Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“How was your flight in yesterday, Zach?” Lori asked.
“Fine.”
“Did you have a chance to see any of the area today? Autumn is a really beautiful season around here.”
“I took a run this morning. It is a pretty area.”
“I think we’re going to get some rain tonight,” said Mason, “but hopefully it clears up quickly.”
“Rain on your wedding day is supposed to be lucky, right?” Lori smiled and shrugged. “Maybe rain during your rehearsal is lucky too.”
“You should come to the rehearsal dinner, Zach,” Mason said. “I mean, if you want to. It’s tomorrow night.”
I picked up my water again and took a few cold swallows.
“Mason and I were thinking it would be a less hectic time for you to meet my family than at the actual wedding,” Lori explained. “But we don’t want to put pressure on you.”
I cleared my throat. “I’ll give it some thought.”
Just after two o’clock, I went back to my hotel room and crashed on the bed. I wasn’t sure if it was the change in time zone, the six-mile run I’d taken that morning, the big meal, or the emotionally exhausting conversation I’d just had, but I was wiped out. I fell asleep within minutes.
When I woke up, the room was dark. I checked my phone—it was after five. There were several messages from Jackson regarding an upcoming job and one from Mason.
Thank you so much for meeting us for lunch. Lori and I had a great time. It was so good to finally meet you in person, and I feel like the pieces of my past and myself I was missing are all falling into place. We’d love for you to come to the rehearsal tomorrow. If you want to. It’s at Cloverleigh Farms, and we’re all meeting in the lobby at 4:45.
Setting my phone aside, I lay on my back and tossed an arm over my head. I knew what the right thing to do would be—go to the fucking rehearsal and play whatever role Mason asked me to. Would it make up for the past? For my immature hasty departure from Andi’s life? For his going essentially fatherless for almost thirty years? No.
But no matter how much I told myself this wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t quite bring myself to fully believe it. Somewhere in the timeline, I’d fucked up, whether it was having unprotected sex or beating up her ex or taking off without a goodbye. My hands were not clean.
After texting back that I’d be there, I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. I watched a few Seinfeld reruns, then I turned it off and wandered over to the window, pulling the curtains aside. It was just starting to rain, but I needed some air. I grabbed the keys to my rental SUV and left the hotel, not sure where I was headed—maybe I’d grab a drink and dinner somewhere. It was almost seven and I was starting to get hungry.
Heading in the direction of downtown, I spied a place called Southpaw Brewing Co. that looked good. There were no parking spots on the street, so I pulled past it to circle the block. At the corner, I waited for a trio of women to cross the street before I made my turn, and for a second, I thought I saw Millie among them. I stared at their backs through my blurry windshield, but it was dark and they were moving fast, hurrying through the rain. But there was something about that long hair, and the way this woman carried herself, that struck me as familiar.
The car behind me honked, and I pulled forward, tossing one last glance at the women over my shoulder.
CHAPTER 7
MILLIE
Friday morning was gray and drizzly, and Winnie texted that she didn’t feel like going to HIIT class. I grabbed an umbrella and went by myself, and afterward I walked up the street to Frannie’s bakery, Plum & Honey. Her coffee was always the best, and I wanted to run Winnie’s idea about the plus-sized bridal salon by her.
Frannie was someone whose judgment I trusted, and she’d started her own business too. Plus, she’d grown up at Cloverleigh Farms—that’s where she’d met our dad—and I knew if she said leaving the security of my job there wasn’t bananas, it would be the truth.
Beneath the striped awning, I shook off my umbrella, then went inside. Frannie looked up from where she stood pouring coffee behind the counter. “Well, good morning. What a nice surprise.”
“Hi.” Leaving my dripping umbrella by the door, I approached the marble counter and pointed at the pot in her hands. “Got some of that for me?”
“Always. To go? Or can you sit for a minute?”
“I can sit for a minute. I want to get your take on something, if you have time.”