Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“It’s not her fault.” I couldn’t help but tense up.
“Hey—I didn’t say it was.” He inched back and cupped my face in his hands. “I’m not blamin’ anyone, Roe. I’m just saying there’s usually more than one victim when someone’s depressed. You’re doing everything you can—everything you’re supposed to. But you can let us take care of you for a bit. While you take care of her.”
I nodded once and was about to wipe at my cheeks, but he did it for me.
“And you know, maybe a few days away from the kids will help Sandra relax,” he offered. “Nikki read something about the pressure mothers often feel with postpartum—like, they’re feeling pressured to get better faster because they have kids waiting.”
Oh. It didn’t sound untrue, that’s for sure. Sandra could barely look at the twins without tearing up, so she avoided them altogether.
I cleared my throat and tried to compose myself. “How long will we be gone for?”
“We fly home on Tuesday morning.”
I nodded again. That sounded perfect. Too good to be true.
“Thank you.” I stole a hug, because the first one hadn’t been enough.
It never was with Jake.
He squeezed me so fucking perfectly too. He was sexy comfort personified.
Ironically, while making me stronger, he also weakened my resolve.
I shuddered and catalogued every move he made. His hands rubbing my back, his lips at my temple, his warmth, the faint scent of his body wash.
I miss you.
I miss you.
“I miss you.”
Fuck.
He drew a deep breath and exhaled. “I miss you too.”
Thank you. That was sheer oxygen. Forbidden but sorely needed.
It was all I would allow myself.
Jake had given me the best birthday gift I could ever ask for. My family all in one place.
Okay, not everyone was here, but it was damn near impossible to get all the Finlays under one roof. My nieces and nephews were old enough to prefer spending time with friends—hell, one of them was old enough to be deployed, though Crew was rotating back home soon. He’d promised to come see me in LA. He liked it out there.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, Jake had brought me back to life. Now I was sitting in my aunt and uncle’s backyard. They utilized every square inch of the little space. My uncle loved to barbecue, so that was what we were having for lunch. Cullen and Angus were here, doing yardwork in Aunt Elsie’s vegetable garden, Greer was helping my sister feed the twins in the parlor, Francis would get here after his shift, Kyle had just arrived, and Ben had fucking canceled. He lived in Virginia too.
“Daddy, catch me!” Casper came running toward me, and I just managed to set down my beer before I swooped him up.
“Oh-hey! Who’s chasin’ ya?” I grinned and rubbed our noses together.
“Unca Cullen!”
“I’m innocent!” Cullen bullshitted. He currently had a laughing Colin thrown over his shoulder, and he was standing in the middle of Aunt Elsie’s tomato plants. She wasn’t gonna be happy.
“You tryna make crushed tomatoes or what?” I hollered.
“Shit.” He quickly stepped aside and winced. “Don’t tell Ma.”
I laughed. I loved how they never fucking grew up. Hell, they were pushing forty-five and acted more like Casper at times.
“Oi, superstar!” my sister called. “Can I borrow my nephew? Casper, c’mere. I’m gonna show you pictures of your daddy when he was little.”
I snorted and turned around. She was standing in the doorway with a smirk.
“He’s too young to laugh at me, you idjit.” But by all means. I let Casper down, and he darted over to Mira.
“We’ll see,” was all she said.
I reckoned it was time for me to check in on the twins. If Greer was by himself, he might need help.
Where was Jake—oh, right. Sam was thirsty. In other words, they’d be stuck in the kitchen while Aunt Elsie fussed over them.
Hmm. Soon as I entered the house, I found the parlor empty—and unchanged since the eighties. Years ago, we’d staged an intervention to get the plastic off the couches. That was all Aunt Elsie had allowed. Speaking of, she was alone in the narrow kitchen.
“Uh, hi. Have you seen my two youngest?” I asked with a grin.
She looked up from the vegetables she was chopping and smirked a little. “Weren’t you supposed to rest, sweetie? We’ve got things covered, you know. Adam and Callie are napping upstairs with Sam.”
Oh.
She waved her knife at the baby monitor on the kitchen table. “Relax.”
Well, fine. I guessed I could hunt down Jake instead. The house I’d spent my last childhood years in was narrow but kinda long, so I popped my head into the parlor once more, Unc’s study, and the TV room in the front before I jogged up the stairs. Nothing but bedrooms up here. Rooms that’d always been shared between at least two brothers. School pictures and old drawings graced the yellow walls, along with a wooden clock that ticked too loudly.