Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Preppy clears his throat. “Uh, is this a good time to let you know that what I just saw down there was a fucking shit show, but for some reason, I’ve got a chubby.” He scratches his beard. “And for the first time in my life, even I’m concerned about my mental status.”
“Prep,” King warns.
“I’ll give you two some space,” Preppy says, as if his leaving was voluntary and not because King is demanding it with his eyes. He heads toward the door. “I hope the cell service is back up soon. I gotta talk this through with Doc.” I can still hear him muttering to himself on the other side of the door. “Maybe, I should start going to church…”
I look down at our newest little one whose wrapped her little hand around my index finger. She makes a noise like an amused grunt, and I chuckle. “I have the perfect name for her.”
King smiles knowingly. “I think I can guess what it is.”
I press a kiss on the top of our daughter’s tiny head. “Welcome to the world, Polly Storm King.”
We may have named her after a hurricane, but she’ll be no match for one.
I rest my head against King’s chest.
Just like her parents.
Chapter 8
Ray
SIX WEEKS LATER…
The generator powering our refrigerator and lights, the one on our porch that’s been running twenty-four hours a day for the past six weeks, is louder than a lawnmower, but after six weeks, I’m used to it. The vibration in my ear drums has become the new normal.
Polly is propped on the counter in her bouncy seat while I heat her bottle. I check the temperature of her formula on my wrist. It’s perfect. “Alright, baby girl. Lunch is served.” I look down only to find that Polly is now fast asleep.
I smile and set the bottle down. “I guess lunch will have to wait,” I whisper, running the back of my index finger over her plump little cheek. I carefully unbuckle her from the seat and carry her into our bedroom where I place her in her bassinet and adjust her soft swaddling blanket.
I check my phone to make sure the baby monitor is working before heading out into the living room.
“Ray?” A voice asks. Preppy’s wife Dre pops her head through the open screen door. “Sorry, I didn’t want to just come right in. I rang the bell, but this damn thing is so loud out here I didn’t know if you heard it or not.”
I hadn’t. “Come on in,” I say. “How was New York?”
Dre smiles and steps inside. “Thanks. It was great, but if I’m being honest, I love my father, but these past few weeks have been the longest of my life. We took the first flight back after the airport reopened.”
I return her smile. I’m happy to see my friend again.
I pause and my smile grows wider.
Happy.
I’ve felt a lot better over these past few weeks, but this is the first time, I’ve been able to place that word with something I was feeling.
“What’s got you all smiley?” Dre asks, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
I shake my head. “Just happy to see you.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Preppy and King are outback with the brood.” I round the counter into the kitchen and grab a mug from the cabinet. “Coffee? Tea? Beer?” I ask Dre.
She flattens her hands on the counter. “Nope. They aren’t. Preppy and Bear took the whole lot of them to Bear’s house to check out the new playground Thia built, and the only thing I want right now is to keep watch over that baby of yours while you go take some me time.”
I put the mug away. “That’s okay. You don’t have to—”
“I know I don’t, but I’m doing it anyway, and I’m not taking no for an answer. Where is the little miracle?”
“She’s sleeping in her bassinet in our room,” I say slowly.
Dre claps her hands together. “Great.”
“The bottles are—”
“Not my first rodeo, Ray!” She calls out to me, already halfway down the hall.
“You’re starting to sound a lot like your husband, you know,” I call back.
She looks over her shoulder. “I mean it. Go take some time for yourself, and don’t come back because I’ll just send you back out again.” She winks and carefully opens the bedroom door, disappearing inside and shutting it quietly without so much as a click.
I look around the quiet living room.
Now, what the fuck am I supposed to do?
I shove my feet into my flip flops and head outside. The sunlight is warm against my skin. The generator is deafening but thankfully fades as I pass it on my way to cut through the backyard to the bay.
The scent of salt and fish is as it was before the storm, lightly perfuming the humid air.