Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“When would you want to do this?”
“Tonight.”
“But what about the Christmas tree and all their presents?”
“I’ll take care of that. You won’t have to worry about a thing.” I could see the wheels turning in her head, so I gave her a little push. “Come on, Maggie. It’s not going to be perfect. Hell, there is no perfect. There will always be struggles. You just have to figure out who you want to struggle with, and I want to struggle with you. Day in and day out. It's you.”
“I want to struggle with you, too.”
“Is that a yes?”
Maggie
“You’re serious about this?”
“As a heart attack.” Ronin’s lips curled into a sexy smile. “I want you in my house and in my bed, and I want you there tonight and every night after.”
I wanted to say yes. I really did, but I wasn’t sure how Nathan and Samantha would feel about leaving the only home they’d ever known. “I should talk to the kids first and see how they feel about it.”
“I’d be good with it.” I turned and found both Nathan and Samantha standing in the kitchen. “I think it would be fun.”
“Me, too.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, as long as you are,” Nathan answered.
They all three stood silently, waiting eagerly for my response, and before I realized it, I was nodding and saying, “Yes, we will come stay with you.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Ronin looked over at the kids and said, “Go pack a bag and be sure to grab your snow gear. We’ll hit the hill later in the week.”
“Awesome!”
They bolted down the hall and disappeared into their rooms, leaving me alone with Ronin. “We’re really doing this?”
“Looks that way.” He motioned his head towards my room. “You best get to packing. Won’t be long before the kids are packed and ready, and you don’t wanna keep them waiting.”
“Yeah, you’re right about that.” I eased up on my tiptoes and gave him another quick kiss. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Don’t get carried away. I’ll get the guys to come grab some more tomorrow.”
“Okay. Will do.”
I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as I rushed to my room and started packing. It was crazy. I knew it was too soon, but for reasons I couldn’t explain, it felt right. It felt more right than anything had in years. I started throwing things into my bag and was trying to make sure I didn’t forget anything when Samantha stepped into the room.
“What about my blanket and favorite pillow?”
“You can take whatever you want, sweetie.”
“What about my TV and the lamp beside my bed?”
“There’s already a TV in your room.”
“I know, but it’s not my TV.”
“Ah, I see.” I knelt down in front of her as I said, “I know this is a little scary, but we’re doing this together. And when you feel overwhelmed or a little homesick, Nathan and I will be there to help you through. And you’ll do the same for us.”
“What if we don’t like being there?”
“Then, we’ll figure it out. Just like we always do.”
Concern marked my daughter’s sweet face as she asked, “And what about Dad?”
“Nothing’s going to change with that.” I understood her concern. This was all happening so fast, and it was a lot for her to take in. It was a lot for all of us to take in. I tried to reassure her the best I could. “Your father has his life with Crissy, and you’ll still go and see them every other weekend, just like always. Does that sound okay?”
“Hm-hmm.” She nodded, then reached up and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “I love you, Momma.”
“I love you, sweet girl.”
“I’m gonna go finish packing.”
“Okay. Just give me a shout if you need any help.”
`“I will.”
We both went back to packing and, in a blink, we were in the truck headed to Ronin’s house. The kids were quiet but in a good way. Like me, they seemed excited and hopeful, but I knew better than to think they didn’t have their concerns. I knew they did, and I had them, too. But when I turned and looked at Ronin, my heart felt full, and I just knew I had to take a chance—not just for me, but for all of us.
When we got to Ronin’s house, he helped us get our things out of the back of the truck and carry them inside. Ronin went with Nathan and helped him get his room situated while I did the same with Samantha, and after an hour or so of utter chaos, things started to come together.
The kids’ rooms actually looked like their rooms, and the kids seemed pleased with how they’d turned out. In fact, they were carrying on just like they did when we were back at our house. Nathan was on the phone with one of his buddies and playing on his PlayStation, and Samantha was watching a movie while she organized her art supplies. Since they were all settled in, I decided to go back downstairs and finish putting my things away.