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)
Audrey snorts. “That was funny.”
“So where are you going to stay?” Levi looks at her.
“That’s what we were doing here.” She looks over at Stefano. “He said you guys could show me around.”
“I have my condo, if you want,” Levi offers and my head whips to look at him.
“She’s not going to stay there,” Stefano says, “it’s—” He tries to find the word, snapping his fingers. “It’s—”
“A brothel,” I put in for him and he points at me.
“That,” he agrees.
“We can have it steam cleaned,” Levi says, “and painted.”
“Biohazard cleaning, you mean,” Stefano retorts and I ignore him.
“It’s a two-bedroom condo in the middle of the city,” Levi says to her. “I’m not staying there, and well, we might be moving anyway, so you can stay there if you want.”
“Moving?” I squawk. “Moving where?”
“Baby,” Levi cajoles, “I said might be.”
“Why would we move?” I ask.
“We sleep on a queen-size bed,” he explains, “and if we get a king-size bed, it’ll barely fit.” I don’t deny this. “There isn’t even a room to make an office.”
“Shouldn’t we—” I start to say when the doorbell rings. All three jump to answer it, leaving the two of us alone. “Shouldn’t you talk to me about this?”
“I said maybe,” Levi placates me. “I would like to get a space that is ours, that we can grow into.” He pulls me into his arms. “You know, maybe get another bedroom or two.”
“We are not putting a sex room in a house,” I say and he laughs.
“I was thinking that maybe we would fill it in another way down the line,” he suggests quietly.
“You mean?”
I stop there because the lump forms in my throat when Cici says, “Mama, Mama, Mama.” I see half the blueberries on the floor, her fingers stained blue. “Mama, Mama.”
“Get another kid who calls you Mama,” Levi urges, and all I can do is put my head down in the middle of his chest and silently cry.
“You want a baby with me?” I finally ask him when they come back into the room.
“Didn’t you two just get married?” Stefano yells. “How are you pregnant already?”
“We aren’t,” Levi denies, “but one day.” He kisses my lips. “Sooner than later, yeah?” I don’t answer him because his arms pull me closer to him as he bends to kiss my lips. The word “okay” is swallowed by his mouth.
Epilogue Two
Levi
Ten months later
“How does this look?” Eva asks me as she steps out of the walk-in closet wearing a one-piece white sleeveless dress. It’s tight on her top and hips, then flows down and is covered in blue flowers.
“You look amazing.” I look at her as I sit on the bed with Cici, who is watching a cartoon on the iPad in front of her. She’s wearing a special dress Eva bought her for today and we are trying not to get it dirty. It has a white top and a full pink skirt—which she hates because it gives her trouble when she walks, or better yet, runs—a big sash in the front with a huge bow in the back that matches the bow on her headband. “But you looked amazing in the last outfit.”
“I just want to look like…” She trails off. “Like I’ll be a good mom.” Today is the big day. She finally gets full custody of Cici; all the CPS visits are finally over.
“Baby, you are a good mom,” I say softly and get off the bed walking to her. I grab her face in my hands. “You are a great mom, the best mom there is out there.”
She looks down and blinks away the tears. “This is just going to make it more formal.” She looks up and I see big tears in her eyes. “Like she’s going to be mine.”
I rub her cheeks with my thumbs. “She’s already yours.”
“That’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about,” she redirects, her voice going a bit low. “Before we leave, there are a couple of things we need to talk about.”
“Um.” I hesitate as she steps away from my touch and walks over to the bed.
“Cici,” she calls her name and she looks up at her, “come.” She holds out her hands and Cici drops the iPad and crawls over to her. “It’s time for the surprise.”
Cici smiles at her and claps her hands. “What’s going on?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips.
“Stay there.” She holds her hand up. “I’ll call you when we are ready.” She walks out of the room, and even though she told me to stay where I am, I walk to the doorway and out into the hallway, watching them walk into Cici’s room. “Thanks for listening,” she throws over her shoulder, glaring.
“I’m not following you.” I stand in the hallway. “I’m making sure you guys are safe.”