Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“That’s great... really, really great.” I let out a breath, trying my best to shake my mindset. When that didn’t work, I told him, “I ah, I need to get our things out of the car. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll come and give you a hand.”
“No, that’s okay. I got it.”
With that, I stepped outside and started over to my car. I’d just opened the trunk when I heard the low rumble of a motorcycle off in the distance, and my heart stopped. I held my breath, trying to brace myself for what I might see when I turned and looked down the road.
But no one was there.
Soon, the rumble faded, but the tightness in my chest remained.
There was something about that familiar sound that had me stepping back in time,
And just like that, I found myself bombarded with memories of Malcomb.
The way he always held my hand when we were out.
The way his eyes darkened when he was about to kiss me.
But most of all, I loved the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the world who mattered. He would whisper my name, and that was all it took. The heartbreak started to creep back in, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I felt a tear trickle down my cheek, and it was enough to pull me back into reality. I was done crying, so I quickly wiped the tear away. Unfortunately, my mother caught me in the act. “Honey? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You don’t look good.” She stepped closer, trying to get a better look at me. “Is this about Joseph and the baby? You know I would’ve loved to keep Dalton...”
“It’s not about that.” I motioned my head towards the road. “I just thought I heard a motorcycle.”
“Oh, I’m sure that was just one of the boys. They’ve been working on a big renovation project downtown. They’re redoing the bank and coffee shop.” She sounded almost excited as she told me, “They’ve done an amazing job. You should go see it.”
“I don’t think so.”
“So, you’re going to do like you usually do and hide out the entire time you’re here?”
“If by hiding out you mean hanging out here and spending time with you and Dad, then yes. That’s exactly what I’m planning to do.”
“And what about the wedding?”
“What about it?”
I grabbed our bags from the trunk, then started towards the house. I hadn’t made it to the front steps when she said, “You know, he will be there.”
“Who?”
“Londyn.”
“Okay... And what if he is?”
“Are you going to talk to him?”
“I don’t know, Mom.” I wasn’t a complete idiot. I knew the time would come when I would have to face Malcomb and hash things out, but the wedding wasn’t the time or the place. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
“Well, I think the time has come for you to start thinking about it, because sooner or later, you’re going to have to face this thing with him.”
“You’re acting like I’ve never tried to talk to him. You know I have.” I knew it wasn’t enough, but I’d gone to the clubhouse three separate times to talk to him. Each time, there was something—a run or an issue with the brothers that prevented me from seeing him. I’d written to him countless times, but never got a response. I could only assume that he didn’t care about me or our son, so I gave up. “Besides, it’s not like he’s made any effort to see me.”
“Malcomb has made his fair share of mistakes. You both have... Maybe it’s time you both faced those mistakes and moved on with your lives.”
Mom had always been a very level-headed and understanding person. Even when I was completely irrational and downright stupid, she never judged me. She never told me I was wrong or that I was making a huge mistake. Instead, she always waited and listened to me, and once I’d said everything I had to say, she’d help guide me to find my own answers—and tonight was no different.
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Nothing about this is easy, sweetheart.”
Without saying anything more, she stepped over to me and took Dalton’s bag from my hand, then started back up the front porch steps. I followed her inside and put our things away. By the time I was done, Joseph had gone, and Mom and Dad were in the kitchen getting things ready for dinner.
I joined in, and while we took turns chopping vegetables, we caught each other up on all the things that had been going on in our lives. It wasn’t long before we’d put together quite a meal. We gathered in the dining room and continued talking as we ate.
After dinner, Mom followed Dalton into his room and helped him get ready for bed. Once he was settled, we each gave him a kiss goodnight and turned out the lights. I took that as my cue to turn to Mom and say, “I think I’m going to call it a night.”