Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Excusing herself, she returned to the kitchen to place the order and grabbed another plate and setting. Going to the wall, she clocked herself out.
“I’m just going to clock you back in.”
Dodging the dish towel Mama snapped at her when she was walking by, Arden laughed, feeling the first bit of hurt Haven had inflicted on her right itself.
“Fine.” Arden warned, “Then I’ll buy gift certificates for The Last Riders. You wouldn’t be able to turn them away then.”
Glaring at her, Mama started winding her dish towel again. Arden knew when it was wiser to run.
Taking a seat at the table, she eagerly flipped through Larisa’s pictures as she and Merryn talked about the vacation she wanted to take to visit Bryony.
Arden didn’t talk throughout the meal, mainly listening as they talked.
“You’re very quiet tonight, Arden,” the governor said intuitively.
It’s now or never.
“I’m sorry. I have something on my mind, and I could use your help, but I hate to ask. All I need is some advice—like you gave when I was growing up. But I hate to ask now that you’re governor.” Arden talked in a rush, embarrassed to ask for anything from the people she considered a second family. “I don’t want to impose on our friendship, so if I’m out of line, I’ll drop the subject, and we’ll forget I ever mentioned anything.”
Immediately, the governor put his fork down. “In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never asked any of us for a damn thing. Tell me your problem, and I’ll see what I can do to help.” The governor gave her gentle smile. “Ask away.”
* * *
Tired, Arden let herself into her parents’ house. She flicked on the living room lights as she made her way to the den, which they had converted into her parents’ bedroom. Quietly opening the door, she saw her mother sitting up in bed, reading a book. Softly tapping, so as not to startle her, Arden waited until her mother noticed her before walking further into the room.
Her mother lay the book down and gave her a searching look. “You should be in bed.”
“I just wanted to check in with you since I didn’t come by yesterday.” She bent to place a kiss on her mother’s cheek.
“Arden—you worry too much. I would have called if we needed anything.”
“I know. I just wanted to double-check.”
Her mother sighed, aware it was futile to keep arguing.
“How’s Dad doing?” Arden asked, looking to where her father was lying on the other side of the bed. His face looked tired and worn, even in sleep.
“Had a little bit of an upset stomach earlier. He says nothing tastes as good as it used to.”
“I’ll make him some potato soup and a loaf of bread for dinner tomorrow. That always makes him happy.”
She moved to the other side of the bed to check on the machines that were keeping her father alive while he slept.
“I remember when he first got this oxygen and sleep apnea machine. I wondered how you both could sleep with all the noise. I don’t pay attention anymore,” she said more to herself than her mother.
“Is something wrong?”
Arden shook her head. “No.” Moving back to her mother’s side, she carefully crawled onto the bed to lie down between her parents. Laying her head on the pillow next to her mother’s shoulder, she reached for her hand.
Her mother clasped her hand back. “Rough day?”
“No.” Arden had stopped confiding in her mother since her father’s heart attack. “I actually had a good day. The Bennings stopped by the restaurant for a visit.”
“Merryn said they might when I talked to her earlier today.”
Her mother and Merryn Benning had been friends since birth, becoming friends like their own mothers had been. Merryn and her mother had each chosen each other as their labor coaches to be with them during their children’s births.
“Do you ever regret that Landen stood you up for the date you had with him?” Arden asked her mother curiously.
“God, no.” Her mother gave a panting laugh as she fought to catch her breath. “Landen and Merryn were meant for each other; everyone could see it but them. They were too busy trying to outdo each other by being the most popular. Landen standing me up was the best thing that ever happened to me, and to them. If Merryn hadn’t gone to give him a piece of her mind for standing me up, they might never have gotten together.”
“It did work out. They are very happy.” Arden couldn’t help but imagine if her mother would have been the healthy, vibrant woman Merryn had been tonight if that date had taken place.
“I’m just as happy.” Her mother clasped her hand tighter. “Very happy. I had the life I wanted with the only man I ever loved. I have two children I adore. Can you imagine me having Bryony or Larisa as my daughters?” Her mother gave another panting laugh. “Bryony doesn’t have a thought that lasts longer than a minute, and Larisa, bless her, nearly smothers me with blankets any time she comes to visit me. I had to switch doctors when she called to cuss his nurse out because my medicine hadn’t been called in to the pharmacy.”