Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I just bought some a few days ago,” Esther replied, pushing herself to her feet. “I might’ve left them in our bathroom.”
“Otto’s in there, so I couldn’t check,” Noel said, her eyes darting between me and her sister.
“I’ll be right back,” Esther muttered.
“How you doin’ today?” I asked as Noel stood uncomfortably at the entrance of the living room.
“I’m okay,” she replied. I almost groaned in disappointment as she wrapped that gorgeous hair around and around her hand until she’d tucked it into a little knot at the base of her neck. “I’m glad the girls slept through all of it. Flora didn’t wake up until they were gone.”
“Sorry I snapped at you last night,” I said quietly. “I’m not mad at you.”
“No,” she replied shaking her head. “I know that.”
“Here’s your bobby pins,” Otto announced, jogging down the stairs. “Esther didn’t want to come all the way back down the stairs again.”
“Thank you,” Noel said, catching the little package when Otto tossed it to her. “I’ll be right back.”
Me and Otto watched as she hurried back up the stairs, her long rope of hair falling back down her back with the movement. I couldn’t look away. I was still a little dumbstruck that she was there. After all that time, she’d finally reached out.
Otto scoffed.
“What?” I looked back at him once Noel was out of sight.
“You all give me shit about likin’ long hair,” he mused. “Not so smug now, huh?”
“Fuck you.” I laughed, pushing off the couch to follow him into the kitchen. “She could have a shaved head and I’d still look at her the same.”
“Still?” he asked, headed to the full coffee pot on the counter.
“Guess so,” I mumbled. Seeing Noel had always been like a sucker punch to the chest. When we were kids I’d tried to ignore it and it had only gotten worse. I knew better than to not acknowledge it. “Doesn’t make a difference.”
“How do you figure?” Otto asked, handing me a cup of coffee.
“Her husband just died,” I replied dryly. “She’s got two toddlers and a baby on the way.”
“And?”
“Think she’s got her hands full already,” I replied with a huff.
“You’ve been waitin’ a long time,” he said quietly.
“Everyone keeps sayin’ that,” I replied in exasperation. “It’s not like I was sittin’ at home since she left. I’ve got a whole ass life that doesn’t have anythin’ to do with Noel.”
“Speakin’ of,” Otto said, smiling. “Mom said you want to sell that huge ass house of yours.”
“Swear to God,” I bitched. “No one knows how to keep their mouths shut.”
“Don’t think she realized it was a secret.”
“There’s nothin’ to tell yet. Emilia said she needs to get some photos and shit before she can list it.”
“Might wanna hold off on all that,” Otto replied. “Just sayin’.”
“Uncle Otto,” Ariel’s voice called in a whisper hiss from the stairs. “I’m comin’ down!”
Otto strode past me and a few seconds later he came back in the kitchen with Ariel in tow.
“Hi,” she said, watching me curiously as she climbed up to the table. She was wearing a nightgown that was almost an exact replica of Esther’s granny nightgown and her hair shot out from her head in every possible direction.
“Titus is gonna hang with you ladies today,” Otto informed her.
Ariel watched me curiously, like she was wondering why exactly I’d be hanging out with them, but she didn’t say a word.
“I like your nightgown,” I said, finally.
Otto laughed as he set down a little cup of yogurt and a spoon in front of her.
“Flora gave it to me,” Ariel said, looking down at herself. “It’s got hearts.”
“I see that.”
“Did you tell your mama you were comin’ downstairs?” Otto asked Ariel as he picked up his coffee again.
“She told me to hurry so I didn’t wake up Nana,” Ariel replied, a little mustache of yogurt on her lip. “She’s comin’ down in a minute.”
“Alright.” Otto looked at me. “I’m gonna run up and tell Esther goodbye.”
“We’re fine down here.”
“You going to work?” Ariel asked.
“Yeah, and I’m gonna be late if I don’t hurry,” Otto replied scrubbing his hand over her head as he passed her. “Make sure you clean up your mess when you’re done, yeah?”
“I will!”
“Shh,” he reminded her. “Don’t wake up the girls.”
Ariel’s mouth snapped closed as he hurried out of the room.
Without Otto in the kitchen it felt a little like I was looming over the four-year-old, so I pulled out a chair and sat across from her at the table.
“Yogurt is my favorite breakfast,” she told me, breaking the silence. “What’s your favorite?”
“I don’t eat breakfast usually,” I replied in amusement as she scraped inside the little cup with her spoon, her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated.
“You gotta eat breakfast,” she scolded, looking up at me. “It gives your body energy for the day.”