Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I said, breaking into a sigh. “My name is Mavis. I’m…” Dating? Seeing? About to marry? “Alessio Murphy Romano is your neighbor? We’re actually here now doing a few final things but…”
“Oh, gotcha. He talked about you.” He paused. “I’ll come outside.”
Before I had a chance to say much more than that, he was hanging up on me, leaving me so abruptly that I wondered if I should have tried to stop him.
But then I saw the big bull of a man charging around the corner that separated Murphy’s shop from his, and he made me blink in surprise.
Jeremiah Flannagan was a hot, sexy older man that clearly worked out.
He was also a rather pissed off looking man that had a glare that could flay the skin from my bones if he only wanted to try.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I held out my hand.
He looked at me suspiciously, but ultimately held his hand out for me to shake.
“Murphy around?” he asked, sounding miffed.
I would’ve originally said yes, but Murphy had gotten kind of hermit-like lately. He didn’t want anyone to see him suffering.
Which was why half the gym had been turned away over the last week by me.
He just…didn’t have the energy to make them feel better about him dying.
“Um, no. Actually, he’s busy with something.” I paused. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a week now.”
Him not answering had meant that his mom and I just had one more thing to add to our ever-growing list of things we needed to do.
And, not saying that I didn’t love Murphy’s dogs, because they were sweet, but I would rather be spending that time with Murphy. Not spending thirty minutes driving into town while I could’ve been spending it with him.
“I’ve been kind of hard to get a hold of lately,” he admitted. “Had a bad break up with my ex-wife. Been sorting that shit out for quite a long time. Dealing with my fuckin’ daughter hating my guts for something I didn’t do…they look a lot like you. I’m sorry for being a dick.” He winced. “Got like, eight hours of sleep in the past twelve days thanks to that fuckin’ storm up in Arkansas.” He shook his head. “I’m the VP for Ally Power, and we sent like thirty trucks up there, and I went with them. Just got home to your message about feedin’ the dogs and it just…fuck. I’m tired.”
I smiled, but it didn’t meet my eyes. “It’s okay. As for why Murphy can’t come…” I hesitated. “Murphy is dying. He is in end-stage heart failure, and tomorrow we’re starting him on hospice care. End of life care.”
Jeremiah looked stunned for a long second, then his mouth fell open. “What?”
I rubbed at the gaping hole in my chest.
I looked down, once again expecting to see something sticking out of it—like a knife or a mace—but finding nothing that showed the trauma and pain I felt on the inside.
“I wish that was a joke but…it’s not. Murphy is dying. They are giving him about two weeks tops left to live. The only reason he’s still alive this long is…he’s stubborn.”
• • •
“So where to now?” I asked cheekily.
Murphy gave me a smile. “You guessed?”
I shook my head. “I heard. I got out of the shower for my toothbrush and heard you speaking with your lawyer about me marrying you.”
Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of the county judge.
Five minutes later, I was staring at a man that was marrying me. In the van that he absolutely hated.
Eight minutes later, Murphy was asleep, exhausted from the day, and I was the brand new owner of a two-carat princess cut diamond ring.
That night, I lay next to my husband and cried.
CHAPTER 19
I’m going to stand outside so if anyone asks, I’m outstanding.
-Mavis to Murphy
MAVIS
“Hello?”
I answered the phone before it’d even had a chance to ring a full rotation.
Like always over the last few weeks, I’d hoped and prayed that each time the phone rang, that I would answer it and find out that a heart had been found for Murphy.
Yet, each time I answered, it never happened.
I glanced at the man that was lying on the pillow next to me and found him wide awake.
His eyes were heavy, dark bags were underneath of his eyes, indicating he’d been awake. Likely for a while.
Shit.
I’d gone to sleep thinking he was asleep himself.
Had he been faking?
“Ms. Pope?”
I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes. “That’s me,” I croaked.
“This is Jeremiah Flannagan.” He paused. “The bakery owner that has a shop next to your husband. We spoke yesterday.”
I closed my eyes.
Murphy was my husband. How had he known?
“Hey,” I whispered softly, not wanting to interrupt the hospice nurse and Murphy.
“Yeah,” he croaked. “I just wanted to call you and tell you that the dogs…one of them perished during the night, and the other one isn’t looking too good.”