Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“I love you, too. Cheers, darling.”
Thirty-Seven
Ryan
On Saturday afternoon, I knocked on Mrs. Gardner’s door at twenty after two.
She opened it and smiled broadly. “Well, don’t you look spiffy!”
I’d purchased a black suit for Bones’s funeral and figured I might as well get another use out of it. “Thanks.”
“I’m all ready, so let’s go.”
I took her arm and helped her down the porch steps, although she was steady on her own feet. Beneath a wool coat, a long flowing skirt showed in a light purple color. I thought it was an odd choice for a funeral, but I kept my mouth shut. She was wearing pretty bright lipstick too, but I figured she didn’t get out much, and maybe she was looking at this as a social occasion. Who was I to judge?
After helping her into the truck—a bit of a struggle—she gave me directions to an address on Old Mission Peninsula. We’d first have to go south about twenty minutes to Traverse City, and then up Highway 37, which bisected the narrow strip of land jutting into Grand Traverse Bay. I wasn’t too familiar with the area, but I’d thought Old Mission was mostly farms, wineries, and vacation homes. It surprised me that there would be a funeral home on it, but I said nothing.
That was okay because Mrs. Gardner chattered the whole ride and didn’t seem to expect me to contribute anything to the conversation. I tried to keep the look on my face at least neutral so she wouldn’t know how irritated I was to spend my Saturday doing a good deed for her instead of doing bad things to her granddaughter. I made myself think of Stella and how she would hear about today and be impressed that I was such a decent guy. Maybe she’d even reward me with another blowjob.
Oh fuck, I thought as my cock got a little excited at the thought. Not now. Go away.
Maybe I’d better keep my mind off Stella.
I still had no idea what exactly I was going to say to her. Before I drove down there I was really going to make an effort to think through everything I wanted her to know, all the reasons why she should give me another chance, all the ways I was going to try to make her happy. I knew she’d probably ask me about marriage and family, and I was going to be honest with her. It wasn’t something I thought I’d be good at, but I was willing to consider it if that’s what it took. I was willing to do anything for her.
“Here we go,” said Mrs. Gardner, gesturing toward a sign up ahead that said Abelard Vineyards.
Was she confused? “Are you sure?” I asked. “This doesn’t look like a funeral home or a church or anything.”
“I’m sure.”
Doubtful, I turned where she said and followed the winding gravel road to where it curved into a circular drive in front of a huge, beautiful home that looked like a European castle. Beyond it stretched the rolling hills of a vineyard and several smaller buildings. To the left of the house was a gravel parking lot about a third full of cars. I looked for any indication that there was a funeral service here today but saw none. The people getting out of their cars and heading for the house were all young or middle-aged and dressed up.
“You can pull right up to the door, dear,” said Mrs. Gardner. “I was told we can park in the drive.”
I did as she asked, and that’s when I noticed the sign, a large rectangular chalkboard with flowers draped across the top. Welcome, it said in flowing lower-case script. Then beneath that in smaller capital letters:
EMME & NATE
NOVEMBER 10, 2018
My confusion lasted only long enough for me to put the truck in park.
I looked over at the old lady. “You didn’t.”
She smiled deviously. “I’m afraid I did.”
My heart was hammering in my chest. I couldn’t face Stella here, with a million people around, at a wedding. I didn’t even know what I was going to say to her yet!
“I can’t go in,” I said stiffly, my jaw set.
“Nonsense. You and Stella have been apart long enough.”
“I’m—I’m unprepared. I can’t go into a situation unprepared.”
“You’re as prepared as you’ll ever be. Trust me.” She patted my leg.
“What if she doesn’t want to see me?”
“Forgive me, dear, but that’s just asinine. She’s in love with you. Of course she wants to see you. And didn’t you ask me for her address so you could pay her a visit? Tell her you were wrong?”
“Well, yes, but—but I thought I’d have more time to get my thoughts together,” I sputtered. “I’d have the long ride down there, and—and—”
“She doesn’t want a rehearsed speech, Mr. Woods. She wants you to speak from the heart. She wants you to look her in the eye and make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. Like she’s the only one for you.”