Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“This is so exciting! I can’t believe you’re here. I was sad all day, and then you drove up. It’s the best day ever.”
I reached over and squeezed her hand. I felt the same. Anytime I was with her was the best day ever.
“Other than me showing up, tell me something good that happened today,” I said.
She was quiet for a minute. “Um … they had pizza in the cafeteria.”
I glanced at her before pulling out onto the main street. “Pepperoni?”
She nodded.
“That counts!” I agreed.
“What all are we gonna do while Dad is gone?” she asked, literally bouncing in her seat.
I started to list off all the things I had bought, the goodies we were going to make, and the movies I had brought for us to watch. She giggled with pure delight. By the time we pulled into the driveway of their house, I had almost forgotten that I had to face Wilder again.
Almost.
Sarah slung open her door and scrambled out. “What do I need to carry?” she asked.
I popped the trunk. “We need to get the groceries out first.”
She ran around to the back and clapped her hands giddily before grabbing some bags and heading for the house. I got as many as I could, then followed her. She was opening the door, calling out to Wilder, before I got there.
“I LOVE YOU, DADDY!”
Yeah, Wilder. You’re welcome.
Not that he’d be thanking me anytime soon—or ever. I headed for the kitchen with my bags, not waiting for Wilder to appear. He didn’t want to see me anyway.
Belladonna came rushing out of the house and straight for me. I couldn’t set my bags down to greet her because she’d go after the food inside them so I kept walking.
“That’s a much different tune than this morning.” Wilder’s voice carried down the hall.
“You let Oaky come! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
I smirked simply because I knew he was having to fake it, like I had earlier. Act as if this were a friendly decision. Setting the bags down, I put the cold stuff in the fridge with Belladonna staying glued to my side before turning to head back to get some more.
Sarah and Wilder blocked my path. I could see the gratitude in his expression, and I bit back a laugh. Something I knew he didn’t miss.
Yep, I came and made your daughter smile again. No thanks to you.
“Is there more?” he asked, his eyes widening.
“SO MUCH MORE!” Sarah exclaimed so loudly that Belladonna barked.
“I’ll get it. The two of you can put it away or whatever,” he said, turning around.
I could go with him and help, but then that would mean I had to talk to him. I went back to the kitchen instead.
“I’ll put the groceries up,” I told Sarah. “If you want to help your dad carry the decorations in though, that would be nice.”
“Okay,” she chirped, then hurried to catch up with him.
Belladonna looked from me to Sarah, and I waved my hand at her to follow Sarah.
I finished putting all the food away just as they both appeared with the rest of it. Taking the bags Sarah handed to me, I set them on the counter and started unpacking them, not looking up at Wilder as he placed the last of the food bags beside me.
“You went a bit overboard,” he said, surprising me. I figured we weren’t going to speak to each other.
I lifted my gaze to his. “Cookies to make, pies to bake, and cupcakes to ice. It takes a lot. Besides, I have some new Thanksgiving treat ideas I saw on Instagram that I want to do with Sarah. Y’all can take them to your mom’s for Thanksgiving.”
He didn’t say anything, but turned and left. Whatever. I didn’t need to have a conversation with him. Those days were long gone. I had found closure with it already.
When it was all put away, Sarah returned with bags of decorations with Belladonna trotting beside her.
“Set them in the foyer. We will let that be our general meeting place.”
She spun back around, and I went to follow her. More than one male voice came from the front doors as we drew nearer. I slowed as I recognized the other one. It had been a few years since I’d seen him. We had never really gotten to know each other. Even if I had dated his younger brother.
“Uncle Thatch!” Sarah called out and ran to Thatcher Shephard.
He still reminded me of Satan. Beautiful yet with a terrifying edge hidden under the surface. I had told Sebastian that once, and he’d laughed so hard, then informed me I was so accurate that it was frightening.
His dark eyes met mine. He didn’t appear surprised to see me. Like always, he seemed bored, aloof, as if the rest of the world meant little to him and was in his way.