Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Me: Just landed.
I look down to see if the gray bubble pops up, showing she’s texting me, but nothing comes up. I wait for the ding of the seat belt before I reach under my seat to grab my backpack, then open the overhead bin and grabbing my black carry-on bag. I slide it over my shoulder, while I hold the bag in front of me, waiting for the plane door to open before I walk out. I make my way toward the baggage claim and exit. Passing the baggage claim, I head straight to the parking garage. Fetching the keys out of my bag, I press the unlock button, pulling open the back door and tossing the bag in there, along with my backpack, before sliding into the driver’s seat.
I pull out of the parking lot and head straight to my place. In a matter of twenty minutes, I’m walking into my place and tossing my keys at the table by the door, right next to the stack of mail my cleaning lady put there this morning. I dump my bag on the bed, unzipping it as I take out my dirty clothes and toss them in the laundry basket in the closet. The phone rings from inside my suit jacket pocket, pulling it out I see that it’s Eva.
“Hello,” I greet, putting the phone to my ear and leaning it against my shoulder.
“Hey.” She sounds breathless. “Where are you?”
“I’m home grabbing some clothes.” I walk over to the shelf and grab two pairs of jeans along with two jogging shorts. Going back to the bag, I fill it with the clothes in my hands before going back to get some T-shirts.
“Okay, well, Josephine is going to be here in like fifteen minutes,” she says, and I hear her running around. “It’s their first visit since I got Cici and I’m about to freak the F out.” She hisses the last word.
“Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I assure her. “Do you need anything?”
“No,” she replies, “just get here.” She disconnects, and I rush to get to her house.
I pull into her driveway and park next to her car at the same time as a car pulls up to the curb. I get out of the driver’s seat and grab my bag from the back of the car. Walking up the front steps, I look over my shoulder to see Josephine coming up the walkway. “Hello,” I greet her, opening the front door. Luckily, I know the code to the door. “Come in,” I say to her as Eva walks out of the kitchen, baby Cici on her hip. She’s dressed in yoga pants and a white shirt that is almost a crop top. Her hair is piled on the top of her head. I can’t help the smile that fills my face, and it’s strange how nervous I am standing in front of her. She isn’t sure what to say to me, but her eyes look behind me at Josephine. “Hi.” I smile at her as I walk to her, bending down and kissing her lips. She looks at me shocked, especially when I lean over and kiss Cici’s soft cheek. “I’m going to put away my bag in the room,” I tell Eva, who just nods. I then turn to Josephine. “Sorry, I was traveling for work and my plane was delayed,” I lie to her. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time,” Josephine assures me. I nod at her as I take a couple of steps toward the stairs and see the changes that have happened in one week. On top of the mantel is a picture of us from our wedding. I want to walk over to it and pick it up to look at it, but instead I just walk up the steps toward Eva’s room.
I place the bag on the floor inside the room. I take off my suit jacket, tossing it on the bed before turning to walk back downstairs. I hear Cici fussing when I get down to the last step. “How have things been going?” Josephine sits with a pen in her hand and a pad, where she is writing notes. She is at the table in front of Eva, with Cici on her lap, but turned toward her.
“It’s been good,” she states and I know she’s lying. The few times I did talk to her, she sounded like she was hanging on by a thread. “Definitely a little bit of a learning curve.” She gets up now as Cici lays her head on her shoulder as Eva moves side to side. “I think she misses Lisa.”
Josephine just nods at her. I walk into the kitchen and see she has a high chair in the corner. I walk to her. “Do you want some water?” I ask Eva, putting my hand on her lower back.