Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I reply. “Love you.”
“Love you, baby,” he says with what sounds like extra feeling.
I love it when his voice goes deeper like that when he says that to me – like he really wants me to know he means it.
He hangs up.
I’ve got an hour and a half left of my workweek, so I dig in to wrap it up, excited about a weekend getaway. Excited in general, because this past few weeks with Killian have been awesome.
I’m feeling so much more like the old me, but I appreciate everything and take nothing for granted, not the least of which is my relationship with my family, which has been great lately. And we had dinner with them the other weekend and it was more than I could’ve hoped for. My grandfather even showed signs of liking Killian, which has the whole family amped because he’s not big on outsiders. I heard Colleen mutter to her mom that it’s because my last boyfriend was such a colossal asshole that anybody would get the nod of approval after that. My aunt gave her shit for that, noticing I overheard.
I shrugged. “She’s right, of course, but that doesn’t take away from that fact that my guy is incredible.”
“No, you’re right about that. Sorry, Vi,” Colleen muttered.
I hugged her. “Don’t sweat it.”
Uncle Brock slid by us at that point and said, “Envy-green don’t look good on you, Colly.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and then looked to me. “He’s kinda right though. Sorry, Vi.”
I laughed.
I spent a few hours at my grampa’s yesterday, dropping food off, showing him how to use the air fryer I bought him for an early Christmas gift, and bottom line, my family loves Killian and both Kill and his brother are coming to Thanksgiving this year. I’m looking forward to getting to know Will Coulter better, too.
At 4:50, I get buzzed by Tara.
“There’s someone at the front desk for you, Violet. Her name is Sandy Iadanza.”
I jolt in surprise and it takes prompting from Tara to find out if I’m still there before I reply, “I’ll be there in a minute.”
***
When I see Ray’s mother pacing the reception area, I’m sure I’d know her if I passed her on the street - Ray looks that much like her. Sandy Iadanza looks agitated, perhaps also nervous looking around as she paces, biting her nails.
I approach and she eyes me curiously with those hauntingly familiar blue eyes. It’s casual Friday, but I’m dressed up today after having had a vendor lunch earlier, a lunch with a vendor that was very business-like, so I decided to forego my usual Friday jeans, opting instead for a business suit.
She’s dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, old sneakers. A ski jacket that looks like it has seen better days. Her blonde hair is in a ponytail and sad to say, she looks unwell. She looks like she lives a hard life of partying. And that would go along with what Ray told me about her. That she’s an abusive alcoholic and pain pill popper.
I can’t imagine why she’s here, other than maybe hearing about Ray being arrested and wanting an update, which I don’t have.
I asked Killian just last week if he’s heard anything while we were picking up mail for the last time at my old apartment. I officially no longer live there. My furniture has been sent to the Tillamook house, since we have so much space there and not a whole lot of furniture yet.
Killian told me Mrs. Shear is in an assisted living facility, that he’d sent the money to it in care of her niece, but that no, he had no idea where things were at with Ray.
“Hello?” I ask. “Mrs. Iadanza?”
“Sandy. You Violet?” she asks me.
Her voice comes out strong, rough. There’s definite hardness to her.
“I am.”
“Obviously you know I’m Ray’s mother. I need to talk to you. In private.” She shoots Tara, who is watching us, a dirty look.
“Can I use this meeting room?” I call over to ask.
“Go ahead. It’s not booked for the rest of the day.” Tara nods toward the empty conference room to the left of reception, and I gesture for Ray’s mother to go ahead of me. I turn on the light and close the door behind myself.
“It’s strange to meet you finally.”
“Strange?” she asks, looking me over with sharp eyes. “Why is it strange?”
“Yeah. Um, just because Ray and I were together for three years and we never met and now that we’re not together, we do and it’s just… a surprise.”
“You’re not together?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. We split up just before he… um… I’m getting ahead of myself. How can I help you?”
“Figures. That little bullshitter. You seen him lately?” she asks.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but he was arrested.”