Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Lavinia’s bills had become a struggle over the years, so I’d bought the inn from her and taken over the expenses in exchange for her continuing to run it. She still lived there and hosted occasional guests, which lately had been few and far between. She was growing frail, so the guests were pretty much on their own when it came to carrying their bags or changing the sheets, though a housekeeper I’d hired deep cleaned once a week. I kept a room at the inn and stayed there whenever I was in the countryside. I was in London most of the week, since that’s where I worked.
Lavinia had also become a confidante over the years. Although there were forty-five years between us—eighty-two versus thirty-seven—we got on quite well. I appreciated that the inn was a no-judgment zone, unlike my parents’ house, where I was frequently criticized for my life choices. While Lavinia, too, offered her opinion on things I didn’t want to hear about, she never shoved anything down my throat.
Lavinia sat alone in the dark in the kitchen when I arrived from Leo’s early that evening. A single candle was lit in front of her.
I went straight for the cabinet where she stored the liquor. “Turn on some lights, woman.”
“I’m meditating.”
“Looks like a horror show in here.”
She laughed. I liked making her laugh—and busting her balls. Two of my favorite things.
“What’s got you down tonight?” she asked.
“How could you tell?”
“Well, you usually say hello before you grab the gin.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Sorry.” I lifted the bottle. “Care for one?”
She nodded.
“Gin by candlelight. How special,” I said as I poured us each a drink. I took them over to the table and filled her in on the visit from Phil and Kate a couple of days ago.
Lavinia sat with her eyes wide, soaking in every word, as if this was the most exciting thing to happen to her in years.
“What is this woman’s name who offered to carry the baby?” she asked.
I looked away. “Would you believe I don’t know? I never asked.”
“Well, I think it’s high time you found out. And she can stay here if you invite her to Westfordshire.”
“You want a front-row seat to this shitshow, eh?” I narrowed my eyes. “Anyway, why would I invite her here?”
“Well, you’d have to meet her first, wouldn’t you?”
“Felicity said the same thing. I haven’t thought it through. I definitely wouldn’t want her staying with me in London. That would be awkward.” I rubbed my temples. “I don’t need the added stress of this. Work’s been busy.”
A couple of years back, I earned my MBA and took over the management of several of Leo’s properties. Yes, continuing to ride those coattails. My cousin couldn’t handle all of his businesses himself and needed someone trustworthy to count on, but I refused to accept handouts, and I didn’t take the job until I’d finished my schooling and gotten the experience I’d need for the position. Since then, I’d taken over several more of the responsibilities at Covington Properties. Not to toot my own horn, but profits had skyrocketed since I’d come on board. Leo certainly couldn’t complain about that.
Lavinia frowned. “There’s more to life than work, you know.”
“I’ve been slowly getting my life back over the past five years. Work has been a major part of that.”
“Taking strange women to your apartment in London and then kicking them out is hardly getting your life back,” she cracked.
“I’ll have you know, I kindly ask them to leave, not kick them out.”
“Same thing.”
“Anyway, I don’t always kick them out.” I tossed back half of my gin before slamming the glass down. “There was that one rhinoceros…”
“What?”
“Never mind.” I chuckled.
“What’s the real issue here, Sigmund? Why are you so troubled by this, if Britney’s parents offered to take care of the child?”
I had to ponder that. “The real issue is Britney.” I looked into my glass. “I wonder if it’s what she truly would’ve wanted, despite what she told her mother in her final days. She might not have been of sound mind when she was on multiple medications.” I swallowed. “I can’t ask her, and that kills me.”
Lavinia touched my arm. “Do you think you’ll ever be able to let her go?”
“I’m not trying to let her go.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to let her go.”
“That was probably the wrong terminology,” she corrected. “I meant, do you think you’ll ever be able to let someone else in?”
“That’s not something I want, either.”
“I suppose you can’t mend a broken heart.” Lavinia sighed. “Maybe there’s only meant to be one—one great love.”
I stared into the distance. “It’s hard to imagine that I hadn’t even known her a year. It felt like a lot longer.”
“I didn’t realize that.” She tilted her head. “Remind me how you two met?”