Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“Tell them to come at the end of the summer when there aren’t so many tourists,” she says as we step out onto a large deck that overlooks a swimming pool where kids are playing and people are lounging. As large as the backyard is, it looks miniscule with so many people packed into the space. “Honey, this is Anna. Anna, my husband, Drake,” Elsie says. She takes the things from my hands and places them on the table next to the grill. I focus on the very handsome black man with a beer in one hand and a skewer in the other she’s motioning to.
“Nice to meet you, Anna.” Drake drops his beer to the table so he can stick out his hand toward me.
“Nice to meet you too.” I look between him and Elsie, then at Todd, who’s standing next to his dad.
“She’s got the look, babe,” Drake says, holding my gaze, and Elsie laughs.
“Drake and I couldn’t have kids, so we adopted Calvin when he was five and Todd when he was two.”
“I—” I start to apologize for possibly offending them but am cut off when Todd gasps.
“I’m adopted? Why didn’t you ever tell me?” he asks, looking between his parents, cutting the tension I’m feeling immediately.
“Oh, stop.” Elsie rolls her eyes at him, then looks at me. “We’re used to people being curious, and so are the boys. Since the day we brought them home, we’ve been open about their adoption.”
“Plus, it’s not like they’d be able to keep it a secret for long,” Todd adds, patting his dad’s shoulder.
“I don’t know. You two have the same eyes,” I say, and Todd looks at his dad with admiration.
“I guess you’re right,” he agrees, and his father wraps his large hand around the back of his son’s neck in an affectionate gesture. “Do you want a drink, Anna?” Todd asks when his dad lets him go.
“I’ll have a wine cooler, if you have one.”
“I already like her.” Drake grins, lifting his own wine cooler toward me, and my chest warms.
“Honey, set her up with a burger. I’m going to take her down by the pool and introduce her to everyone,” Elsie tells Drake, and he turns toward the grill, placing a patty of meat on the bottom rack.
“I see you’ve been claimed,” Todd says, handing me a wine cooler.
“Pardon?” I ask, confused. He tips his head down, and I follow his eyes to Bane, who is sitting at my feet. “I guess you’re right.” I rub the top of Bane’s head, and he leans into my side, resting his weight against me.
“Don’t even think about it, bud. Your brother already called this one,” Drake says, which I find odd.
“I know.” Todd rolls his eyes at his dad.
I want to ask what they’re talking about but am distracted when Elsie threads her arm through mine. “While that’s cooking, let’s go mingle.”
“Sure.” I smile at both men, then let her lead me down the steps to the lower yard and pool. I stand at her side as she introduces me to every single person who’s there. By the time we make it back up to the grill, my burger is cold and my wine cooler is empty, but my soul feels full, because everyone is genuinely nice and welcoming.
With the sun starting to set and the outside lights glowing, I grab another drink and walk through the grass to find an empty table under one of the huge trees in the backyard and set down my drink and plate before I take a seat. I smile at a couple as they walk by, not catching even a hint of fakeness when they smile back. Unlike whenever I attended my parents’ parties, I don’t feel out of place or like I’m pretending to be someone I’m not. Surrounded by these people, I get to be myself—Anna, a woman who is new to town and works at a bakery—and it feels good to be accepted for me, not because someone is attempting to befriend me so they can get in my parents’ good graces.
I take a sip of my drink, then pick up the fresh hamburger that Drake insisted on making me and take a huge unladylike bite. I then look over my shoulder when I hear the grass crunching behind me.
“Are you having a good time?” Todd asks as he takes a seat next to me, and I pick up my napkin and cover my mouth as I chew and swallow.
“Sorry, yes, it’s been fun. There’s a lot of people here.” I grab my wine cooler and take another sip, conscious of the fact that I have to drive home tonight.
“I know Mom is a little overwhelming, but you’ll get used to it.” I raise a brow, not sure what he means by saying I’ll get used to it. “Mom has a sense. She’s always adopting new people, which is why there are so many people here.” I look around, stopping on Elsie, who is standing next to her husband and smiling at whatever he’s saying as he talks to a group of people sitting a few feet away. “They legally adopted Calvin and me, but they foster kids whenever one needs a place to stay, and Mom is always bringing new people into the fold.”