Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Chloe gave Georgia a commiserating look, one that told Georgia she understood those workaholic tendencies. “Yes, but to be fair, Beck still works long hours and late nights when needed, but he brings work home instead of staying at the office, so we do see him more.”
“Exactly,” Audrey said with a nod, as if that made perfect sense.
“Drew doesn’t have a reason to work at home like Beck does,” Chloe clarified to her mother-in-law as she placed more side dishes on the counter. “So that’s why Drew spends all his time at the office.”
“He doesn’t have a reason to work at home, yet,” Audrey pointed out, then gave Georgia a hopeful smile. “Maybe you can change that.”
Georgia quickly shook her head. “I’m not changing anything about Drew,” she said in a nice, but firm tone.
It wasn’t her place to make demands, not even if their relationship were to evolve into something more serious. Any adjustments Drew made to his work life had to be something he wanted, because ultimatums would just breed resentment.
She’d seen that dynamic between her own parents over the years, the times her mother complained about the long hours Georgia’s father spent at work and the arguments that ensued that left him feeling guilty and more apt to remain at the office rather than be at home with a harping wife. However, Georgia knew that her mother wouldn’t have wanted him to cut back if it meant less money coming in and a change in the lifestyle she was accustomed to, so those demands had always seemed so selfish to Georgia.
Growing up, she remembered her father being at any important event in their lives and the celebrations that mattered most. She’d never felt neglected because of her father’s work schedule, like her mother did. Now that Georgia was older and her father was nearing retirement, he’d definitely cut back, but that had been a conscious choice on his part.
As she, Chloe, and Audrey finished prepping the side dishes, all the while chatting, Drew’s father began grilling the meat. Georgia set a plate of biscuits on the dining table and glanced out the glass slider, catching sight of Beck and Drew sitting at the table with Whitney, who’d already put together a good portion of her plastic flower garden, her brows knit in concentration as she snapped pieces together.
The two men were talking and occasionally laughing about something, but Drew seemed to be splitting his time between conversing with Beck, and giving Whitney his attention when she formed a flower and wanted him to look at what she’d created. Then, he focused on the little girl, smiling and praising her, his affection for her obvious.
When dinner was served and they were all sitting around the dining room table, Georgia experienced the full scope of Drew’s family. She loved how close they were, how easily they all interacted and joked around, parents included. There was no tension here, like she normally felt around her mother. No expectations, either. Just unconditional acceptance and a strong bond between all of them that she envied.
Amidst the loud conversation, the teasing, and laughter, she wondered what it would be like to be a part of this family. To be embraced so completely, to enjoy going to a family dinner instead of dreading the drama that would undoubtedly arise.
As much as she’d enjoyed this day with Drew and his family, it only made her more aware of everything missing in hers.
Chapter Twelve
After dinner, Drew grabbed Georgia’s hand before she drifted off to the kitchen and started helping Chloe and his mother with cleaning up. She glanced at him in surprise and didn’t argue when he led her out to the back patio. Everyone else was inside, including his brother and dad, who were in the den watching TV, with Whitney still working on her flower garden on the floor at their feet.
“What’s this all about?” Georgia asked as he brought her to the wooden railing overlooking the backyard, which included a quarter acre of land that butted up against a small forest.
He turned toward her, brushing away strands of hair from her cheek. “I haven’t had any time alone with you since we got here.” And it had been harder than he’d imagined watching her from afar, but also enjoyable, too, to see her interact with his family so well.
She laughed lightly. “That wasn’t the point of visiting your family today,” she said logically. “We’ll have plenty of alone time together later.”
She was smiling, but there was something in her eyes, a vulnerability he recognized because he’d seen it before. It was shocking to realize just how in tune he was with her emotions, considering the short amount of time he’d known her.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked, unable to keep the concern from his voice. “You got kind of quiet at the end of dinner.”