Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“You, too,” he said. “Where is everyone?”
“Jade is in the kitchen. She’s the only one here already. The triplets are at their friends’ house. At their age, it’s all they want to do and we thought it would be easier if we didn’t overwhelm you,” Serenity said. “There will be enough adults, as it is. But Layla is home. She’s twelve. I figured that would be an easy enough meet.”
“Good thinking,” Nick said.
“Thank you,” Aurora said. Serenity was so kind. Nick had hit the jackpot getting her as his stepmom.
Michael looked at Nick, then Leah. “How about we go inside and you can meet your…meet Layla.” He chuckled. “Seems odd to call Layla an aunt right now.”
Everyone laughed.
“Come on, princess.” Nick pulled Leah to him. “Let’s go meet my sister.” He glanced at Aurora, silently asking if she would be okay with Serenity.
She gave him a subtle nod.
“Aurora, we can go hang out in the kitchen. Jade wants to meet you. And Nick told us about your charity. I’d love to hear more about it,” Serenity said, gesturing for her to follow.
Aurora blinked in surprise. Nick had told his parents about her job? “Sure.” She glanced down at the gift in her hand. “Oh! This is for you.” She handed the wrapped box to Serenity. “It’s just a little something to say thank you for having us.”
The other woman studied her, her expression gentle. “Thank you, Aurora. But from now on? No gifts like you’re some stranger or outsider. You’re family, you hear?” Serenity accepted the present, and they walked into the kitchen. “Although I have to say, I love presents,” she murmured as she set it on the counter. “I’ll open it later. I want to talk, first.”
Aurora liked this woman already.
“Hi, Aurora.” A pretty woman who had to be Jade walked over. She had blonde hair and Nick’s indigo blue eyes, filled with warmth. She pulled Aurora into an unexpected hug. “I’m so happy to meet you.” Releasing her, Jade stepped back. “It’s brave of you to come deal with the masses all at once.”
Aurora laughed. “The Kingstons are pretty much the same. I’m prepared.”
Serenity chuckled. “Let’s sit.”
Aurora sat down on a bar stool and placed an elbow on the white and light gray veined granite island and glanced around. The appliances were top of the line stainless steel. Aurora’s kitchen was beyond anything she’d dreamed she would ever have, but this was a step above.
“The house is beautiful but this room is incredible,” Aurora said. Her gaze fell on a coffee maker set into the backsplash across the room, next to the sink. Each look around showed her something new.
Serenity took a seat. “Thank you. I picked everything. I love to cook so I was fussy about what I chose. With so many kids, I also wanted things practical. Like these stools? Faux leather, easy to clean.”
“Even with one child, I understand. Spills happen all the time. But I’m more of a basic cook. I didn’t learn until a couple of years ago.” Aurora blushed as she realized she’d alluded to her embarrassing childhood.
Nick’s family might have their issues but nobody had dumped their kid in foster care and ignored them for eighteen years.
“How well you cook doesn’t matter as long as you eat together, right? Besides, there’s always mac and cheese.”
“That there is.” Aurora appreciated how easy it was to talk to Nick’s stepmother.
“I love mac and cheese,” Jade said. “You used to make it for us all the time.” She glanced at Serenity and smiled before turning back to Aurora. “I’m looking forward to having another woman at these family gatherings.”
Serenity nodded. “Agreed.”
They were going out of their way to make her feel welcome and Aurora was so grateful. “Thank you.”
Serenity brushed at a piece of lint on her blouse. “Michael and I are so happy you and Nick reconnected. It would have been a tragedy for the three of you never to have become a family.”
Serenity’s point hit home and Aurora found herself confiding in them both. “I’d always regretted that Leah would never know her father. When I saw Nick across the room at the premiere, I was shocked, and it took a little while to sink in, but I knew knowing her father was everything I’d ever wanted for Leah.”
Serenity smiled. “I’ve never seen Nick so happy or complete and I have no doubt it’s because he has both of you in his life.”
“It’s true,” Jade murmured. “He’s lucky things have worked out. As for me, I’m on a man-fast.”
Aurora couldn’t help but grin. “Watch it. I said the same thing before Nick burst into our lives.” Realizing what she’d implied, she felt her face heat. “I mean, not that Nick and I are…well I don’t know what Nick and I are.” She swallowed hard. “But you’re tempting fate.”