Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Thank you.” I make eye contact with Kennedy, and she nods.
“And look at my new blankie. Kenny said it glows in the dark. It’s so soft, Daddy.”
“I can see that. Do you have room for one more?” I ask them.
“Daddy, you have to sit behind Kenny. That’s how it works. The daddy holds their family.”
My heart stalls in my chest. I stand still until it starts again, beating a furious hard-rock beat in my chest. I wait for the panic to hit that my daughter is attached to Kennedy. The panic never comes. Instead, I’m even more determined to figure out a way for this to work. I don’t want to let her go, and I know that Blakely doesn’t either.
The daddy holds their family.
I want us to be a family. It’s clear as a bright Georgia sky. I can see it in my mind. I just don’t know how to make it my reality. I’ll figure it out. I won’t lose her. I won’t lose this feeling of rightness that washes over me every time I’m close to Kennedy or hear her voice. She’s a part of us, and I need to figure out how it stays that way.
I never thought I would consider leaving Willow River. I loved growing up here, and my family is here, but for Kennedy, well, if it comes down to that, I have to think about all options. It would be hell selling the business and starting over, building clientele, but people have done crazier things for love, right?
The rest of the day, we cuddle, watch movies, and eat Kennedy’s homemade chicken noodle soup. Even though Blakely isn’t feeling well, I can’t remember a day that felt more right in a very long time. If ever.
I wonder what she would do if I asked her to stay forever?
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Kennedy
I’m driving through town, having just dropped my grandma off at sewing club. She’s getting around really well, and she’s going stir-crazy inside the house. She told me I was not allowed to come back before eight o’clock tonight. It’s one now. That’s a hell of a lot of sewing, but it’s what they enjoy. Who am I to judge? Besides, I think they do a lot more gossiping than they do sewing.
As I get closer to Declan’s shop, I decide to stop and say hello. Maybe I can steal a kiss while I’m there. I should feel guilty for interrupting his workday, but I can hear his voice in my head telling me that if I’m in town and I don’t stop to see him, he’d be upset. That’s what he said earlier this week. I drove Grandma to her appointment, and she tried to get me to stop, but I said no, that he was working. I told him about it later when we were having dinner at the pizza place with Blakely.
The door is barely closed behind me when I hear an excited yelp, and my legs are being attacked. I brace my hands on the wall next to me and smile down at Blakely. “Hey, sweetie. What are you doing here?”
“Mamaw and Papaw had to go to the doctor’s,” she tells me.
“It's just for a few hours,” Declan says from his seat behind the desk. “I’m pulling desk duty until then.”
“And you get to come to work with Daddy.” I push Blakely’s hair back out of her eyes. “I love your overalls,” I tell her. She’s wearing pink bibbed overalls that look adorable on her.
“These are my wiener pants,” she tells me.
“What?” I ask, barely containing my laughter.
“Blake,” Declan groans. “I told you to stop calling them that.”
“But, Daddy, they give me a wiener. Kenny, did you know boys have wieners, but girls don’t? But I do when I wear my wiener pants.” She points down at the crotch of her overalls that are bunched up.
“I think that’s just the way the material lays,” I explain.
“That’s what Mamaw said, but it looks like Daddy when hims wears jeans, but his wiener is real.”
“That’s enough, young lady,” Declan scolds. “No more.” He points his index finger at her as he uses his dad look. I can see the sparkle in his eyes, and I know it’s killing him not to laugh at his daughter.
I step farther into the small waiting area. “What if I take Blakely with me for the afternoon?” I suggest. Blakely immediately cheers, but before Declan can respond, his phone rings.
“Hey, Palmer,” he greets his sister-in-law. “Are you sure?” he asks. His eyes flash to mine and then to his daughter. “Yeah, Blake and Kens are both here with me at the shop. I’ll put her on.” He hands me the phone. “Palmer wants to talk to you.”
I take the phone from him, placing it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, you. What are your plans for tonight?” My eyes find Declan, but he’s not giving anything away.