Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 79(@200wpm)___ 63(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 79(@200wpm)___ 63(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
“Well, shit.” Lola says, covering her mouth.
“Language,” Mom hisses.
“So, what's the problem?” Dad asks, finishing up the food on the grill.
“Not really sure. She said she needed time to get her life in order and get control of her life. She said I would be a distraction. The thing is, I get all of that, I do, I just…”
“You need her.” My father finishes my sentence, but his eyes are on my mom.
“Exactly.”
“Well, damn big bro, seems to me you need to just go for it and don’t stop until you get what you want. Be the man most men won’t be. Honest, vulnerable and willing to fight. Dirty if you have too.” Lola says, staring off into space. There is something in her voice I cannot pinpoint but whatever it is, she seems, sad.
Lola has had it rough. She is the youngest and as a child, she was diagnosed with childhood cancer in her chest. It affected her heart and as you can imagine, my entire family was devastated. We rallied around her and did what we could. Me, less than most considering how busy I always was with school and such, but when I was home, I helped.
My parents had to keep her inside most days, not able to risk her being exposed to germs and bacteria. The hope was that her treatment and a careful environment would eliminate a heart transplant being necessary and it worked. The unfortunate side effect was she spent a lot of time at home and less time around people. Hell, she was even homeschooled for most of her life. Even now, I can see my parents still fuss over her and I think it is finally taking its toll.
I pull her into my arms and hug her, whispering in her ear. “If you need to talk brat, I am here.” I kiss her forehead and pull back. Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, but she nods and walks out of the room. “Anyone want to tell me what is going on with her?” I ask. My parents look at one another and then then at me and Darcy. I can see she is just as confused and concerned as me.
“She’s just…wandering,” Mom says unconvincingly. I am not fooled and if the eye-roll from Darcy is any indication, neither is she. Something is going on, but right now, I have to focus on getting my girl back. Lola’s advice rings in my mind. I am done waiting. Kissing my mom and dad on their cheeks, I walk out phone to my ear.
“Lawrence, I need a ticket to Atlanta, leaving tonight.” I know I could drive it in three hours, but I need the time on the plane, to plan and plot and use my hands to make those plans come to fruition.
“Certainly sir. Returning..?”
“Not sure yet. I will let you know.”
“Certainly.” Hanging up knowing the ticket will be in my email in minutes, I pull up to my house and run inside. In the door, locking it, I am stopped in my tracks.
“What the fuck?” There is a trail of clothes and shoes leading from the door, up the stairs. For a brief moment, I allow myself to get excited thinking she came back to me, but the scent is off and so is the type of clothing on the floor. “I don’t have time for this shit,” I say to myself taking the stairs three at a time. My bedroom door is closed, which it wasn’t when I left. Opening it, I curse when I see who is in my bed. “Gwynn, put on your motherfucking clothes and get out of my house.” Are you kidding me? She scurries to the foot of the bed, naked and making my stomach turn. Her hand reaches for me, and I jerk back, the thought of another woman touching me sending hives up my arm.
“But Malcolm, I have been waiting for you. Waiting for us. I am exactly what you need,” she pleads. I grab her clothes from the floor and throw them to her.
“You are nothing to me and damn sure are not made for me. I have found my wife, and some money-hungry twit who barely eats is not it. Now, if you are not gone in thirty fucking seconds I am going to have you arrested for breaking and entering.” She gasps, shocked at my language. I move back as she passes me, not looking at her so she knows how fucking serious I am. “Oh, and another thing…you’re fucking fired.” She runs out of the house, sniffling and crying.
I pull out my duffel and pack a few things. Looking at the bed, I frown knowing there is no way I am going to bring my wife back here to a bed another woman was laying in. Shuddering, I call my mom's assistant. “Carol. Can you please order me a new bed and have the one in my home trashed? Oh and please schedule assistant interviews for me for a week from now. Males only.”