Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
PROLOGUE
Tulsa Rose, Age 17
If someone had told me I’d lose three of the most important people in my life within years of one another, I would have told them it’s impossible. There’s no way my mom would have passed away when I was only ten years old. A massive heart attack while Dad was at work, I was at school, and my brother was away at college. My father greeting me at school in the middle of the day should have been a warning. The turmoil was written all over his face, except I was young and didn’t realize what was going on, so I ran toward him, a smile plastered on my face thinking he got off work early and was treating me to a day away from school with ice cream. That wasn’t the case. He explained to me when he didn’t hear from Mom at her usual check-in time around lunch, he had a weird feeling that something was wrong, so he went home, where he found her unresponsive. It was years later that I learned she had an undiagnosed heart condition, and the reason us kids had to have a cardiologist work up to make sure the gene didn’t pass to Mont or myself. Two years after that, Dad passed away in his sleep, from a broken heart.
Montgomery, God, how I’m going to miss my big brother. He picked up the broken pieces of our life. He was already the brother; it was the father and friend roles that became wrapped up all in one. He held the remainder of our family together, and now I’m not going to ever get to have those talks over ice cream when a boy at school annoys me or when the time of the month hits, and the world feels like it’s hitting me at every single angle. God, I could really use him right about now.
Instead, I’m sitting in an attorney’s office in town with Mr. Flay. Ledger is sitting beside me as we hear the final words of Montgomery’s last will and testament.
“Tulsa, Ledger, hate like hell that I’m once again here with your family,” Mr. Flay says, looking at me.
“Yeah, I can’t say that I blame you,” Ledger replies. I’ve been quiet, lost in my own thoughts, worrying about everything that’s going to happen from here on out, how I’m going to get through a single day. I’ll be honest—contemplating it is a struggle.
“Ledger, you’ve been given guardianship over Tulsa Rose. Montgomery wants her to go to school in Alabama, the school she chose, and she’ll be doing it as soon as possible. There’s been money set aside for daily expenses as well as on-campus living. Ledger will be responsible for taking care of the family home while Tulsa is away.” I gasp, appalled. How could Montgomery send me away? It’s bad enough everyone else in our family has left me, and now this. An imaginary knife twists deeper inside my heart.
“I’m not going to Alabama. I don’t care what Montgomery says. I’ll stay here and go to college.” I stand up, feeling dizzy as I do, cussing myself black and blue because my appetite has been gone. Not even my favorite comfort foods are appealing.
“You’re going to Alabama. You’ve been dreaming and working your whole damn life to get into that college. If this is what Mont wants, it’s what you’ll do.” Ledger’s voice is unlike I’ve ever heard it before—deeper, darker, angrier. That’s good because the feeling is entirely mutual.
“It’s a good thing you’re not the boss of me, Ledger Sinclair,” I mouth off, hands going to my hips, stomping my foot. I hate today. I hate all days. I hate Mondays, Wednesdays, and I especially hate Saturdays. But today, Tuesday, might give the rest of the days I lost my family a run for their money, today is the icing on the cake.
“I’ve got a piece of paper that says I am, so get over your little snit. Why would you want to stay in this small town? You’re seven-freaking-teen. I’ll keep the house the way it’s been until you’ve graduated. Spread your wings, live your life to the fullest. Montgomery didn’t get that chance. And don’t start. He never once begrudged anyone for that, but he damn sure wanted to give you everything he could,” Ledger says. I can’t take it anymore. The world as I know it is no longer my own. I spin on my heels and run for the door, not ready to lose what little dignity I have left. I push the doors open with an energy I thought was long gone with my head staying down. The reception area is empty minus Leslie, Mr. Flay’s secretary. Even she doesn’t say a word. I’m pretty sure this isn’t her first time seeing people run away from their problems because that’s exactly what I’m doing. The next door gives just as easily. The fresh air, the hot sun, the slight breeze, it’s what I need, and it’s all about to be taken away from me. Yes, I’m aware Alabama still has the same air, sun, and weather as Florida, but it’s not home. It’s not Orange Blossom.