Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
I love his possessiveness and find I don’t care what my mother might think.
She sits carefully and clasps her hands in her lap. She opens and closes her mouth several times but says nothing. I’ve never seen my mother at a loss for words.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you both,” Gabriel says. He’s so calm and solid. He smiles at me and lifts my hand to kiss my knuckles. “I’m a bank manager, and my hours can be chaotic, so it’s been hard to find a time when I could come meet you.”
Bless him. He knows just what to say.
My mother actually flushes. Her hand flutters up to her necklace to play with it. She’s smiling as though she’s pleased, which is mindboggling.
My father hasn’t said much, but that’s normal. He’s also smiling. “We’re glad you were able to come by. You’re the first boyfriend Zia has introduced to us. She always keeps her suiters so private.”
“It must be serious.” My mother chuckles awkwardly as she speaks.
The fact that my parents believe I’ve had other boyfriends and have kept them secret makes me want to laugh hysterically, but I manage to control myself. Let them believe that. It’s only helping my cause here.
“It is serious,” I say, taking the opening. I look up at Gabriel, and I know I’m reflecting all the love I feel for him as I say, “In fact, Gabriel is being transferred out of town in a few weeks, and he’s asked me to go with him.”
My mother gasps.
Gabriel’s mouth quirks on one corner. His eyes are lit up. He’s proud of me, which fuels me to stay on this path.
“That is serious,” my father states. “Where are you being transferred, Gabriel?”
“To an island off the coast of the mainland. It only takes about three hours to get to the ferry from here and then an hour to get across to the island.”
“Oh.” My mother sits taller. “I’ve heard there were a few islands with growing populations off the coast. I guess that one must have a significant population to warrant a bank branch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Gabriel agrees. “I’m looking forward to it. It will be a change.”
“I’m excited, too,” I say. “I can’t wait to live somewhere with a beach.” Either my parents don’t know what island we’re talking about, or they’d rather not discuss it. Either way, I’m okay with the direction this conversation is going.
“What about graduate school?” my father asks.
My mother waves a dismissive hand through the air. “Goodness, no need to worry about something like that. If Zia has found someone who makes her happy, she should follow her heart instead.”
This is not going at all as I anticipated. My mother seems totally on board. My father probably doesn’t care. I’m shocked, but pleased. Maybe all she ever wanted was to marry me off, and this man will do. It’s kind of sad, but if she’s going to support me, I’m going to sleep better at night.
“Exactly,” I agree. “I can defer my start date. That way if I ever change my mind and want to go back to school, I can do so.”
Somehow this day is looking brighter and brighter. My mother is so pleased that she serves iced tea and homemade chocolate chip cookies. My father asks Gabriel questions about his job until he’s apparently satisfied the man is legitimately gainfully employed and able to take care of me.
By the time we leave, I’m walking on air. My parents step outside with me and watch as Gabriel helps me into the car and buckles my seatbelt. When I glance out the window, my mother is dabbing at her eyes.
“What on Earth just happened?” I ask rhetorically as soon as Gabriel pulls away from the house.
“I don’t know, Baby girl, but I’m so proud of you.”
I draw in a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m exhausted. I feel like I ran a marathon today.”
He sets a hand on my thigh. “I know just what you need to unwind and relax.”
I glance over at him. “Sex?”
He chuckles. “I was thinking about Little time, but if you’d like to start with me worshiping your sweet body, that can be added to the agenda. You deserve a reward for telling your parents everything.”
“Do you think they have any idea where we’re going? That part was so strange.”
Gabriel shrugs. “I’m not sure. I suspect they didn’t ask for specifics because they didn’t want the answers, which means they have a good idea where we’re moving.”
“If that’s the case, they must care more about my happiness than my lifestyle.”
“It would seem so, Baby girl.” He squeezes my thigh.
“I’m so relieved. It’s like a giant boulder has lifted from my shoulders. Now I can think about more pleasant things. Do you think we’ll have time to go to some of the Littleworld parks when we arrive before you have to start work?”