Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
I button up the silk top and that is when it happens. That is when the walls come crashing down and the sob escapes me. I put my hand to my mouth to stop the sob, but it roars out of me at the same time my knees go weak and I crumble there in my walk-in closet. My eyes close, I was with Lisa in the delivery room when Cici was born. The minute they laid Cici on her chest, there was this overwhelming sense of love that came to her. She sobbed the whole time and all I could do was hold her and cry with her. “Hi, baby,” she kept saying the whole time. The whole time she repeated how much she loved her over and over again. It was a memory I was now never going to forget. It was a memory I would spend the rest of my life repeating to Cici every day if she wanted me to.
My head hangs down in front of me, my hair falling in front of my face. I don’t hear the front door open. I don’t hear him come in the room. I don’t hear his voice speak to me. All I know is he’s squatting down in front of me. “Hey,” he says softly, putting his finger under my chin and raising it. I look into his eyes and all I can do is sob. He sits on the floor in my closet and pulls me into his lap. Pressing my head to his chest, the warmth of his arms chases off the coldness that was filling my bones. “It’s okay,” he soothes me as I let out the tears that I’ve been holding back since I got the phone call. “It’s going to be okay,” is all he says over and over again as I let it all out. I don’t know how long I stay like that, once the tears leave me, all I can do is stare at the blank white wall.
“The only thing she ever wanted was to be a mom.” My words come out low, my voice still trembling. “Over and over again, every birthday when she blew out the candles, that was her wish.” I smile. “I mean, you aren’t supposed to tell people your wish but she didn’t believe in that, so she told anyone who was within listening range.” Levi kisses my head at the same time his arms tighten around me. “I promised her that I would take care of Cici,” I say softly before pushing off Levi’s chest. “It’s silly she even had to ask me. I even thought it was silly when she sat me down, nervous to ask me, so nervous her hands were shaking. I laughed at her because she was the strongest woman I know.”
“Second strongest,” Levi corrects, pushing my hair away from my face and behind my shoulder. “She’s the second-strongest woman I know.”
I smile at him. “You’re only saying that because I’m your wife and you have to.”
He chuckles. “I’m saying that because it’s the truth.” I put my hands on his chest, feeling his heart beating. “Now, as much fun as this is”—he looks around—“being on the floor of your closet.” He raises his hand to look at his watch. “We should be going.”
I nod my head and I’m about to get up when I stop. “Thank you.” He smirks at me. “You know, in case I haven’t told you before.”
“I’m keeping track,” he teases, pushing the other side of my hair behind my shoulder. “Your payback list is very, very long.” I can’t help but laugh because I’m sure it’s going to be longer by the time we can get divorced.
I get up and he quickly follows me. “Go clean your face,” he urges. “The last thing I want them to think is that I did that to you.” I gasp as he points a finger at my face.
“Rude.” I turn, walking to the bathroom and he follows me in there but stops at the door. I look at my face in the mirror. “My eyes are red and so is my nose. My sister just died.” I throw my hands up, turning to look at him. “Where is my coffee?”
“In the car,” he states and I take him in. His black suit with the white button-down shirt fits him like a glove. He always wears clothes like he’s on a runway, but his suits, his suits always push him above and beyond. Especially when he crosses his arms over his chest, pulling his sleeves up, letting you see the silver Rolex he wears. There is something about a man and a good-looking watch to make him that much better. “Now, are you ready?”
I take a deep breath in as I turn and look at the mirror one more time, the redness in my eyes is down a bit, but they are still puffy. My nose is still a touch red. “I’m ready.” I nod, walking to him. “Let’s go,” I say, walking past him and toward the stairs. We walk down the front steps and he opens the car door for me.