Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
I slept hard. When I woke up the next morning, Lexi was gone. I reached for my phone and saw that she’d texted me a series of messages.
Hey. I need a little space. I am not asking you to leave today, I will just spend a few nights at Gran’s house. I’m heading there now, and I will tell her Thanksgiving is off. I’m also going to tell her you and I have decided to part ways. I don’t see any point in prolonging this.
I hope you have a nice time with your family. I truly loved meeting them and think they’re wonderful. I envy you all those siblings and the close relationship you have with your dad, and I’m sorry if our split upsets them.
Your mom’s earrings are in a box on the dresser. Please return them to your dad and let him know it was an honor just to wear them for a little while.
Thank you for all you did for me. I consider you a friend.
I read it through several times. Then I put my phone face down on the nightstand and buried my head beneath the pillow.
I could still smell her.
TWENTY-THREE
lexi
I couldn’t face Gran right away, so I drove to Winnie’s.
Even though she and her family were in the middle of prepping Thanksgiving dinner, she led me upstairs and let me sob on her bedroom floor while Dex played with Michael in the family room and Hallie and Luna took over in the kitchen, peeling potatoes and cubing bread for stuffing.
“The worst is, it’s all my fault,” I blubbered. “I should have looked over that will. I could have prevented this. I could have said no to his crazy scheme and saved myself from falling for him.”
Winnie had done her best to console me, and even invited me to stay there and have Thanksgiving with them, but as much as I appreciated the invitation, I knew being around her happy family wasn’t going to help. After I cried myself out, I drove back home, stopping at the market on the way and picking up the bare essentials for a turkey dinner.
Then I headed to Gran’s house to put the groceries in her fridge, make her a cup of tea, and deliver the bad news.
“I don’t understand.” Sitting across from me at the kitchen table, Gran shook her head. “You’re so happy together.”
“We just moved too fast, Gran. We realized we’re better off as friends.”
“Friends?” She repeated the word like she didn’t comprehend it. “That doesn’t make any sense. He’s in love with you.”
My throat tightened, and I fought hard against the sob threatening to choke me. “I don’t think so. It was just infatuation.”
“But the things he said, and the way he looks at you, and everything he’s doing for Snowberry . . .” Gran looked completely bewildered. “Of course he loves you.”
“I know this is hard for you to accept, but it’s the truth. We’ve decided to split up.”
Immediately, she brought her hand to her heart. “Oh,” she said, swaying a bit in her chair. “Oh, my. I’m feeling so strange. I’m short of breath. And my heart, it’s—it’s beating so fast.” She swooned and flung the back of her wrist across her forehead, her eyes closing. “Bury me in my pink suit, darling. The one with the pearl buttons.”
I shook my head. “It’s not going to work this time, Gran. I can’t give you what you want.”
She opened one eye and peered at me from beneath her forearm. “Why not?”
“Because Devlin and I are too different. He doesn’t want a family.”
Dropping her arm, she sat up straight again. “Hmm. He said that?”
“Yes.”
She considered the fact, and then dismissed it with a toss of her hand. “Sometimes men don’t really know what they want when it comes to that sort of thing. But they can be convinced.”
“No, Gran. I’m not convincing Devlin to stay with me. I deserve someone who doesn’t need convincing, don’t you agree?”
Gran opened her mouth, then closed it again. Sighed. “Of course I do.” Reaching across the table, she patted my arm. “Of course I do.”
“Thank you.”
Picking up her teacup, she took a sip and looked weary and put-upon. “It’s so hard being old. Your eyesight is worse, but sometimes you feel like the only person who sees clearly.”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m letting you down.”
“Don’t be silly, darling.” Gran tapped my arm again. “You’ve never let me down in your life. And I’m not convinced this separation business is real.”
If I’d had it in me to laugh, I would have. Devlin was right—people believed what they wanted to believe.
“Now how about we get some pies in the oven?” Gran asked. “Tabitha canceled on me.” She lowered her voice. “But truth be told, I’d rather bake with you. Tabitha isn’t much help in the kitchen.” Gran sighed. “But I try to be patient with her. I try to show her love so she can show it to other people, you know?”