Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“You’re a grown woman,” Dad says. Okay, maybe not so helpless. It’s just the tears that get to him too. “We understand you want to make your own decisions and live your own life. You’ve got a lovely place here, and you’ve worked hard at it. Eleven months is enough time to get used to anything, including a full change of life outside the city. You never deserved to have any of this happen to you, baby, and we’re so proud that you’re thriving despite everything.”
“I don’t know about thriving, but I’m doing the best I can,” I say sheepishly.
“You have the whole world open to you,” Dad says.
“But you’ll be so far away,” Mom wails.
Dad puts his hand on her shoulder. “Sue-Ellen, she’s only a four-hour plane ride away, and that goes for us and her. There are seat sales all the time, and we’re not going to be forced to be strangers anymore.”
“Who knows? When you retire, maybe you can build a house in the back. I have lots of land, and I’m pretty sure the zoning allows a second building on the property for living purposes.”
Dad chuckles, and Mom finally joins in, swiping away her tears. I know neither of them can imagine themselves living out here. They won’t ever leave the city, at least not for anything longer than a visit, but the offer will always stand.
“Ooh, maybe I’ll build a house and get some chickens and learn how to farm,” Katie says. She’s the only one of us still dry-eyed. “Kidding. That sounds super awful, no offense.”
“Ugh.” I rush at her and hug her hard before ruffling her hair because isn’t that the thing every single person on earth hates most? “That sounds like something only a brat would say.”
She shoves me away, then pulls me back for a real hug. “Brat? Brat? I’ll show you brat.”
She’s three years younger than I am, but after high school, she worked odd jobs and didn’t want to give up her friends or a more vibrant nightlife than I ever had. I won’t say she’s a partier, or she won’t grow up, or that she’s irresponsible because she’s not any of those things. She’s just taking longer than I did to find her path, and that’s perfectly fine. I knew what I wanted to be when I was ten years old, and I went for it so hard that I graduated early. Sometimes, especially with all that’s happened, it’s hard to believe I’m only twenty-five.
Taking my hand, Katie pulls me out of the kitchen, waving our parents off over her shoulder. “I just want to see the barn cats,” she says. “We got here too late last night, and I keep getting promised that one of them is an absolute unit.”
As I slip into my hairy slides, I flush at how I used Beau’s words with my family last night. Yeah, even out here, I didn’t totally give up on fashion. I remember how Beau’s nose crinkled when he saw these ridiculous, wonderful, pink, and impractical shoes. I shake the memory off. It seems like that’s all I ever do—shake off images of him. He’s a haunter, all right. A full-on freaking ghost.
“Tell me about him,” Katie demands as we walk to the barn. She’s got a pair of huge rubber boots on. I’m not even sure how she fit those into her luggage. They’re green, industrial-looking, and a total overkill, but exactly what my sister would pack to be prepared for the country. My freaking goodness, I love her. I love my parents. The giant ache in my chest hasn’t quite evaporated yet, even though they’re going to be here for a week.
It’s going to take me another few days for the reality of them being real and being here to truly sink in. I guess it’s half trauma and half disbelief that this nightmare is finally coming to a close for me. I’ve lived someone else’s life for a year, but it’s kind of been my life, too. I’ve learned how to be two different people. I’ve learned an entirely new skill set, different passions, and a new way to survive. It wasn’t horrible, other than going on the run and having to give up everything I loved about my old life, as well as not being able to see my family or friends. But the rest?
I breathe in the sweet smell of hay after pulling open the barn door.
Both cats rush at us as I take a scoop of food out of the container on the shelf. “Sorry, I forgot to bring treats. I promise I’ll come back with something. Tuna, probably.”
They both meow their heads off, eat a few crumbles, and then come racing over. Katie plops down on one of the bales, laughing as she gets double cat-mobbed. They both shove their wet noses into her palms, her neck, and her cheeks. They’re normally not so enthusiastic about strangers, but she probably smells like me after being in the house all night. Even if she doesn’t, she’s my blood and literally one of my favorite human beings ever.