Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
“You sure about this, man?” Bart says.
“Sure about what?” Graham replies.
“What you’re doing with this girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“Graham, we know you’re lonely,” Abby chimes in. “We know you want to do the right thing. But don’t you think you’re giving a bit much to some girl you barely know?”
“What business is it of yours what I do?”
“I’m just concerned for my brother is all,” Bart adds.
“And I’m concerned about a poor girl and her child.”
“Yeah, but you don’t need to invite her to stay in your house and go through all this for her. You could be taking a much more hands-off approach and still help, Graham.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know. You could have gotten her a hotel room. Hook her up with some more formal support. You know there’s a bunch of state programs for disaster relief.”
“Those are hell to get through, Bart. And she needs help now.”
“Look, Graham,” Abby again interjects. “We’re just worried about you getting attached. Or her taking advantage of you.”
Graham snaps back. “Taking advantage of me? What the hell are you implying?”
“I don’t know! That’s poor wording, maybe, but there’s something irrational about how you’re acting, and as family, I think it’s our role to keep you in check and stop you from doing something potentially stupid.”
I shudder at those words. Graham has never once done anything to make me feel like I’m a leech on him. When I’m alone with him, I can tell that my concerns are all in my head, but the fear is strong. What if this being pointed out is all he needs to realize that I’m not worthy of him? That he deserves a much more balanced relationship, with someone who has something to give in return for all his kindness?
“I’m really surprised at you two,” Graham says. “I’d think that you, Bart, more than anyone else, would realize that there’s a damn good reason to go out of your way to do anything for a girl. And I thought you’d empathize with her, Abby.”
“Wait, are you suggesting…?” Bartlett asks, trailing off.
“Yes, I’m suggesting just that. I think I’m in love with this girl, brother.”
A chill rolls down my spine.
Love?
9
GRAHAM
That these two had the nerve to come and say these things to me pisses me off.
“You just met her two days ago,” Bart says in a shocked tone.
“And you declared your love for Abby not long after you met her, no?”
Bart takes a deep breath before nodding. “So you really think it’s the same thing?”
“I know it’s the same thing. We Roughs have a tendency to fall in love awfully quick, don’t we?”
He takes a moment before laughing and smiling. “Yeah, we do.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the subject of our discussion. By the look on her face, I know she heard it all.
“Alright. If that’s your take, brother, then I’ll stop worrying so much. You can’t control love, after all,” Bartlett says.
I nod. “I get it. Thanks for your concern, but everything’s fine.”
Tallie steps away from the wall and comes back to the table.
Abby clears her throat. “Well then, thanks for the lunch, Graham. Delicious as always. But we gotta be going now, don’t we, honey?”
“Yes. We better head out,” Bart nods. He’s not angry anymore – his tone has shifted and I get the impression that he understands I meant what I said. And that I’m going to way more alone time with the woman I’m falling for.
“Everything all right?” I say as Tallie sits down.
“Yeah. Sure. Everything’s fine.” She says it in a way that suggests that no, she’s not sure, and everything is not fine.
How much of that did she hear?
I ponder how I’m going to tell her the truth about how I feel. As my brothers have shown, even if you believe in love at first sight, it’s not an easy conversation to have.
As we finish up, Lemon comes by and drops off Lucy in a stroller. My sister has an appointment of her own and I’m sure seeing Lucy is a calming sight for Tallie.
We head over to the local park and onto the Tender Trail. It’s a long path, but as difficult a hike as its name suggests.
Tallie has been awkwardly silent since we left the diner. She’s looking off in the distance as she pushes Lucy along in that baby stroller, and it’s pretty obvious she heard what I said and is struggling to process it all.
As I think about how to approach the subject, she goes and does it for me. “Love… You said you were falling in love with me?”
“Does it really sound that insane?”
“Maybe it does.”
“Does it scare you? Too much to consider it might be true?”
She walks along for a time, caught up in her thoughts. “The only people who have ever shown me love were my mother and sister. And I’m guessing the love you’re offering me is way different.”