Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
He smiled. “I know, and I like it.”
“Miss York?”
I turned at the formal greeting and saw a fifty-something year old woman with a kind smile and a clipboard. It didn’t require a Ph.D. to figure out who she was. “That’s me, but you can call me Bella.”
She nodded and kept her smile fixed in place as she extended her hand. “I’m Kathy Lewis from social services.”
I nodded, slightly panicked. “Um, okay. Great. Do I need to get rid of the party so you can do your thing, or how does this work?”
Her lips twitch in amusement, and I was sure she had encountered all types of nervous guardians and parents, because she shook her head and her smile grew wider. “That won’t be necessary. This is just a routine home visit to investigate the claim that you are unfit. I’ll note living arrangements and all that, and then we’ll talk.”
“Unfit!” I shook my head at that particular word. “I thought they were just trying to get custody of Everest, but to call me unfit, that’s just a bunch of bull…crap.” I shook with anger at the very idea this woman was looking for signs that I was unfit.
“She’s not saying you’re unfit Bella.” Derek’s whispered words combined with the still soothing circles on my back helped. Some. “I’m sorry Kathy. Please look around wherever you need. Do you need me to go with you?”
“That won’t be necessary. I find these things go much faster if I look around unsupervised. But I will find you when I’m done.”
I nodded, and as soon as Kathy disappeared back inside the house my shoulders sank. “She probably saw us kissing.”
Derek’s low, rumbling laughter sent goosebumps skittering across my skin. “It was a chaste kiss on the cheek, Bella. Not unheard of for a couple, especially since you’re clearly madly in love with me.”
“Not the time Derek,” I told him, but he just laughed and leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“It’s always time for that. Now come on, let’s get in a dance or two before Kathy is ready to speak to you.” He tugged on my arm, but I resisted.
“I can’t dance at time like this. I’ll trip and break my ankle, and then I won’t be able to work the farm, which means I won’t be fit to provide for Everest.” I knew I was spiraling, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. Now that Kathy was here, it was all real, and it was too much.
“You won’t trip and fall.”
“You don’t know that,” I shot back childishly and folded my arms with a defiant expression.
“I do, because I’ll hold you so tight that you won’t go anywhere.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I might even kiss you to distract you.”
I laughed and shook my head. “And have the social worker think this is some brothel? No.”
A throat cleared behind us, and I knew, without a doubt that it was Kathy. Again. “Bedrooms?”
“Upstairs,” I pointed. Mine is at one end of the hall and Ev’s is at the other end. The three rooms in between are two guest rooms and a bathroom.” I wanted both of us to have room to breathe and to grow over the years.
“Thank you,” she said with complete professionalism.
“No problem. Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. It means you care, and that’s an excellent first step.”
My hand shot out to stop Kathy before she went back into the house, because I needed to explain. “I don’t talk bad about his grandparents to him. Truth is, I don’t talk about them at all because they haven’t been involved. You can ask him.”
Kathy nodded. “I’ll speak with Everest before I leave.” Then she turned and disappeared into the house once again. I had to fight every instinct to follow her and explain every detail she saw.
Instead, I turned to Derek. “I don’t want to dance, but I could use some fresh air and a thick juicy burger. With lots and lots of ketchup.”
Derek flashed that heart stopping smile, and nodded as he nudged me off the porch, and finally, I went with him. “I can make that happen, but only if you promise to relax and try to enjoy yourself.” He didn’t wait for me to agree, just sat me on a chair and headed in the direction of the food.
I looked around the table and saw Roman and Ryan staring at me with knowing smiles. “What?”
“You know what.” Roman teased. “You and Derek. Looked very domestic up there.” He nodded towards the porch and I cringed inwardly thinking of the spectacle we must have made.
“I was just nervous, and your brother doesn’t get nervous about anything. Ever.” I shrugged off their smiles and resisted the urge to look around in search of Derek.
Ryan and Roman laughed. “Are you kidding? Don’t let that cool demeanor fool you Bella, for the first five years we were on stage, he puked before every single show,” Ryan was practically hyperventilating with laughter.