Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Sorrow settled around us, thick and bitter. “I’m so sorry, Anne.”
She threw back the water like it was tequila. Maybe it should have been. Then she picked up the knife. “When you can’t give your husband the only thing he’s ever asked for in an eight-year marriage, he divorces you. Nothing to be sorry about.”
“There’s more to life than having kids.” I took a drink.
“Not to Finn.” She assaulted the next carrot. “They mean the world to him.”
“You deserve someone who thinks you’re the world.” I picked at the label, wishing it was one of Finn’s eyes.
She paused. “He said I failed him.” The knife fell from her hand onto the cutting board, and she braced her palms flat on the gray marble. “How screwed up is that? I’m the one who went through the miscarriages, the IVF, the hormones, the—” Her head drooped. “But he’s the one who feels let down. Like I’m not heartbroken too?”
I slipped out of my chair, rounded the island, and hugged her from behind. “You’re not a failure. You’re a freaking lawyer.”
“Who quit practicing after a year because Finn thought it would help relieve stress and make getting pregnant easier.” She scoffed.
“You’re beautiful, and kind, and smart, and a thousand other wonderful things. You’re definitely the best of us.” I dipped my chin to rest on her shoulder.
She hooked her hand over my arm and squeezed, then let her head rest against the side of mine for a moment. “I’m certainly the only one capable of decent cooking, so why don’t you sit down and let me finish making you some chicken soup? You might need it after risking hypothermia.” She gave my face a pat with her left hand, and I retreated back to my side of the island.
“It was only for a few minutes. The pool doesn’t have the same resistance that waves give.” I finished the bottle of water and reached for the bag of celery.
“Nope.” Anne grabbed it and pulled it into her murderous clutches. “I’ve seen the havoc you wreak in a kitchen. Besides, you’re supposed to be letting me take care of you, remember? That’s why we’re here.”
“We’re here because of Mom’s draconian occupation requirements.” I drew a knee to my chest and watched Anne lay into the celery.
“True.”
Naturally we’d procrastinated the deadline Mom had imposed, laying down the law that once every three years, the house had to be used the entirety of a summer by at least one of us, and occupied by all three of us for one of those weeks. Guess it was her little way of ensuring we’d still spend time together, but I kind of wondered if it was a little revenge dig at Dad, setting us up for failure so we’d lose the house he’d loved.
Until now, Anne had been busy with her job and husband, only popping into the beach house for the annual Haven Cove Classic in August, while Eva and I had been too busy at the Company to make it work. Maybe if I’d come in the last couple of years, I would have seen Hudson sooner. How long had he been back?
Doesn’t matter. Let it go.
“Has Eva told you when she’s coming?” I asked.
“I think she’s planning on staying the full week of the Classic, but I hope she comes for the Fourth of July,” Anne answered, transferring the vegetables to the pot. “She’d better show up, because I love this house and I’m not losing it.”
“You know, you could always just live here year round if you wanted. Neither of us would care, if it made you happy.”
“And leave you two in New York unsupervised? I’ll pass. Want to tell me what Hudson Ellis was doing here?” The gentle tone and concerned gaze reminded me of Dad.
“His niece wanted to meet me.” The rest of it was too ridiculous to bother her with after the day she’d had. “Guess she follows Eva on Seconds.”
“It’s half your account too.” She grabbed a fully cooked chicken from the refrigerator and kicked the door shut. “And did he happen to explain if the earth swallowed him whole while you were in the hospital? Or maybe aliens abducted him?”
“No.” I rested my chin on my knee. “But he did apologize.”
“Well, that makes up for everything.” The chicken hit the cutting board with a thud. “Did you tell him to get fucked?”
A corner of my mouth rose. She never swore. “I told him we’d be best off ignoring each other while I’m here. It’s been years. I’m over it.”
“Hmm.” She started in on the chicken with deft strokes of the knife.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I watched every slice, mesmerized by her efficiency.
“It means I can’t remember a time where you and Hudson were in the same town and capable of ignoring each other.” She tilted her head. “You guys were glued at the hip more than Gavin and Lina, and they actually dated.”