Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Chapter Thirty-One
Denver
Sean’s text came right as I was finishing cleaning my station and turning things over to the day crew.
Meet you at home.
I still wasn’t used to that word and what it did to my insides. Busy few weeks, what with moving into the carriage house and taking over the diner, but Sean was at the center of it all. And that word. Home. Each day, I grew a little more secure in what we had going.
“Have a good one, boss,” Tammy called from the break-room door. The transition of ownership wasn’t quite complete, but Tammy took great delight in calling me boss and letting me handle any chore she wasn’t in the mood for. As we went through the process of taking over the daily running of the diner, we worked out a pretty good division of labor. She sweet-talked all our suppliers while I handled unruly employees. Honey’s was running smoother than ever, and Tammy’s wide smile said it all.
“See you later, Tammy.” I waved her on. “Enjoy your night off.”
“I will.” She was taking an overnight trip to Portland, meeting her daughter in-person for the first time after several long phone calls. “More jumpy than a pot of frogs, but I’m excited.”
“I’m happy for you,” I said, and I meant it. I may never be ready to do my own DNA looking, but her experience gave me hope that healing was possible.
“Thank you, sweetie.” She waved back. “Now you get on home to your man.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Bye, boss!” Great, now Amos and the day crew were doing it too. But rather than be irritated, I smiled. Maybe I could get used to this. I made it to my truck in record time. The sun was up, and June was in full swing with longer days and shorter nights and the sort of weather that made me glad to be staying in Mount Hope.
Home. I parked on the street because Eric’s wide driveway could only hold so many cars, and the kids would be leaving for school soon. In fact, as I made my way around the house, I discovered the three of them on the back deck with a colorful tablecloth on the picnic table with a homemade sign that said Congrats.
“It’s the last day of school!” Rowan called out. He wore a silver mesh top more suited for a club than high school.
“Last day of school.” Wren was far grumpier as they tugged at their T-shirt featuring some sort of periodic table joke. “But Dad made bacon. Want some?”
Wren gestured at the table as John brought out a platter heaped with pancakes.
“Thanks, but I think I had enough bacon at work.” I grinned, though, grateful at how easily this household had accepted me. Sean and I cooked with the kids most nights when he wasn’t on duty, and I’d come to really look forward to the rowdy family meals. “Besides, Sean is waiting on me.”
“Go on.” Eric smiled back as he waved me on with a spatula. Good to see him smile, something he was doing a little more often these days.
“Come over after school,” John called before I could walk on. “We’re having the last day of school ice cream cake. It’s a tradition.”
Huh. Traditions. I didn’t have many of those. Sean and the Murphy clan had a whole stack of them, though, from Sunday dinner to birthdays to holidays. Eric and the kids also had their traditions, and it was both weird and wonderful to be included. The idea that I might—would—be around next year at this time made me need a deep breath, but I didn’t tense in the way I would have a few months ago.
“Will do. I’ll bring Sean,” I promised. “How’s driving practice going?”
“I’m driving to school.” John smirked.
“With me. Slowly,” Eric added as he served up pancakes to the kids. “Oh, and, Denver, tell Sean I heard from Tony. He’ll be here in time for—”
“Dad’s birthday barbecue!” Wren crowed.
“Which is so not a big deal.” Eric gestured with the spatula.
“Denver already said he’d help with the chicken.” Wren was not to be deterred in their enthusiasm for Eric’s upcoming birthday.
“Thanks.” Eric nodded at me before turning back to Wren. “No explosions, please.”
“We’ll try.” Wren grinned as the rest of them groaned.
“Get some sleep,” Eric ordered as Jonas came striding up the walkway in scrubs, yawning wide as the dog came to greet him.
I exchanged a quick hello before heading on to the carriage house.
I opened the door and didn’t immediately spot Sean, so I called out, “Hey, I’m home.”
I paused, heart thumping. I sounded like something out of a sitcom, a life that wasn’t mine. And then Sean emerged from the bathroom in only a towel, and all was right in my world. This was my real life, and this was home.