Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“Yeah, Lawson. She’s fine.” Trey comes up beside me, knocking his shoulder into mine. I bite my tongue, trying not to take the bait. JW shakes his head, telling me to keep on doing what I’m doing. He’s got a sweet tooth for the baker, Maeve. He tries to keep things quiet for the most part but will slip up occasionally. Which is probably why he’s telling me to calm my shit. Go figure. My younger brother is helping his older brother.
“You can take her the chicken noodle soup, crackers, drinks, and the basket of goodies. I was going to yesterday, only Juniper asked me to stay away in case she was contagious.” Mom takes a break in her conversation. I watch as she fills up Dad’s plate. He insists she doesn’t have to do it for him, but Mom enjoys taking care of people. It’s what she does and since most of us are out of the house, she took over doing it for Dad. The smorgasbord she cooks every morning for us always has eggs, a meat of some sort, and something else. Today it's sausage patties and waffles. I make a to-go plate in case hunger hits me later. I’m tempted to pass on breakfast except I’ll be working through lunch, and the last thing I want to do is starve all day. My preferred clearly isn’t on the menu today, but the week is still young. Mom makes the best biscuits and gravy. All of us boys have a favorite, and we usually get ours occasionally. And when it’s your birthday, she’ll go all out with whatever you want.
“We already know he wants to,” Trey snickers. My eyes lock on his, letting him know I’ll be getting him back for this shit when he least expects it. The rest of my brothers keep their expressions locked down, each of them looking down at their plates.
“Knock it off, Trey, or you can eat your breakfast outside.” Mom doesn’t hesitate to put him in his place. I’d laugh if Mom wouldn’t threaten the same for me, and it’s already getting hot outside. The last thing I want to do is sweat my balls off before going to work where I’ll sweat until I’m done for the day.
“I’m outta here. Birdie is at home and working. Mind if I bring her a plate?” Lane asks the group. Usually, she’s here with him. Looks like Tallulah isn’t making an appearance either, though. She’s probably already on a call or sleeping if she got called in the middle of the night.
“I’d be more upset if you didn’t,” Mom replies. “What about Tully? Are you making her a plate?” Dean shakes his head.
“Nope, she’s on a call. Told me to make her a sandwich instead, and she’d snack on it when she could.” Sounds about right. Tallulah won’t let an animal wait, and Dean wouldn’t make her feel obligated to come to breakfast over her work as a vet.
“Alright.” Mom hands Dad his plate. I watch as she busies herself making her own plate, this one a fuck of a lot smaller than Dad's, before she takes her place beside him.
I decide to make another cup of coffee. Mom and everyone else may not be worried about Juniper, but I sure as fuck am. “Where’s the food for Juniper? I’ll take it to her on my way out.” My back is to the room. Ryland took Case to the other room to change what I’m sure was one of his rancid diapers. The kid may be small, but what comes out of him is that of a grown-ass man.
“Lawson, sit down, eat breakfast, and then you can bring Juniper everything. There’s no need getting there while the roosters crow and wake the poor girl up,” Dad says. It’s going against every fiber of my being not to say fuck it and sort through the fridge and pantry to grab everything I need.
“Law, we gotta talk for a minute anyways,” JW says quietly, coming to stand beside me. I look his way after my cup of coffee is poured and about to meet my lips. I quirk an eyebrow as he tilts his head to the side, meaning we’ll talk in the office out in the barn.
“Alright.” I return a nod of my own, already knowing as soon as the kitchen is cleared, I’ll be hounding Mom until she gives me everything I need to take to Juniper. JW can wait until tomorrow to talk about whatever needs talking about. Juni can’t.
THREE
JUNIPER
“Go away,” I say from the place that’s become my home away from home for the last twenty-four hours. Clearly, the visitor isn’t getting the message, or maybe I’m not speaking loudly enough. Either way, there’s no freaking way I’ll be getting up anytime soon. It’s too early in the morning, and even after getting sleep on and off again, I still feel like I was run over by a Mac truck.