Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
I ruffled her hair. “You’d like that, would you?”
She nodded. “She could have supper with us and do her work. When she was finished, she could tuck me in.”
“You don’t like me tucking you in anymore, Sweet Pea?”
She made a “duh” face at me. “Of course, Daddy. But I like Amy. She smells good, and she rubs my head nicely.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Like a mom.”
My heart clenched at her words. I had talked to Holly about this, and she had confided that Mia was longing for a mom. And not just any mom. She wanted Amy. She adored her. I had to choose my words carefully.
“Mia, Amy is really busy with work and the courses she is taking. We can’t put more demands on her time than she can spare. I don’t want to cause her stress.”
“What is that?”
“Like when you worry about something too much. Remember when you were worried about meeting Uncle E? Afraid he wouldn’t like you, and it made you upset?”
She nodded. “But he loved me. So maybe Amy would love it if we made her a room.”
“How about we talk to her about it when she comes over Saturday? She is going to spend the whole weekend with us.”
She brightened noticeably. “Okay. But Daddy, she loves surprises.”
I smiled and pushed her spaghetti closer. “Eat your supper, Sweet Pea.”
Later when I tucked her in, I walked past the one bedroom that was completely empty. I stopped and flicked on the light, looking around. It was the smallest of the bedrooms but had, I thought, one of the best views, overlooking the water. It was painted in a soft cream, contrasting with the wood nicely. I rubbed my chin as an idea formed. A desk under the window, some bookshelves to hold supplies, and a comfortable chair would be easy to acquire. Maybe a throw rug. With the light and view during the day, and the quiet in the evening, it would be a good place to work.
Mia’s insistence that Amy loved surprises kept running through my mind. I slid my cell phone from my pocket and called Holly, who answered on the first ring.
“Simon? Is everything okay?” she asked.
I chuckled. “Yes. But I need your help.”
“Anything,” she assured me.
“Could you come over tomorrow morning once the kids go to school?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Awesome.”
The next morning, Holly arrived with Evan and Brandon in tow. I shook his hand, lifted Brandon up, grinning as he squealed in delight. “You get bigger every time I see you.”
Holly laughed. “He grows in his sleep.”
Evan took him, looking curious. “Holly says you need some help. What can we do?”
I felt a wave of gratitude flow over me. How I was lucky enough to have this family in my life, I didn’t know. But they were kind and generous. So different from the rest of his clan. My own parents were deceased, and I was an only child. It was nice to be part of this family—to feel as if I belonged somewhere.
“I want to do something upstairs, but I need Holly’s advice.”
“Show us,” she said.
I took them upstairs and showed them the room. “Mia and I miss Amy. I know she’s busy with her courses and work. Mia had the idea of making her an office here so she could be with us more.” I scratched the back of my neck. “Would she hate that?”
For a moment, Holly was quiet. She looked at me, laying her hand on my arm. “She would be thrilled if you made her a room. I saw her last night when I dropped off some supplies she wanted for a craft. Her apartment is small, and her desk is her dining room table. And she misses you guys as well. She wishes she hadn’t signed up for this course.”
“You think she’d use the room?”
“Yes.” She turned to Evan. “What about that desk and bookshelf you finished a couple of weeks ago that you were going to sell online? They aren’t too big, so they would be perfect here.”
He nodded. “You’re right.”
“We can add a throw rug. A good chair—she mentioned her back hurt from sitting at the table on a hard chair all the time.” Holly pointed around the room. “Desk there, bookshelf over there. Maybe a comfy chair in the corner. A good lamp.”
“What about things for the walls? I know Amy likes to hang, ah, stuff,” I asked.
“Oh,” she said. “I can get a few of her photos from her Facebook page and print them. Then tell her to add whatever she wants. She would love that.” She clasped her hands. “Simon, this is a wonderful idea.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” she enthused. “Evan can bring the desk and shelf over. I’ll find a rug, chair, and lamp. You order a desk chair.”
“What about curtains or other things?”