Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“I know. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Honestly, I thought she was lying to me when she told me she was still working. But I was in there the other day to pick up some groceries and saw it for myself. She was showing a customer where the almonds were.”
No one could think this was anything but good news, but there was a drag at the pit of my stomach that made me feel uneasy. “And she hasn’t been talking back to her boss or missing shifts because she can’t work the alarm on her phone?” I collapsed on the bed while Autumn went to inspect the ice cream fridge.
“Apparently she loves her boss. Honestly, I was over at their place earlier in the week and she made lasagna for dinner.”
“She did not,” I said. “She can barely boil water.” What was happening? I’d half expected to go back to Oregon to find both my parents in prison.
“I know. She said Jenny showed her what to do.”
All the years I’d cooked for the four of us. Even when we moved out, twice a week, I’d take food around for my parents. “I can’t believe it,” I said. “It would have been nice if she could have made a lasagna once in a while when we were kids.” Of course I wanted her to be more capable, more focused, but I hadn’t expected it actually to happen. Especially not when I was five thousand miles away. “How’s dad?” I asked. “I bet he thinks aliens have invaded.”
“Well, he’s getting a home-cooked meal so he’s happy. And he’s been helping Kenny over at the bike shop.”
“What do you mean helping? Is he doing something he shouldn’t be doing?” My jaw tensed as I waited for the bad news that was going to inevitably follow Autumn’s cascade of good news.
“Nope.” She decided on a tub and picked up two spoons and brought it over to the bed. “Kenny’s apprentice walked out and left Kenny short so Dad offered to help. Was only meant to be for a few days but that was four weeks ago.”
Why hadn’t she said something before? I’d just assumed they were sitting watching Wheel of Fortune and complaining about not having enough money—because why would anything have changed? Would this have happened if I’d still been around, or had they gotten off their asses to spite me? To show me that they didn’t need me. “I guess that’s great.”
“I don’t think he gets paid much, but he said he likes learning about the bikes. And honestly, I figure helping for free is still better than sitting at home, thinking up trouble.”
“Yeah, I agree. Sounds like you’re all better off without me.” I said it with a smile but I wasn’t joking. It kind of hurt that as soon as I’d left, things got better, as if I’d been the problem all along.
“Oh, I bet you by Friday, Mom will ask me for a loan.”
“Well, I told you that if she does, you have to get her to call me. You don’t have enough as it is.”
“None of us has enough,” she replied. “Except maybe Dexter.”
“Dexter definitely has enough.” I took the tub from Autumn and dug in to the Rocky Road. I’d never even seen it on sale in London. “A lot of people in London do. I can’t wait to show you around. When do you have to go home?”
“I have class on Monday. I’m flying home Sunday. Can you believe he flew me out here for two nights?”
I wanted Autumn to make her classes, but I also wanted her to stay. I shouldn’t be greedy. Having her here on my birthday was more than I could ever dream of.
“I saw the final tiara the other day and guess what?” I asked. “You’ll have to strap yourself in before I tell you this.”
“Dexter gave it to you?” she guessed.
I laughed. “I know you think Dexter is the perfect guy, but no, he did not give me a tiara.”
“A ring? Are you engaged?”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I handed her back the ice cream. “As if I’m going to get engaged to a guy who lives five thousand miles away.”
“You’re living with him,” she challenged.
“Until I come back to Oregon. And it’s just logistics. It means we can see a little more of each other as the competition gets more demanding. No, they asked everyone to give feedback on the tiara and everyone said how amazing it was—and it was totally amazing. You’ve never seen anything like it—”
“Can I see it? I’m dying to.”
I shook my head, half saying no to her request, half trying to get rid of the brain freeze. “It’s all top secret until the finals next week. Don’t you want to hear what happened?” She nodded. “Well when everyone was saying how great the tiara was, I couldn’t help but think there was something missing. So, I made a suggestion. And they decided to incorporate it. Can you believe it? An idea I had about the design for a freaking tiara is going to be made.” Even saying those words gave me the chills. I’d made Dexter promise he wasn’t taking up the idea just because it was mine, and he basically told me I was an idiot if I thought that was possible.