Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
"It’s not the pancakes,” he says, walking away from me now and going to sit in the chair next to Sofia.
I put one pancake on Sofia's plate and another one on mine and stack three on his, leaving one on the counter in case he or Sofia want more.
“I got to give it to you, Hazel," Reed says after he finishes the three on his plate, the one on the counter, and the rest of Sofia’s. “You can cook."
I shrug my shoulders, and I’m getting up to clean the dishes when he stops me. “I’ve got the kitchen. Go get ready."
"Well, then, you won’t hear me argue." I grab another cup of coffee and head upstairs. I slip on my tight jeans and a white button-down shirt, rolling up the sleeves and tucking it in the front. After slipping on my tan ballerina shoes, I comb my hair and put on some mascara. I take more time than I care to admit on my appearance. When I walk downstairs, I see that the kitchen is almost done.
"Her clothes are on the bed,” I say. He looks over his shoulder, and his hand stops in the water. He takes his hand out and grabs the hand towel, drying it off and placing it over his shoulder. “I shouldn’t be long." I get nervous now as he just watches me. “Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," he says, his voice low. “I’m just … you’re stunning." I try not to let his words get to me. "I’m going to have a hard time when Sofia gets older if she looks anything like her momma."
I turn away from his look, not ready for him to see that I’m blushing. “Give Momma a kiss," I tell Sofia who just colors. She looks up at me, and I kiss her on her lips. “Be good for—" I almost slip and say dad. "Be good."
"Do I get a goodbye kiss?" Reed asks, and I roll my eyes, grabbing my purse and almost running out of the house. I put my hand on my head once I’m sitting in my car, trying to get all the butterflies out of my stomach.
"Motherfucker,” I say to myself. “Falling for Reed Barnes is a stupid idea, Hazel." I drive out of the driveway and toward town. I get out of the truck, and I’m walking when I see four women walking toward me. One of them is heavily pregnant.
"There she is," Amelia says as she waddles toward me. Chelsea is beside her with Savannah on one side and Kallie on the other side. "You have some explaining to do."
I put my hand to my chest, and I wonder if Reed told his family, my hands starting to shake and my mouth goes dry. “Sorry."
"Don’t sorry me," Amelia says. “I heard you made the best blueberry scones alive, and Auntie Savannah just gave me the last one."
The relief goes out of me, and I laugh. "We aren’t even going to discuss the sandwiches that my husband now wants me to make," Chelsea says. “Chicken and cranberry." She shakes her head.
"Leave her alone," Savannah says, coming to my side.
"I’m going to get her to the diner," Kallie says, putting her hand around Amelia's shoulders. “Before she gets really hangry and shows up at your door."
"I can get you some scones,” I say, and her eyes light up. “I’ll make them tonight."
"See you tomorrow,” she says, walking around me. “Or today if you finish them and want to drive them over to me."
"I’ll see,” I say and then turn back to see Savannah.
"I was hoping I would see you out," she says. “Do you have a couple of minutes?" she asks.
"I do,” I say, and she smiles.
"Follow me,” she says, and I walk with her across the small parking lot to the vacant new stores I saw when I was driving into town. She takes the keys out of her pocket and opens the door.
I walk in and see an empty space, the big windows in the front allowing the sun to come in. "Now, before you say anything,” she tells me, “I want you to picture a long wooden counter on this side." She points at the side of the room. “With a huge display case in the back." I turn, watching her walk across the room. “Wooden beams everywhere, and I want it to be like your grandmother's kitchen," she tells me. “I’d love to put a couch in the back of that corner for when people come in and there are more than six." She smiles now, her eyes lighting up. “A homey feel. There are going to be little round tables everywhere. I was thinking we can have coffee cups for sale in a wooden hutch."
"I think it would be amazing,” I say honestly. “You are going to get the older crowd, and also you might even touch the younger kids in high school who want to come and just get some chill time." I shake my head. “I think you have an amazing idea."