Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“It’s not—” I said, stopping when I realized he wouldn’t understand no matter how many times I said it. “Grandma’s not there, Rhett.”
“Grandma,” he said, resting his head on my shoulder. He sniffled and I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “Grandpa?”
“Grandpa’s not there, either, pal,” I said softly, rocking him from side to side. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, the words muffled against my neck.
“It’s going to be okay,” I murmured. “I promise.”
“My best friend,” he replied quietly.
“Well, that’s good,” I teased as I put him back in his seat. “Because you’re my best friend. You ready for the next stop?”
“No car,” he said with a sigh, letting me buckle him.
“It’s not too far,” I said, my stomach twisting with memories and anxiety. “Only a few minutes and then you can run around and play, okay?”
“Okay.” He didn’t sound like he believed me, and I wasn’t surprised. I’d been dragging him along with the assurance that we’d be there soon and just a little longer for days. He was over it, and frankly, so was I.
The drive was only a few minutes, just like I’d told Rhett, but it felt like a lifetime. Memories of driving the exact same route hit me like a sledgehammer and by the time we were driving slowly up the gravel driveway, I felt like at any moment I was going to burst into hysterical laughter or vomit.
“Trees?” Rhett asked excitedly, pointing out his window.
“We’ve been surrounded by trees since we got to Oregon,” I said with a laugh.
“Lots trees.”
“Yeah, there are a lot of trees.” I looked out the windshield, marveling at the changes and all the things that had stayed the same. The front door was painted red now, and there was a huge pot next to it that was filled with plants of every color. It looked good there. The roof was a different color, they must’ve redone it. They’d changed the landscaping at the front of the house, it was more polished than it had been the last time I’d seen it. Fancier.
“Out?” Rhett asked.
“Sure,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Just a sec and I’ll come get ya.”
I straightened my shoulders and opened my door, knowing that at least one person was looking out the window to see who was in their driveway. When you lived in town, you got used to people driving past or parking at the sidewalk. You didn’t even really notice it after a while. But when you lived on a piece of property, there wasn’t a reason for someone to be in front of your house unless they were there to see you. A car in your driveway was always noticeable.
I strode around the car, keeping my eyes off the front of the house.
“Okay,” I said, brushing Rhett’s hair out of his face. “You ready?”
“Yeah.” He swung his feet with impatience.
“Best behavior, alright?” I said as I got him out and set him on his feet. “Use your manners.”
“Manners,” he agreed, looking around me at the house.
“Let’s go, then,” I said, grabbing his hand.
He walked next to me like it was the most normal thing in the world to visit some random stranger’s house in the middle of the woods. I swear nothing ever fazed Rhett. He was happily taking everything in when the door opened and a familiar face came into focus.
“Emmy?” Myla said in disbelief. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at me and then down at Rhett. For a few seconds she gaped like a goldfish, then turned to look over her shoulder. “Mom, you better get out here!”
“Hey Myla,” I said, smiling halfheartedly. I knew it was weird that I was there, and I knew they were all probably pretty angry with me and would be even angrier by the end of the day, but it was still so wonderful to see her. She was beautiful. I’d known when she was just an awkward little kid that she would be.
“What’s wrong?” her mom asked, coming up behind her. As she passed Myla to look out the door, her hand shot up to cover her mouth. “Holy fucking shit.”
“Hey, Mrs. Hawthorne,” I said awkwardly as Rhett wrapped his arms around my thigh and leaned his head against my hip. “It’s been a while.”
“Holy fucking shit,” she whispered again, her eyes on Rhett.
“Mama, up,” Rhett whispered, his body practically vibrating with tension.
I hefted my son onto my hip, but that was the only movement in the front of the house until someone else poked his head over Mrs. Hawthorne’s shoulder.
“He doesn’t live here anymore,” the teenage boy said flatly, his eyes on me.
It took a moment to realize who it was. “Otto?” I stuttered in disbelief. He was huge, even bigger than Michael had been at his age. “What are they feeding you?” I asked stupidly.