Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
I silenced her with wide eyes, hoping she’d get the hint.
She looked at Quaid, then started to laugh. “She’s going to work, isn’t she?”
I wasn’t actually going to work.
I was making it seem like I was going to work.
In reality, I was headed on a shopping spree.
Tomorrow we were getting married at a place downtown.
My parents were already on their way into town.
The Carter family was working double time to tie up loose ends.
And Quaid was going to work.
Though, Quaid didn’t know that I planned the day, or that I was lying about going to work.
But I wanted to surprise him in the morning.
Yes, we were getting married in the morning.
The Carter Family had weird hours. Ten o’clock on a Wednesday morning was about as good as it was going to get if I wanted their entire family there.
And truthfully, my dad was going out of his way to come down, only to have to turn around and leave later tomorrow afternoon. Because, according to him, the farm didn’t run itself.
“Gimme ’er,” Quaid muttered as he took Darlia from my arms and cuddled her close. “She’s much more alert today than she usually is.”
“That’s new,” Hollis confirmed, her head tilting to gaze at her beautiful baby. “I swear it’s like she understands everything I’m saying now.”
“All right,” I said as I gathered my things. “Hollis, do you mind taking me to work? I’d ask Quaid, but he was called in to cover Assman.”
Hollis smirked. “How’s Assman doing?”
“He’s sick as a dog,” Quaid sighed. “His kid’s even sicker. And half the fuckin’ force is sick. I just hope that when I meet Calamity at the end of the aisle tomorrow, I’m not puking my guts up.”
I pointed at him. “Take that bad juju back!”
He winked. “Are you sure you are going into work?”
I’d actually been to work multiple times since the accident.
Though, a lot of those times were in a wheelchair.
Today would’ve just been the first time I walked in on my own steam.
“I’m sure,” I lied. “Now kiss me.”
Quaid kissed me, then he was pointing at my face. “Don’t overdo it.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
Then Quaid was gone.
Hollis followed screaming at him. “Hey, give me back my baby!”
I giggled as I waited for the front door to slam.
When Hollis came back, I was changing into a pair of jeans that were two sizes too small.
“You know,” I said as I tried in vain to get the pants zipped. “This would be a hell of a lot more fun if I had a small belly like you did.”
“Yeah, but at least you get to have the quintessential pregnancy. It was weird telling everyone I was due in how many ever months and them questioning whether I was crazy or not,” she grumbled.
I turned to stare at her as I slipped my t-shirt on next.
“So, where we’re actually going,” I said, “is to get our toes done. Then we’re going to meet Garnett for lunch. Followed by the spa, where we’re going to get waxed to an inch of our lives.”
“Garnett is doing that?” Hollis snickered.
“It was her idea!”
“So why did we lie to Quaid about where we were going?” Hollis asked as she fed Darlia.
“Because if he’d known that I’d planned on doing all of this, he would’ve insisted we have a Carter with us, and to be truthful, I’m getting a little bit overwhelmed with his overprotectiveness,” I admitted.
To be completely truthful, he was driving me bat shit crazy.
I couldn’t do anything, go anywhere, or even poop in peace.
Granted, I’d scared the man to death, but gosh. It would be nice to be somewhere that I could just be.
I was slowly being smothered to death, and he didn’t even know it.
“My son will do better,” Garnett promised as she reached for my hand.
I squeezed it back, feeling my heart flutter.
I loved this family.
I loved them as much as I loved mine.
“You didn’t see him, Ell.” Ande looked at me, having taken one cucumber off her eye. “He was beside himself. He walked into the ER with your good hand in his, and he looked like he’d taken a four-by-four to the face. He was in shock. He was scared. He was pretty much broken. Give him some time.”
I had given time.
And I would continue to give him some time.
I just needed a break.
And this seemed the way to do it.
Plus…
“I also want to go and buy his wedding present,” I said. “I can’t do that if he’s with me.”
“What is it?” Ande questioned.
“A surprise.” I smiled.
“Who’s next?”
I looked up to find the owner of the spa standing there with waxing strips in her hand.
“Oh, me!” I smiled. “I’m next.”
She gestured me to come back, and I did, waddling my way back.
“How far along are you?” the owner smiled.
I patted my distended belly before saying, “Roughly thirty-one weeks or so. They don’t think I’ll make it to forty, but they’re holding out hope.”