Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I feel cocooned and safe, protected, not just by him but by everyone here. Em, Misty, and Khloe provide me with reassurance that being here is the right choice.
“The boys will be helping me in the garage today,” Vincent says, earning a yippee of joy from both kids.
I don’t know what they get up to in that massive garage, but he says he’s been teaching them manly things. What I do know is that they haven’t asked to watch television once since we got here.
“The plumbing is finally done in your salon,” Em says. “So Sutton will come with me while you get to work on getting it all together.”
Before coming here, I’d argue with anyone who told me what they were going to be doing with my child rather than asking, but I don’t feel defensive when it comes to her for some reason.
I give her a quick nod before making sure that all the kids have eaten their breakfast.
“No,” Jace says when I stand and pick my plate up. “You cooked. We do dishes.” He looks over at Vincent who winks at the kids in approval.
“Well, thank you,” I say, handing over my plate to him.
Vincent presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Tomorrow morning after breakfast, you’re mine for a couple hours.”
His words are more than a promise. We’ve learned, as I’m sure many parents have, that a lot can be done in twenty minutes alone. But I know we’re also both itching for a little longer time together than that.
My cheeks heat as I look away, afraid someone else might’ve heard him.
“Come on, sweet girl,” Em says as she approaches.
Seeing Sutton reach her arms up to Em makes my heart clench, wishing my own mom were here and healthy.
I’m glad Sutton has someone she can see as a grandmotherly figure, but it also stings a little that she’ll never really have that from my mom.
I take a deep breath and stand as Vincent pulls out the bottom drawer below the sink. There’s a step stool built in, making it easier for Jace to reach the water faucet so he can wash dishes.
“We’ll see you in a few hours,” Em says. “Tell Momma later alligator.”
Sutton attempts to repeat the goodbye, but it’s a mashup of vowels and consonants that don’t make much sense.
I wave at the smiling girl before they disappear around the corner.
The last week and a half since we got here has gone by fast, but at the same time, each day since Albuquerque has been effortless. It’s as if the stress I felt every second of every day has just faded away. I no longer have to worry about bills or groceries or getting up and getting the kids ready so I can go to a job I hate.
I’m sleeping better, and I know a lot of that has to do with everything that Vincent has offered me, and it’s not just the safety and security.
He’s been generous with his time, helping any time he sees a need, and without asking. He’s even gotten the boys to be more cognizant of others’ needs.
He mentioned last night that they’re going to be leaving for work soon, and although I know it will be out of the country, he didn’t give me much more information than that. I’m left wondering if I’ve somehow managed to jinx everyone, that maybe my bad luck has ended but has shifted to someone else just because I’ve entered their orbit.
“Are we ready to get started?” Misty asks as she walks into the kitchen. “I brought my picture hanging kit.”
She holds up a drill of some kind and a clear box that has a ton of different screws and brackets in it.
“Are you trying to put me out of a job?” Oracle asks as he walks in with his own drill and supplies, his looking much more professional than Misty’s.
“I would never,” she says, laying her tools and kit on the table, a hint of relief in her eyes.
She told me once last week that the quickest way to get a man to fix something is by saying you’ll do it yourself.
I huff a laugh at her when she winks because she just proved herself right.
“I figured you’d be in the garage with the guys,” I tease.
He shakes his head. “I can ride a bike, but I’m better at handyman stuff than mechanics. I don’t think my skills would leave any bike safe to ride. So hanging shelves is the plan for today.”
“Don’t let him lie to you,” Devyn says as she walks up with a wide grin on her face.
She offered to make curtains for the little salon we’re working on getting up and running and offered it in trade for a haircut.
“He fixed one of my sewing machines the other day,” she adds.