Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
It has been a rough week, even after deciding that Weaver was telling the truth about not sleeping with my mom and accepting Elaina’s assurances that I don’t have any obligation to track down the sibling I may or may not have, I’m still reeling.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Gramps says, his voice gruff with emotion. “You’ll go, and I’ll pay for it. You’ve sacrificed enough for this family.”
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t. I’m happy here with you. I—”
“Your dad left the facility last night,” he says, the words landing like another punch to the gut. “He didn’t even last a full week. Gary saw him at the pub last night.”
I curse, suddenly fighting tears myself.
“I know,” Gramps says. “I’m sorry, kid.”
“I already paid the co-pay! His bed was eight hundred dollars a day. The insurance only kicked in after I paid for the first three thousand in charges. I can’t get it back. It’s gone.” I curse, swiping at my leaking eyes. “For nothing.”
“Not for nothing,” he says gently. “Now you know. Nothing you do is going to change things with your dad.” He sighs. “Nothing I do, either. I’d be honored to spend the money I’ve been using to pay your dad’s mortgage to help put you through school. I’ll be back to work before you know it and—”
“No, Gramps, you won’t,” I say, my jaw clenching tight. “It’s going to be months until you’re strong enough, and even when you’re cleared for work, I don’t think you should. The house is paid for and your retirement fund is in decent shape. If you get an easier part-time job somewhere in town and quit throwing your money away on Dad, you’ll be able to cover your bills. It’s time for you to quit worrying about the rest of us and take care of yourself.”
He huffs. “If you think that’s going to happen, you’re even crazier than Cathy thinks you are.”
My brows snap together. “What? What did she say? Because I swear to God, Gramps, if she’s gossiping about me behind me back, I’m going to lose it for real. She’s been on my last nerve since the hospital.”
“She told Jennifer who told Henna who told her mom who told Aunt Sue who told the priest who told me that you’re… Well, they said you’re mixed up with Weaver Tripp.”
I gulp and my heart free falls through my chest to crash into my churning intestines. “What?”
“Sea Breeze gossip,” he says, still sounding calm, though I know the explosion is coming any minute. He hates Weaver, and for decent reasons. “You know how it is. No one’s safe, no matter how hard they try to fly under the radar.”
I shake my head but don’t say a word. I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to give Gramps another heart attack, either.
“But she’s mistaken, isn’t she?” Gramps presses. “You know better.”
I sigh and curl deeper into the chair, pulling the afghan up to cover everything but my eyes.
Gramps curses, and I cringe a little lower.
“Honey, what the hell were you thinking?” he says, his tone strained. “He’s a psycho. Your dad picked that fight, but you should have seen what was left of him after Weaver was done.”
“I did see,” I say from under the cover. “I was there in the hospital room with you, Gramps.”
“No, you weren’t,” he says. “I wouldn’t have let you see something like that. I made you wait outside.”
I pull the afghan down, knowing this isn’t the time to hide. “No, you didn’t. I was right there, Gramps. I sat in the corner while you held Dad’s hand and cried. I’ll never forget it. It’s one of the sharpest memories in my entire life.”
His brow furrows. “Really? I would have sworn…”
“Really,” I say. “And that wasn’t all Weaver’s doing. Dad was in a horrible car crash. I’m not excusing what Weaver did, but…he’s not like that anymore. He was really good to me. Really, really good.”
Gramps snorts and rolls his eyes hard enough to get his head involved. “Right. Can’t wait to hear this.”
“He’s paying for Mia,” I say, deciding to cut right to the chase. “Even though I broke up with him.”
Gramps’ eyes widen. “What?”
“He’s paying for Mia. He’s also paying for the crew taking our boat out every day.”
He glowers, his brows twitching like angry caterpillars above his narrowed eyes. “Well, he can stop. Right now. We don’t need his charity. As soon as Mia gets back from her lunch break, I’ll tell her she’s fired.”
“No, you won’t,” I say. “You need her, and we can’t afford her without help. Not and have any chance of making it through the year without going into debt. Same with the crew. And there aren’t any strings attached here. Weaver knows it’s over. He barely looks at me when I see him in town. He’s doing his best to be respectful and give me space.”