what it is like to hate hugs.”
Heidi laughs. “He should be back at any moment. He needed to use the bathroom. Your dad is with him.” When I pull a face, she laughs. “Don’t be like that. He isn’t mad.”
“Says the lady who didn’t steal his pride and joy.” I thought my father would have shown up the next day to collect his vintage Jaguar, so you can imagine my shock when he said it was my responsibility to return it since I took it without permission. “He doesn’t like my rebellious side.”
Heidi laughs again. “Says the lady who didn’t give him any endless amount of lecture points.” Grabbing my arm, she leans in close. “Today’s lesson went for over an hour.” She digs her nails in when I laugh. “And that was merely a bonus sermon. We still had regular church after that.”
Once she’s certain I understand her frustration, she nudges her head to the toilets at the back of the church grounds. My family church is old, so all plumbing is outside its cathedral-like buildings. “Go give Lachie a hug before I shackle you in the dungeon and ask your father for a personal service.”
With that being enough incentive to move anyone’s feet, I hug her for the second time before hotfooting in the direction of the outside bathrooms. I’m partway there when my father emerges from the male restroom with Lachlan holding his hand, peering up at him as if he is a saint.
If the wet patch on the front of Lachlan’s pants is anything to go by, his expression is valid. It doesn’t matter who you are, my father treats all his church members as if they are family. He never ridicules or shames them when they’ve done something wrong. He merely shows them how to do better, then praises them when they do.
That’s why it sucks knowing how much I’ve hurt him the past couple of years. I’ve skipped his monthly services he collects me for and snuck out like a rebellious teen, yet he still supports me like he doesn’t have another four daughters to take care of.