Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
I think I know where this is going, but there’s something compelling about hearing them feed it in little bites.
“He was a brave boy, always wanting to swim. I told him not to go in too deep, but he wasn’t the kind of boy to listen to his mom. Or his dad. Or his older brothers. Or even me.” Evelyn smiles. “So, when we weren’t looking, guess where he swam. I think Lake Mesabi must be around eighty feet deep. The little beast didn’t even bring his lifejacket…”
Evelyn moistens her lips, looking at Arlo. My heart tightens, knowing she’s probably imagining what might happen if Arlo swam out that far. They were a similar age—it must feel like looking back in time.
Has she noticed their similarity yet?
But then she glances back at me with a flat stare.
“He disappeared,” Delly says. “We were beside ourselves. My husband and Evelyn’s, they threw themselves in the water, swimming after him.”
“Poor Archer wanted to go in, too,” Evelyn reminds her. “But you told him to stay on the shore.”
“He was too young and that lake was deep. I wouldn’t dare risk another son. But between them, they got Patton out. His little lungs coughed up so much water.” Delly’s face looks white as she remembers it.
Evelyn nods glumly. “A tragic reminder of how fragile life can be.”
I glance at Arlo, but he’s oblivious to the scary story, chewing his lip as he remains glued to his animals.
My heart won’t stop racing and I wasn’t even there.
To me, my son doesn’t seem so fragile, but that’s because I’ve seen him jump down stairs and patched up countless scraped knees.
But really, he’s small.
His hands, clutching the tablet, are tiny. If something were to happen—
No, not today.
Not ever.
I’m being ridiculous.
Nothing’s going to happen because we’re not by a lake, and after that story, I’m not sure I want to take him to one until he’s in middle school.
“You know,” Delly says, leaning forward and placing her hand on my arm, grabbing my attention. “It’s been great getting to know you. These old stories aren’t half as interesting without any new ears.”
I smile.
“It’s been nice, Delly. So is bringing Arlo around for company. He could use the practice with his social skills. School just doesn’t cover every situation.”
“Of course. He’s a lovely boy, isn’t he, Evelyn?”
“To die for,” Evelyn agrees.
“But I appreciate your honesty, Salem,” Delly continues. “Patton hasn’t brought any girls home since high school. It’s a hard thing being sincere and authentic.”
“I mean, I can’t be anything else,” I say.
An eyebrow quirks as she smiles. “You’d be surprised how many others try. I’m a little protective of my sons—not that they need it when they’re grown men. Until Dexter got engaged, I feared they’d stay allergic to dating forever. And Archer? You don’t even want to know.”
That actually piques my curiosity, but I laugh along with them.
“Some women get funny ideas. They see this big old house and think they know what we want to see and what my boys expect.” She laughs and the tension drains from her shoulders. “They aren’t great at it when they try to go through me, always playing up their looks and eggshell personalities. Patton, though, he knew how to pick them when he was younger, or so I thought. Then the truth would come falling out, whether he screwed things up or not.”
I take a long pull of coffee, hiding the way my stomach pinches at the thought that I’m being compared to his old dates, even if it’s favorable. And how fast will that change when they figure out the truth about Arlo?
“Well, I’m an open book. What you see is what you get, like it or lump it.”
Well, mostly.
Delly’s face splits in a grin.
“We already knew that, honey,” she says, that hint of Southern drawl she has making its way into her words. But all that does is make me feel guilty.
Soon, soon.
The whole truth and nothing but.
After I’ve told Arlo first.
But it feels like that moment is coming too soon, bearing down on me like a bison stampede, wild and inescapable.
Part of me wishes she’d take a good long look at Arlo and figure it out right now. I can’t wait for all the lies and deception and half-truths to end.
Once everything is finally out in the open, we can move forward, whatever that looks like.
Is this how Patton’s been feeling ever since he found out? It’s pretty rotten, like insects crawling under your skin.
Enough.
Today’s the day, I decide, standing abruptly. I need to tell Arlo and show Patton I’ll do what it takes to make this work.
“Come to think of it, I should see Patton,” I say. “I just remembered there’s something important I need to tell him.”
Delly trades an indulgent smile with Evelyn. “We understand. Say no more, dear.”