Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
We talked about her friends and the end-of-term parties she went to. Part of me was always a little anxious about the possibility of her meeting a nice guy her age. But our girl was steadfast. She knew what she wanted: the three of us as a family, loving, supporting, and satisfying each other in every way.
“I wanted to see if I could stay home for the fall semester, but unfortunately the advanced marine bio classes can’t be taken online,” she said, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
I swept a lock of hair behind her ear. “Well, it’s only June, so we have plenty of time to enjoy the summer together.”
“I know. I’m just really looking forward to living with you guys all year round.”
“Speaking of living together,” Logan said from the front seat. “Hailee and I have been talking. As much as we like my place in Oregan, our girl misses the ocean. So, after she graduates, I’m going to buy a place on the coast. For all of us.”
I caught his gaze in the rearview mirror. He was obviously expecting me to object to this plan. In the past, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable living in a house I hadn’t paid for myself. As a single parent, I felt like I had something to prove, and that chip on my shoulder led me to make things harder on myself and Hailee than they’d probably needed to be. I’d turned down my brother’s offers to help me out financially many times.
But things were different now. Our relationship to Hailee had changed dramatically. Now that she was an adult, it was no longer my place to decide how much support she should accept from her uncle, especially when my actions were the reason he had to step in and care for her in the first place.
More importantly, I was done putting my own pride above what was right for Hailee. If the goal was for the three of us to be a family, then that meant learning to act as a family, with each person contributing to the unit. Making the people around him happy and comfortable was how Logan expressed affection.
I held his gaze in the rearview and nodded. “I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
“Do you think you’ll want to open another shop, Daddy?” Hailee asked me. I’d had to close my auto body shop when I went inside.
“I’ve thought about it” I said. “I’d like to open a new place eventually, but it sounds like I should maybe wait until you’re finished with school, and we know a little more about where we’ll be living.”
“That’s probably the best way to do it,” Logan said. “In the meantime, I’ll let you work on the 1955 Porsche Spyder I picked up at an auction last month.”
Hailee snickered. “Wow, Logan’s going to let you touch his new baby?”
“Why not?” he said. “I let him touch you, and you’re far more precious to me.”
“I disagree with the opinion that you allow me to touch what’s also mine,” I said. “But I’m too keen to get my hands on your Spyder to argue.”
We drove for a few hours. Instead of heading to the airport and then to Oregon, Logan and Hailee surprised me with a luxury suite at a five-star resort nestled in the Northern California countryside, with views of the mountains and vineyards.
Everything about the place screamed luxury, from the French-style architecture to the massive infinity pool. We parked in a temporary spot at the main entrance and went inside.
Hailee took my hand and led me out to look at the sculpture garden while Logan checked us into our private villa. It felt surreal to be out in the world again, especially somewhere so starkly different from anything I was used to. I was grateful that Logan had sent along a set of clothes and shoes to the prison in advance of my release, so I didn’t have to roll up here in a jumpsuit. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little out of place among all the finery, and the resort staff who were uncomfortably eager to assist me.
Hailee seemed to pick up on my unease.
“We thought we’d order room service and have lunch in the villa,” she said, squeezing my hand. “Does that sound good?”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I said quietly.
Our villa was down the road from the main building and up a hill, tucked back from the communal spaces and other villas. Large windows, high ceilings, and a warm, buttery color palette made the place feel light and airy. There was a massive bed and two lavish bathrooms, including one out on a balcony with a tub and a shower. The elevation as well as the mature trees around the building protected the outdoor space from being visible from the ground.