Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
A feeling of dread rushed through my body. “Who told you that?”
“I heard you and Grammy talking about my mom once. That she signed something that said she wasn’t my mommy because she didn’t want me.”
I closed my eyes and counted to ten. Dammit all to hell.
Focusing back on Charlie, I said, “Buddy, when I said that, I was angry, but not at you. I shouldn’t have worded it that way.”
“But she didn’t want me? That’s why she isn’t my mom?”
I exhaled and felt my entire body deflate. “I promised I would never lie to you, Charlie. She didn’t want either of us. You or me…but you know what?”
His eyes went wide when I told him Ashley hadn’t wanted either of us. “What?”
“I’m so glad she didn’t want us, because then we never would have moved to Seaside.”
He smiled. “I like Seaside!”
I chucked his chin lightly. “I’m so glad you do. I do too.”
“And we wouldn’t have met Ms. Palmer.”
“No, we wouldn’t have.”
Charlie looked down at his little hands, then back at me. I could tell he had something he wanted to say but wasn’t sure if he should.
“Buddy, you can tell me anything. I promise I won’t be mad.”
“Sometimes at night when I say my prayers—you know, the ones I say in my head after we’ve said them together?”
I nodded.
“Sometimes I pray that Ms. Palmer will be my mommy.”
My breath was instantly knocked out of my lungs. The look in my son’s eyes was one of pure hope. “I’m so sorry you don’t have a mommy, Charlie.”
“It’s okay, Daddy. If I could pick a mommy, it would be Palmer.”
“And if I had a son, I’d pick you.”
Charlie and I both looked up to see Palmer standing in the doorway, tears in her eyes and oven mitts on both hands. If the sight of her wasn’t so beautifully perfect, I might have laughed.
“Really?” Charlie asked.
Palmer wiped her tears away with the oven mitts, then pulled them off and dropped them to the floor. “Really, really. I love you, Charlie. So very much.”
Charlie stood and rushed over to Palmer, who went to her knees and scooped him up into a hug.
“I love you too, Ms. Palmer.”
Palmer drew back and looked at him. “Just call me Palmer, Charlie.”
“You want me to call you Palmer Charlie?”
I started to laugh as Palmer did a little laugh-cry and pulled Charlie back to her. Our eyes met above his head, and she nodded.
“Do we have time?” I asked.
“Pizza’s in the oven.”
“Hey, bud, come sit over here on the sofa with Palmer and me.”
Standing up, Palmer took Charlie’s hand and they made their way over to the sofa. I got up and sat next to them, with Charlie in the middle. I took his free hand.
“Charlie, Palmer and I have something to tell you.”
He looked between us. “Is it that you kissed?”
Palmer’s mouth fell open, while I gawked at him.
“I saw you kiss each other. And Palmer looks at you like Kathy Lewis looks at me at school, and Kathy told me she loves me.”
“Wait, how does she look at you?” Palmer asked.
Charlie tilted his head and put his hands under this chin. Then he batted his eyes fast and gave us a little smile.
Palmer looked at me and frowned. It took every ounce of strength I had not to laugh.
“My best friend Paul…well, he said that Kathy gives me doe eyes. That’s what his dad said a girl does when she really likes a boy. Looks at you like she’s looking into a super bright light and blinks really fast and smiles. I’m not sure why she’d smile. Don’t the light hurt her eyes?”
I lost the battle and started to laugh. Palmer, on the other hand, put her hands on her hips and said, “That is not how I look at your father.”
Charlie covered his mouth and giggled while he nodded.
“I do not!” Palmer insisted, but this time a smile broke out on her face.
“It’s okay, Ms…um…Palmer. ’Cause Daddy gives you the same look.”
Her smile turned into a full-on grin.
“Hey, I don’t bat my eyelashes.”
“Well, Ms. Roberts told me at the grocery store that you and Palmer had eyes for each other, so I guess you do.”
Palmer and I both looked at one another and started to laugh.
“I guess we do,” I said, as Palmer kissed Charlie on the top of his head.
“Do you love my dad?”
Palmer’s smile softened, and she gazed down into Charlie’s eyes. “I do love him. And I love you.”
Charlie looked at me. “Do you love, Palmer?”
My eyes met hers. “I love her very much.”
Charlie jumped to his feet. “Great! Let’s call Grammy and Granddad and Mrs. Barbara and Mr. Keegan!”
Looking confused, Palmer asked, “Why?”
Charlie gave us both a befuddled look. “’Cause you two have to get married now!”
I was pretty sure my jaw was in my lap. Palmer nearly choked on air, and Charlie simply stood there looking as pleased as all get out.