Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 143633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 718(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 718(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
“Ending your life? That’s a bit drastic.”
“It’s where I was at the time. Rosie made that better.”
“She’s a great girl.”
“She’s an angel. I’m sure you are very proud to be her mother.”
“Oh, I am.” She had the same kind of dimples as Rosie when she smiled. The same welling of tears in her eyes as the emotions caught her. “I missed her so bad.”
I noted the past tense.
Missed.
“As did she. A huge amount. She’s been desperate for you.”
Beverly put chapter one down on the side and wiped her eyes. She cleared her throat, choking back more tears.
“So, tell me. Is Rosie really the miraculous girl who changed you? I’ve heard that kind of bullshit plenty of times. You’re the one and only, so different, blah blah blah.”
“I’m sure you have. But Rosie is a truly miraculous girl. She’s not blah blah blah. She couldn’t be.”
“Would you have really stabbed Scottie in the ribs for her?”
My heart was truly racing now.
My stare was right on hers as she carried on.
“You would have done it that morning? Honestly? You’d have killed the piece of shit to keep her safe, damned with the consequences?”
“To keep you both safe. Yes. I would. And he knew I was serious. Hence he upped and left like the true piece of cowardly shit he is.”
She sighed. “I didn’t have a clue about that, you know. I kidded myself that Scottie and me had our problems, but they were spats, and he got heated, and he’d always apologise. Said he’d get therapy. Said things would change, and they would for a bit.” Her brows tensed. “I fucking hate him. I’d stab him in the ribs myself for what he did to Rosie that night.”
“I’m sure you would.”
Her eyes didn’t leave mine.
“Thank you. For keeping her safe.”
“I always will.”
She gestured back to chapter one. “That’s pretty obvious, if those words are true.”
Beverly let out a long breath. I could feel her calming down in my presence, and I calmed myself, feeling strangely at ease. There was no hostility emanating from her, no rage, or finger pointing, or threats. She just sipped her coffee and looked at me.
I didn’t push her, or ask her for forgiveness, or approval, or anything. Her reactions were up to her, and I’d support them. She was Rosie’s mother. I had no place to influence her, other than offer the truth.
“I love your daughter,” I told her. “On my life, and her life, Beverly, I love your daughter, and I would do anything to keep her safe. Anything.”
Fresh tears sprang up in her eyes.
“Then take her away from this place, please. Take her away from here. From this shithole, this crappy estate, from this block and all its bullshit, all its everything.”
“Sorry?”
Her gaze was so real. So true.
“Please, Julian. If you love my daughter like you say you do, then take her away from here and give her something more. Will you do that?”
I was surprised by her request, but I didn’t hesitate.
“Yes. I’ll do that. If she’ll come with me, I’ll take her anywhere she wants to go.”
“You promise?”
“I swear.”
She smiled at me. Rosie’s mother smiled at me, like I was a hero and not a villain. It meant so much that I felt my own tears welling.
“So, where’s chapter two, then?” she asked. “You can’t leave me hanging after chapter one.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Seriously? You’d like to read more?”
“Hell, yes. I think anyone would.”
My heart swelled. Proud. But my trepidation tingled around the edges.
I laughed a nervous laugh. “I’m afraid things get a bit raunchy after chapter one. I’m sure you don’t want to read about that.”
She grinned back at me. “You’re blushing,” she said and I felt my damn cheeks burning up.
“Sorry,” I said, “it’s just, yes, it’s a bit… explicit.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll skip those parts.”
“I mean, really explicit. Kind of, kinky, and…”
“Seriously Julian,” she said and she sounded so much like Rosie. “Get over yourself and let me read it. I’m not as vanilla as you might think.”
I was beaten and I knew it. In for a penny, in for a pound, as the saying goes.
My heart was racing all over again as I led her back through to the dining table, offering her a seat at the laptop.
“Beverly, please be careful, there are different levels of explicit, and these ones can be…”
She gave my arm a friendly slap and rolled her eyes at me.
“Shut up about it. I said I’ll skip those parts. I’m sure they’re great. I just don’t want to read it about my daughter. She’s eighteen now, it’s up to her how kinky she wants to be, just so long as you’re not a sicko who wants to fuck her over, that’s none of my business.”
Well, what a turnaround.
I laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you know the chapters before they appear.”