Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I get off his lap, pick up my clothes, and walk toward the door feeling like my entire life is in chaos. I can’t decide if it’s good or bad or a mixture of the two.
Chapter
Forty
Apollo
Daphne hasn’t said more than a couple of words the entire boat ride back to the city. I had chartered a boat this time so we could take the opportunity to see the orcas swim around us as we make our way to Seattle. I had hoped it would be a romantic gesture, but it seems to have fallen short. She stares out at the scenery and is clearly lost in thought. And to be fair, I’m pretty zoned out myself. I’m trying to really think out what truly being a husband and father means. Troy Godwin isn’t exactly the best role model, and yet, he isn’t the worst either. Family is everything to this man. He’s brought us all up to know that and to live by that belief. We may be ruthless, even evil at times, but the one thing remains true… we will forever be family.
“You all right over there?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she answers, but she doesn’t look away from the passing beauty. She’s looking, but I don’t think she really sees anything.
“Awfully quiet.”
“Yeah.”
I reach across the seat and take her hand in mine. “Are you afraid of real life? Of what’s ahead? I am.”
“Yeah.”
“I think we can pull this off, if you’re worried about that. Apollo and I are identical, and the accident and the head injury gives me a buffer if I forget something, or don’t recognize someone only Apollo knows. Plus, I have you to help guide me. We got this.”
She shrugs, but still hasn’t looked away from the water, and her hand lays limply in mine. Something is clearly wrong.
“Daphne, what’s going on? What’s on your mind?”
“Just thinking, I guess.”
“Okay, care to tell me about what?” I prod.
“Well…” I glance over at her and see her lip quivering. “It’s nothing really. Just sad leaving Heathens Hollow.” She smirks. “I can’t believe those words just left my mouth. I never thought I’d ever be sad to leave the island.”
I squeeze her hand. “We went through a lot there.”
She nods, and I see her lip still quivers. My gut tells me something else is going on.
“Your sister is fine at Olympus. I hired our housekeeper and cook to return full time,” I begin, wondering if she’s worried about her sister’s future. “And when she’s healed and ready to leave the manor, we’ll find her a place in Seattle. We’ll help her start over,” I add with a smile.
For the first time, she looks away from the sound and stares at me. She appears as if she’s going to say something but turns her gaze back to an orca’s tail crashing down on the waves.
“Daphne—”
My phone rings, interrupting me. I pull my hand away from Daphne’s and answer the call.
“I have the walkthrough all lined up,” the real estate agent says. “Text me when you arrive, and I’ll pick you up at the pier.”
“Great. Is it the house I wanted to see?” I ask.
“Yes,” the agent says. “All the details are worked out. I have other houses ready to go to be seen too, if you want.”
“I think we’ll only need to see the one,” I answer, maybe a little too quickly. I should make the agent sweat a bit before giving in just for fun. She needs to earn her commission.
As I end the call, I still see sadness in Daphne’s eyes and her body seems to slump down in the seat.
“The agent will be waiting for us.” I pause, noticing how cold she is in the way she doesn’t ask any questions about the house, the agent, or care about what we are about to do. “Okay, enough. Tell me what’s going on. I can feel it. I can hear it. I don’t want to keep asking.” My tone grows firm, but I feel I have no other choice. We’re getting closer to the city, and I don’t want to start the day on a sour note. Something is off, and there is something Daphne isn’t telling me.
She sighs deeply, her shoulders rising and falling in what appears to be defeat. “I just didn’t want to leave the island. To leave… you.”
“Me? You aren’t having to leave me. Last I checked, I’m on this boat right beside you.” I reach for her hand again, but this time, she pulls it away.
“We’re heading back to Seattle. To Medusa. To that life.”
“What do you mean by that life?”
“Dinners. Parties. Working at all hours. Lonely days, and even lonelier nights.”
“I’m not him,” I say a little harsher than I intend. “Don’t assume I’ll be him.”
Her lips purse and then she finally snaps. “No, you’ll just be out killing people rather than crunching numbers. But everything else will be the same. You’re still a Godwin. Family first.” She rolls her eyes. “Family always comes first.”