Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“What?” I laugh, hoping she relaxes a bit.
“Seriously? How are we supposed to eat?”
“We can eat at my dad’s or take him over to Colonie for dinner. All the chains will be open for sure.”
“A chain?” Caryn’s nose scrunches in disgust.
“There’s nothing wrong with chains.” I steer us around a curve and try to keep my irritation at a minimum. It’s not Caryn, it’s her parents. They raised her this way.
“Well, they’re dirty.”
I shake my head and glance at her. “Do you remember when we were at Six and the rat ran across the floor?”
Her eyes widen. “Yes! We haven’t been back.”
“Because the health department shut them down. All restaurants have to follow the same rules. Chains aren’t the only ones who are dirty.”
“Okay,” she says, sighing. “What does your dad like to eat? I’ll look up a place.”
I don’t bother telling her that cell service is spotty and questionable. It’s something she’s going to have to get used to.
“He likes everything, but let’s wait until we get to town. Then you can connect to Wi-Fi.”
Caryn holds her phone up, looking for a signal. “This is bananas.”
“We’re used to it.”
She shakes her head and sets her phone down. “Are you sure your dad will like me?”
“Yes.” I reassure her, although I suspect he’s going to be reserved and standoffish. A piece of him died a little when my mother passed away. I suppose I did as well, and it’s probably the reason I haven’t come back to town. I haven’t been the best son since and I’m honestly not sure how my dad is going to take us showing up. It doesn’t matter how many times I tried to call him, I couldn’t find the words to tell him we’re coming for Christmas.
“Oh, Zane!” Caryn is staring out the window as we drive through town. The recent snowfall makes everything look even more magical. It’s a gloomy day, so the streetlights are already on, and the garland wrapping around the poles has a decent smattering of snow in strategic places. It looks like someone came along and placed handfuls of powder there to enhance the decorations.
“Why doesn’t New York do this?”
“The stores decorate,” I remind her.
“Yes, but look at the poles and the storefronts. Oh, look . . .” Caryn points at the red truck parked along the side of the road, with its wooden side rail slats. I don’t even need to look at the logo on the side to know the truck belongs to Reindeer Ridge Farm.
My heart twists, or maybe it’s a double tap as my eyes scan the sidewalks for the familiar blonde with piercing green eyes. The last I knew, she moved back to Deer Ridge, but then again, that was years ago and for all I know she’s not here now. Or maybe she will be when it’s closer to Christmas.
With her family.
Thinking about my ex having a family shouldn’t make me sad or even feel like I’m missing something. I’m not. I’m happy with Caryn. We’re going to be married and will hopefully start our own family soon. But I can’t help but wonder how my life would be different if Evangeline and I had stayed together. I imagine we’d have two, maybe three kids, and we’d both work two jobs because working for our family would be expected. Especially this time of year.
No, now that I think about it and can fuzzily picture a different life, I know I made the right decision. Moving to New York and taking the job with Caryn’s dad has been life changing and exactly what I needed and wanted for my law career.
I quit looking for my ex. She’s an ex for a reason and needs to stay that way. I’m sure I’m the last person she wants to see anyway. I slow when I come to a crosswalk and Caryn lets out a little giggle.
“It’s so cute how we have to stop so they can cross.” She’s looking out the front window, her head moving right to left and her smile beams.
“We have to stop for pedestrians here.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t drive. I might forget.”
On the inside, I cringe. It’s a damn good thing she doesn’t drive.
“This town is adorable, Zane. How come we didn’t visit sooner?”
I give her a cockeyed look. She rolls her eyes.
“Okay, yes, I know my parents are demanding. I should call my mom. She and Dad need to definitely drive up for Christmas.”
“My dad’s house isn’t big enough for all of us.”
“Surely, the inn will have enough room.”
I say nothing and turn on my signal to wait for a spot along the curb. The driver waves as he pulls out and I move forward. “You should get out here.”
“What? Why?”
I motion toward the slushy snowbank then glance at her shoes and grimace. “Never mind. I’ll park so you can change your shoes.”