Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Jason’s birthday was in exactly one week, on July 31, and Abe had to figure out what to buy for the man who could afford anything.
“What are you getting for him?”
“I don’t know yet.” Abe took a sip of his coffee and winced. He’d prefer a chai latte, but he couldn’t make that at home, and Jason always had the coffeemaker set the night before, so the coffee was easier. “Your dad’s not an easy man to shop for.”
“I have an idea,” Kris said excitedly.
“What?” Anything that made her that happy would be a strong contender.
“You can get him one of those fancy coffeemakers.”
“What’s wrong with this coffeemaker?” Abe asked, pointing to the shiny machine on the counter.
“Both you and my dad make a face when you drink that coffee, so I’m guessing it’s not very good. But that’s not what I meant, anyway. My friend Ilia’s parents have a machine that uses those little plastic cup things and makes all sorts of flavors. We use it to make hot chocolate when I spend the night at her house. It even has that milk-frother thing.”
“Hmm,” Abe said as he pressed his lips together and nodded. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“It’s a great idea,” Kris said, displaying some of her father’s charming self-confidence. “My dad will love it and the rest of us can use it too.”
“I always said you were exceptionally smart.” Abe walked over to the sink and poured his coffee down the drain, no longer in the mood to suffer through a mediocre beverage now that he was thinking of fresh-brewed, flavored drinks. “That’s what I’ll get him from the three of us.”
“The three of us?”
He nodded. “You came up with the idea, so your name has to go on it and I, uh, bet your brother would have said so too if he was here.”
She rolled her eyes at that last comment. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m going upstairs to do a little work and then I’ll drive you to school. We can stop at the Roasted Bean on the way,” he said cheerfully. “It’ll be a farewell trip, because once we get our fancy new coffeemaker, we’ll become our own baristas.”
THOUGH IT was tempting to avoid Donny, Abe stopped by his room on his way downstairs. “Donny,” he said as he knocked on the door. “I’m taking Kris to class and then going to the mall to get your dad’s birthday present. Do you want to join me? We’re stopping by the coffee shop on the way.”
Abe was expecting to be ignored or to hear a loud no from behind the door, so he stumbled back in surprise when, instead, Donny yanked the door open.
His hair was sticking up in all directions, and his tattered, baggy jeans barely hung on his hips. “I need to stop by Mom’s house to get my things,” he said as he pulled a wrinkled T-shirt over his head. “You can take me, right?”
“Oh. Sure. Of course.”
“’Kay. I’ll be right down.” He rubbed his hands over his bleary eyes, scratched his head, and flicked the door shut as he turned around.
Frustrated at the rudeness but wanting to choose his battles with the strong-willed boy he was still getting to know, Abe sighed and went downstairs.
“Ready?” Kris said when she saw him.
Her brown hair was neatly brushed and pulled into a tight ponytail. She was wearing a tan skirt that hit her knees, a pink polo shirt, white shoes, and her backpack. Everything about Jason’s children, from their demeanors to their wardrobe, was different. It kept life interesting.
“Yes, but we’re waiting for Donny.”
“Donny’s coming with us?” she asked in surprise.
“Yes. He needs to pick up some things from your mom’s house.”
She frowned.
“Do you need something too?” Abe said, thinking that was what upset her. “I know I picked you up a day early unexpectedly.”
“No.” Kris shook her head. “We’ve been keeping clothes and toothbrushes and everything here all summer. What would I need to pick up at my mom’s?”
Based on Kris’s tone, Abe realized her frustration was related to her brother. He hoped that once Donny got help, his mood would stabilize and their relationship would improve.
“Let’s go,” Donny said as he trudged down the stairs. From the look of his hair, Abe assumed he hadn’t bothered to run his fingers through it, let alone brush it.
Kristen followed, her shoulders tense, and Abe made a mental note to get referrals to therapists that day.
THE MORNING passed by relatively smoothly. They stopped at the coffee shop and got drinks and pastries, dropped Kris off at the community college, and then went to Angela’s house, where Donny ran inside. Abe waited in the car and used the time to send some texts asking for referrals to therapists and then forwarded the responses to Jason. After fifteen minutes, Donny came back with a bag, and Abe drove toward the mall.