Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Who could be knocking on the door? Her mother never complained of nighttime visitors.
Going to the door, she saw Alfie on the other side.
Frowning, she opened the door, a little confused. “Alfie, what’s going on?”
“Your mother’s awake. My dad got a call at the hospital. Do you want us to take you?”
“My mom’s awake?”
“Why didn’t they call here?”
“My dad handled all the paperwork, and he put us down as the nearest contact information.”
“Oh.” Of course he would, but she didn’t think her mother would like the invasion of her privacy. “I may have to change that.” Glancing down at her body, she groaned. “I’ve got to get dressed.”
She wore a pair of fairy tale pajamas. They’d been on sale, and were three sizes too big, but she loved how comfortable they were.
Rushing back to her room, which brought up so many memories, she quickly pulled on her jeans, a crop top, and piled her hair in a bun on top of her head. She splashed some water onto her face, and quickly washed her mouth out with mouthwash. She was ready to go. Donning a pair of flipflops, then grabbing her cell phone and keys, she met Alfie, who was still waiting at the door.
“Wow, that took you, like, five minutes to do.”
“I’m a girl who knows not to waste time.” One too many missed alarms would do that to a person. She hated to be late, and it hadn’t taken her long to build up her ability to get ready in a few minutes.
Alfie opened the door for her in the back, and it would take her a short time to get used to the gentlemanly gesture.
In the city, men often tried to steal a cab, or were rude. Not all men, but she’d never been that successful with any.
“Thank you, Eagle, for picking me up.”
“It’s no problem. How are you settling in?”
“Like I never left.”
Her bedroom was spotless. Lily had told her on several occasions she’d go into her room and just remember the time when she was younger. She missed her mom so much, and just the short time of being home, she knew returning to the city would be so hard.
It was strange to her how comforting it was, just going to the fridge and grabbing some food, or sitting on the sofa, not worrying about the couple arguing next door, or the party that shouldn’t be happening that was going on down the hall.
Living in the culinary dorms did have a lot of restrictions in what was allowed. Animals and parties were off limits. Couples could stay together, but the partner that wasn’t part of the culinary school had to pay half of the bills, or at least that was what she’d heard.
She had her small apartment to herself, and she’d loved the independence whereas now, well, it was kind of tough to want to go back.
All this in only a few hours. How was she going to handle days or even weeks?
Ignore it all, Chloe. You’ll deal with whatever comes your way, like you have everything else.
The silence in the car was almost too much to bear. Father and son didn’t speak. She had no idea what to say. The radio wasn’t on.
“How is everything with you, Eagle?” she asked.
“I’m good. The club is good. All is good.”
She smiled. A man of few words.
Silence once again.
The joy.
Nibbling her lip, she stared out into the dark, wondering what to say.
“I heard you passed your culinary exam and you’re looking for a job to be a sous chef.”
“I am. Who told you?” she asked.
“Your mother did in passing.”
She felt a spark of guilt. If it hadn’t been for her and Alfie, Eagle and Lily would have married.
“Have you met someone?” she asked.
“No.”
Again, the guilt.
“Don’t go there,” Alfie said.
“I am sorry,” she said, looking toward Eagle. He glanced up in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, well, nothing ever plays out how it’s supposed to.”
There was a brand-new tension in the car, and she’d been the one to cause it.
Great, just great.
Finally, after what felt like a millennium, they finally arrived. There was no one at the front desk when they entered, but there was a nurse filling out paperwork.
Eagle took the helm, and the nurse walked them back to Lily’s room.
Her mother’s lamp was on.
“We don’t usually allow nighttime visits, but she was very confused and upset. We told her you’d been by to visit, and she just wanted to see you, Chloe. The only information we have was for Mr. Pace.”
“It’s fine. Honestly, it’s fine. I’ll put my contract information down, and there won’t be any misunderstanding.”
Eagle made a noise, and it sounded like a protest. Ignoring him, she walked into her mother’s room. Lily was sitting up in bed, glaring at the door.
“Chloe,” she said.
The glare turned to a smile.