Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
She nodded, her gaze brightening with joy for me (I truly adored my Alyona) before I walked inside.
I went to the living room and sat down to get my weight off my high-heeled sandals while saying to Jamie, “I just got home, I’m no longer teetering on four inches, please share.”
“I asked Monica to pack a few more things to send to your place.”
“If the assumption you were referring to was that I wouldn’t have a problem with that, you assumed correctly.”
“No,” he said. “In making that request, I thought I’d ask her to pack all my clothes to send to yours, so we could live there while you get started on any changes you wish to make to the brownstone.”
I stared at the beautiful round coffee table situated between the sofa and two armchairs across from me.
“Nora?” Jamie called.
“You wish to move in?” I asked.
“Temporarily, until we both move to the brownstone. Is it too soon for you?”
I couldn’t begin to describe how not soon enough it was.
“No, it is not.”
“Sweetheart,” he murmured warmly.
“Please instruct Monica to see to transferring anything you need. And in the meantime, Alyona and I will tackle the Everest of finding space for your things in my closet.”
He was chuckling through his, “I’ll amend my request to Monica.”
“I’ve had an idea about the brownstone,” I announced.
“Of course you have,” he said with continued humor.
“I’d like to ask Dru to share the task of redecoration with me so we can retain some of her mother’s stamp on the home you all shared in ways that are meaningful for you both, but only Dru can share with me. This would also serve the purpose of Dru feeling she had a part in putting her stamp on the place, so it’ll aways feel like her home.”
The silence coming over the line was so complete, I wondered if a black hole had taken over the satellite we were bouncing off of.
Thus, it was my turn to call, “Jamie?”
His voice was hoarse in a way that hurt to hear, even if it was still lovely, when he said, “You don’t need to do that, baby.”
“You’re very wrong about that, darling,” I replied.
“I don’t want, and I’ll be clear, Lindy wouldn’t want to be a shadow over our lives together.”
“I think we can both agree that Rosalind was never a shadow, Jamie,” I assured. “I not only cannot erase your history to make you all mine, I wouldn’t want to. You are what your history made you, and that, I’m proud to claim as all mine.”
“Fuck, I love you,” he grunted.
“And I love you. Now, would you like to talk to Dru, or would you like me to?”
“I think that should come from me.”
“All right, darling,” I murmured. “Now, is that all? I don’t wish to let you go, but I have a busy day. First, as you know, the call with the kids. Then, as you also know, Mika is coming over for a late lunch. And news to you, after that, the G-Force will be descending.”
“The G-Force?”
“Yes. Remember, I told you about them on the boat?”
“I remember, but I thought I was dealing with Paloma.”
Oh, my Jamie.
He had so much to learn.
“You don’t decline an offer from the G-Force to get involved, my dearest. Good God. That would be akin to learning you’re to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor, and saying, ‘Yeah, thanks, but I’m good.’”
I heard his laughter, which, after our emotionally charged discussion, soothed me, and then he said, “Keep me informed of their schemes so I can be sure they don’t negate mine.”
Curiosity piqued. “What are yours?”
“Calling her and informing her that my father is keeping her due to using credit that’s running out. Further, the bank that holds the note on his over-leveraged ranch is going to call it, considering I own controlling shares in that bank. And last, I don’t think she’ll like squeezing into the two-bedroom apartment she’ll be sharing with Pop and Jeff if she doesn’t cut her losses right now.”
This sounded like a good plan, though not a comprehensive one.
However, Jamie wasn’t done.
“I’ll then tell her, if she ever fucks with you, or anyone I love, I’ll make it so she longs for a two-bedroom apartment, because, if I can reduce AJ Oakley to that, which I can, and am, I can ruin her, which I can, and will do, if she doesn’t stand down.”
“Although this seems thorough, I still think whatever the G-Force would do would be more entertaining,” I murmured.
He chuckled.
Then he said, “Now, if you’re good with that, I’ll let you go.”
“I’m good with it, more than good. Text when you’re on your way home?”
“I will. Much love, sweetheart.”
What a divine way to end a call.
“Much love to you too.”
We rang off and I rose from the couch to go to the kitchen to make myself a Perrier with lemon and lime before I went to the study to take the call from the children.