Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
On top of her head is a black veil with a thick white strip. She’s covered in very modest, dark clothing.
I can’t really make out anything else but her face.
“Wait,” Drake says, his voice full of shock. “Your mom is a nun now?”
Chapter 43
Jenny
I feel Drake looking at me but I can’t pull my eyes away from my mother.
The headlights shine on her and she holds a hand above her eyes, shielding them. I finally glance at Drake before lowering my gaze. When she said things have changed, I wasn’t expecting this.
“Come on,” I murmur. Without giving it much thought, I open my door and step out of the vehicle. I slowly walk towards her, and when she sees me coming, limiting the distance between us, she breaks into a full grin.
I stop less than a foot away, taking note of her sparkling brown eyes and wavering smile. She looks me up and down as I stand in my pale pink romper and wedges. Her eyes focus on my hair, curled by Kylie, and I can tell she admires it.
“Jennifer,” she whispers. “Wow. You look so beautiful.” She tries to blink her tears away, but it doesn’t work. And what she does next is even more astounding. She rushes forward and pulls me into a tight hug.
My eyebrows draw together as I stare over her shoulder, confused. I hold my hands out, unsure of what to do with them.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she declares, squeezing me tighter.
“Mom?” I pull away gently. I grip her upper arms, looking her straight in the eyes that are nearly identical to mine. “What is this? What are you wearing? Why?”
She laughs silently, her eyes shutting for a very brief moment. “This is who I am now, Jennifer.”
“But… for how long?”
“A year and four months now.”
“Wow.” I stare at her, stunned. My mind is still reeling with this information. I start to ask something else but then she looks over my shoulder.
I hear heavy footsteps and look back, only to be greeted by my lover. Drake looks my mother straight in the eyes, not daring to smile or create a greeting. I know he’s only doing this for show.
I find relief when Mom steps aside and puts on an easy smile for him. “I must say I’m very surprised to see you again.” She looks at me. “Things worked out?”
“After four years, yes,” I sigh.
The right corner of her mouth tugs upward. “Then you have a lot to tell me, too. Come on,” she says, gesturing for Drake to come closer. “Let’s go inside. Ned is at the church, but he was okay with me making some dinner for your visit.”
I follow her towards the house. “You live here now?”
“Yes… for now. Just until I can get back on my feet.”
“What do you mean back on your feet? What happened?”
She side-eyes me before pulling the door open. She allows us to walk in front of her, and though the home is just as nice on the inside as it is on the outside—with it’s hardwood mahogany floors and black and white furniture—I can’t take my focus off of Mom.
“Mom?” I call as she makes her way down the hallway.
“Come on, Jennifer. Please. Let’s eat first. I know you’re probably hungry.”
I glance back at Drake. His eyebrows are practically touching his forehead. Yeah, he’s just as shocked as I am.
Drake and I stand at the entrance of the dining room, fidgeting. We look at each other before putting our attention on Mom. She brings a few dishes from the kitchen to the set the table.
When she comes back with a pitcher of sweet tea, she says, “Go on. Sit.”
Her encouragement is strange, but we sit anyway. Side-by-side.
I straighten myself in my chair as Drake leans back, interlocking and folding his fingers.
Mom takes the chair across from us, a faint smile on her lips as she picks up a bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Mom?” I call again.
“Yes, Jenny?”
“You’re stalling.”
She pulls her gaze up and I give her a serious look. She studies my face for a second, and then places the bowl down, pressing her lips.
“I just want you to feel welcome. At home. I don’t want to mess this up now that I have you back.”
“We are okay. I swear.”
She nods, pouring herself a glass of the tea. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I know I’m making this awkward. I just wasn’t expecting you to have a… guest.” She glances at Drake before focusing on me.
I look at him as he shifts in his seat. “I can go,” he informs her.
“No—no! I don’t want you to take it personally,” she says, holding up her hands. “I don’t mean it that way, I promise. I just… well, there are things that I’d like to talk to Jenny about one-on-one. I’m sure she will fill you in, but… well…” She stops her rambling, focusing on her plate.