Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“She good. Told me I’m ggg-growin’ too much!” His speech has come a long way, and we’ve found if we have patience with Case, it’s much better. He doesn’t get flustered, and, in the end, he gets the hang of it.
“That’s because you are. Can barely keep your britches up. Going to need suspenders before too long.” Case hugs my leg. My hand goes to his back, holding him to me. I don’t care that my clothes will look more like his and less like I’ve been out with the animals. The way things are going, Case will never be the kid who donates hand-me-downs with how much wear and tear he puts his clothes through.
“Then you’ll look like Paw,” Mom states.
I tilt my head toward Case. His blue eyes look back at me, a mirror image. Damn, it’s like looking at my twin at my son’s age.
“Dad, Maw, I get sus..sus..penders like Paw?”
“Next time we’re in town, we’ll get you some.” Case is tall for his age. With that comes a narrow waist, and since he’s not a grown man, well, that means what fits in his legs doesn’t elsewhere.
“Kay, we see Sutty, too?” I look from Case to my mom. She lifts her lips in a small smile. Every last one of my family members, and even some extended, seems to be in their matchmaking phase. Mom isn’t fooling anyone, that’s for damn sure.
“Yeah, we’ll go see Sutton. We’ll have a full meal, not just fries and dessert.” Case backs away, arms going across his chest, and he’s starting to blow a puff of air. I arch an eyebrow in his direction, letting him know I’m not backing down. I choose my battles, and this is a hill I’ll die on. Love my boy with everything I’ve got, but the last thing I’m going to let slide is him copping an attitude. Especially since he’s gone from eating anything and everything to becoming Mister freaking Picky Pants.
“No, no, no,” he starts.
“Case, my man. What are you doing out here, and not out with us, riding horses?” Trey comes in at the right moment.
“Uncle Tree, I ride with you.” Case could never say his name correctly, and what he calls him now has stuck.
“As long as your daddy is okay with it, you sure can.” Trey looks from me to Mom. I nod, and Case must take notice, because just as quickly, he’s up and climbing each rung of the fence until he balances at the top. My boy may struggle with his words, but that’s the only thing attempting to hold him. Other than that, he’s all boy, getting closer to kindergarten every damn day.
“Thanks, Daddy!”
“You’re welcome. Be good for your uncle.” I don’t bother tacking on he needs to be home for supper early with it being a school night. My brothers know their nephew’s schedule as well as me.
“Well, since you promised Case dinner in town, I’ll make sure to get the size of Sutton’s sneakers, and you can drop them off with her?” Mom’s face says it all. There’s no way I’ll get out of this errand. She won’t take no for an answer.
“Or you could take her shopping,” I try to divert the conversation away from me stopping at the house she shares with Shane.
“I wish. I’ve tried that many times now. She makes excuse after excuse. I’ll do some nosing around, then you’ll take care of the rest.” Mom squeezes my arm in reassurance, for her sake or mine, I’ll never know. I should have known once she sank her teeth into an idea, there was no changing her mind.
“Fine,” I agree, begrudgingly. She doesn’t respond, instead gives me one of her smiles and heads back up to the house. I shake my head. I’ve been had. Plain and simple.
THREE
SUTTON
“Sutton, your usuals are here,” Gia says. She’s one of the other waitresses here working with me today. Sadly, this is my one day a week I work a double, which is great for my wallet but bad for my back, knees, and feet. The owner, Elora, trusts me to run this place in my sleep. She’s even asked if I’d be interest in taking on a more hands-on approach when it comes to working for her. Sadly, I had to decline. I still kick my own ass to this day. The one thing holding me back at the time was the same thing that’s still holding me back from everything—Shane. My ex-husband, who refuses to get a job and move out of my family home. I was already dumb enough to get married without a pre-nuptial agreement, and the work-around to keep my house in my name and my name only is because he signed the papers while intoxicated. Sneaky of me? Yes. Do I care? No.