Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I laugh, smiling to myself, and he grunts in response and kisses my neck.
“That was unexpected.”
“I know. I really needed it. It’s like… it’s like all those negative feelings just built up and I fucking finally washed them all away. I just needed to come and god, I feel so bad better.”
“Feel free to use me as needed, wife. My cock is at your disposal whenever you please.”
I laugh again, feeling so light and free for the first time in years. It’s an amazing feeling, and one I never thought I’d have again.
He kisses me, rolls to the side, and takes something from the coin tray on the top of his nightstand. I stare at his hand as he holds it up: a gold wedding band.
“Now it’s official,” he says, grinning.
I laugh and kiss his chest and snuggle against him.
There’s a knock at the door. He grunts in response and doesn’t move as he wraps his arms around me, but the knock comes again. We break apart and he reluctantly dresses, looking serious.
“Stay here,” he says and I watch him grab a gun from his top drawer and slip it into his pants as he goes into the other room.
I pull on clothes and follow at a distance. “Are you sure?” he asks, speaking low.
Eunika’s voice answers him. “Yes, very sure. The doctor just called.”
“Tell him we’ll be there shortly.”
“Very good.”
“How is she today?”
“She is good as she can be. It’s a good day to go.”
“Get everything ready, I’ll be there soon.”
He finds me in the hall and sighs, smiling.
“Sorry,” I say, “couldn’t help myself.”
“How much did you hear?”
“Something about your mother and doctors.”
He nods, leaning against the wall with a sigh. “I took her to see a specialist last week. They ran a bunch of tests and they got some results back they want to discuss, so we’re going over to talk about everything.”
“Is that bad?”
“Doctors don’t usually call you back in if it’s good.”
“Shit, Kellen. I’m so sorry.”
He shakes his head. “We knew she was sick. Now we’re just going through the process of getting a diagnosis and seeing if there’s anything we can do to help.”
I hold his hand and he kisses me.
“I’ll be here when you’re back,” I say, standing on my toes to hug him tight. “I promise.”
“You’d better be.” His hand grips my ass. “Because I want to go somewhere with you when we’re finished.”
“Yeah, really?”
“Be dressed and ready in a few hours. I’ll have Finn pick you up.”
“Okay.” I grin a little and lean against him. “Are you going to start spoiling me now just because we’re sleeping together?”
“It’s not spoiling if you’re paying for it every night.”
“Asshole,” I say, laughing.
Chapter 21
Kellen
The doctor’s office is bright and overly clean and Mom sits on the table looking agitated. Her back’s straight and she’s frowning at me like she’s not sure who I am. But when I move my chair closer and take her hand, a small smile cracks her discomfort.
“I remember taking you to the doctor’s office when you were a little boy,” she says, tilting her head and squinting. “You had to get a vaccination shot and you were so upset you took this little stuffed bear they had for children in the waiting room and stole the scarf from around its neck and tied it over your arm. When the doctor came in, you ran out of the room. I was shocked, but the receptionist and the doctor all thought it was hilarious.”
“Did I get the shot?”
“I held your butt down and when it was over you said it wasn’t so bad.”
I laugh and she smiles at me. “I don’t remember that at all,” I admit.
“You wouldn’t, dear. You were so little back then. God, I remember when you were tiny. I’d carry you around the house and sing to you. That was back before the house got so big and before we had so many people on staff and it was always quiet at night. I’d sing and walk you around and bounce you and your father would complain that my singing kept him awake. I told him, Orin, if you want to take over the night feedings, be my guest. Otherwise, zip it.”
“I can’t imagine Dad taking that well.”
“He was too tired back then to get rough with me.” She sighs and shakes her head. “And honestly dear, your father rarely raised his voice at me.”
“It was always just me and Cait, wasn’t it?”
He squeezes my hand and there’s a deep sadness in her eyes. “He wasn’t well.”
I want to tell her not to defend that piece of trash and that we’re all better off now that he’s dead, but the doctor comes into the room. He’s a middle-aged man in his forties named Dr. Kennedy with a thin and fit runner’s frame, gray hair cropped short, wire-rim glasses, and that brusque demeanor all doctors must learn at school. He sits down and goes through Mom’s chart.