Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 65354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“Good. Don’t worry about the delivery truck. I’m twelve weeks, and I think I can relax.” I smiled at him. “Ryder has been great. We might look at houses, so I might return the favor and block your driveway with a moving truck at some point.”
“He’s a good man,” Perry said. I had told Perry about the baby straight away over dinner at his house with Ryder. The two got closer slowly, and while Perry would always be protective of me, he understood that Ryder had my best interests at heart. “I know that he can take care of you the right way.” Perry glanced at the house. “Here to work?”
“Yeah. I still have a connection to this place. I think I’ll keep it as a studio and use it as a write off like Tori keeps suggesting. I’ve had offers of space in galleries, but I feel at peace here.” I winked at him. “It’s also safe with the neighbors around.”
“That’s good, because I’ve just set it up with a security system that rivals any other. There are cameras and motion detectors at every entrance. If anything happens, the department is called out within moments.” He looked at my shocked face. “I made a deal with Ryder. Just don’t be here late at night and leave by yourself.”
“I have a bed in there if that happens.” I giggled and hugged him. “Thank you.” I knew it was a safe neighborhood, but there was valuable art in there. I kept the location low key out in public, but carrying paintings outside had to attract some attention.
“Good. We’ll all keep an eye out as well.” Perry pulled back to look at me. “What happens if you get a house?”
I looked back at the place that my father purchased for me a few years ago to give me somewhere stable. Yes, he bought me a place, but he never visited me or showed real love. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll decide when the time comes.”
“Good girl.” He nodded at me. “Come for some lunch in a couple of hours. I have the day off, and Kelly is spoiling me.”
“Okay.”
I walked up to the front door, almost afraid to unlock it. I did and heard the beeping throughout the house before I typed in Ryder’s birthday. Everything went silent, and I blinked before closing and locking the door. I made my way to the kitchen for some water and then into the studio where my work was waiting for me. This room faced the side yard, so I opened the blinds and let some air in before sitting down.
I loved this house even if it was just another cold-hearted gift from my dad. It gave me a place to live, and so much had happened here that was good in my life. I didn’t need to live here to love it, and it would make an excellent studio for my future. I turned on some music and started to work, getting lost in it. I was painting so freely these days with so much going on, and loved that. I jumped when a chime interrupted the song playing through my phone and reached for it. Lunch time!
I smiled and stood up from the stool to wash my hands before I went over to the house. Kelly hugged me and rambled about the baby as she served soup and thick sandwiches for lunch. Their twins, now seven, ate and proceeded to run around the house like maniacs. I watched them, scared of my own being this way, and Kelly chuckled.
“It’ll all work out just fine,” she assured me as I sipped my water.
“I know. I think I’m glad it isn’t twins. No offense.” They both laughed and smiled lovingly at each other. I helped clean up and headed back to my townhouse.
The place seemed a little stuffy, so I left the side door ajar for a few minutes to get some fresh air into the townhouse. I settled down and started working on the piece I had been talking to Lucas about. It featured purple mountains and I had managed to make the clouds look like a face peering down on the scene below. I worked on the picture for what seemed like minutes, but was probably at least an hour. I was startled when I heard the outside door slam shut with a gust of wind. I guess I had been too absorbed with my art and forgotten about the door. I decided it was time for a break and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water and check my messages.
Both Ryder and Tori had texted me. Ryder asking what I wanted for dinner, so I dialed his number. As his phone rang, I heard the unlocked outside door open.