Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
I knew my hunch was right when Amber ran right to that window and climbed up on the seat to look out.
“Look mommy, it’s pretty.” She pressed her little hands against the window and looked on in amazement.
I’d chosen this particular place out of all the others not only because of the house itself, but the spectacular grounds.
There were flowers everywhere and a little park fit for a kid her age. Beyond that a little ways from the house was a manmade pond of about four acres that already had a family of geese floating in its waters.
I knew she would like that, the little girl who still believed in fairytales. I knew to her it would be a wonderland.
I also knew that if I didn’t want her mother to give me shit, I had to go over her head and through the child on this one.
When she jumped down from the window and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the door with excitement I was sure I’d hit my mark.
“Come on uncle Evan, I wanna go see the duckies.” She moved as fast as her little legs would carry her.
“I don’t think they’re ducks princess, I think they’re geese.
She didn’t seem to mind as she dragged me through the house looking for an exit. Her mother wasn’t far behind as we made our way towards the water.
Once there I kept a tight hold on Amber’s hand and thought of ways to protect her from falling in in the future, without hindering her enjoyment of the pond.
“Next time can we feed them mommy?”
“I don’t know if there’ll be a next time. This isn’t uncle Evan’s house.”
I lifted Amber and turned her to look at the birds, not quite willing to look at her Gia. Now that the time had come I was nervous.
I wasn’t sure of her reaction and I needed so much for it to be the one I wanted. “There will be lots of next times.”
“What, what do you mean?” Now I had no choice but to look at her. “I mean that I bought this house…for us.”
“You…” Her mouth fell open in surprise and she looked back at the grand house that was lit up with the afternoon sun making it even more spectacular.
I kept my eyes on her to see what she would do, what she would say, but when nothing was forthcoming I figured it was because of Amber’s presence.
All the way back in the car she was quiet. I looked in the rearview mirror at Amber who’d fallen asleep before taking her hand in mine and placing them both on my thigh.
“If you have something on your mind just say it.”
“What could I possibly have on my mind?” She looked back at her child before turning back around but from the way she was gritting her teeth I knew she was having a hard time holding it in.
“Fine, I’ll let you yell at me later after Amber goes to sleep. I was thinking we’d make dinner at my place, you two can spend the night and go home tomorrow.”
“We can’t I didn’t bring a change of clothes for either of us.”
“That’s easily taken care of. I already know you have Amber’s medication in your bag so if that’s your only excuse…”
“And if I say that I don’t want to?”
“You haven’t given me a good enough reason.” I stopped at the closest shopping mall and pulled into the parking lot just as Amber was coming awake.
We found a kid’s store first and she chose a Disney nightgown. I also chose some shorts and a top with the same theme for tomorrow and left her mother to see to her underwear before dragging them off to the women’s store.
“I don’t need anything, I can just wear this tomorrow. Besides you already bought me all that stuff.”
“So why did you use that as an excuse? Just grab something to wear tomorrow. You can forget the nightgown you won’t be needing it.”
Her face reddened and she checked to make sure Amber hadn’t heard me. She was too preoccupied with her new purchases to pay us any mind.
Since she’d made it an issue I made her choose an outfit before taking them home to get dinner started.
It was a bit early for me but Amber eats at this time, plus the sooner we eat, the sooner she’ll go to bed and the sooner I can have her mother flat on her back in mine.
Amber and I made dinner while I made her mother sit out of the way and watch since she kept complaining about the mess we were making.
When I wasn’t thinking about her mother, I was realizing how much I’d come to like having her around. She was sweet and shy and so curious about everything.
And best of all, she seemed to think I had the answer to all those questions. The mother might not be sure, but there was no doubt that I’d already won over the daughter.