Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Shall we go into…” I start to say and then look at the number of people in my home. “I want to say kitchen but I don’t think it’s big enough for all of us.”
“Oh, please,” Allison says, “we are used to too many people and small spaces.” She looks around the house. “You have a lovely home.”
“Did you guys know they are living together?” my father asks, and my eyes go big. I silently look around, hoping the ground opens up and swallows me whole.
“What?” his uncle Matthew gasps. “You can’t live with her.” He looks over at Matthew. “You have to marry her.” He shakes his head. “Did we not teach you anything?” he mumbles.
“Oh, here we go,” I hear Zoe say, then she looks over at my mother and grandmother. “I apologize for anything that my brother, husband, or brother-in-law says.”
“Same,” my mother says to her.
“I guess this settles it,” my grandfather says, standing next to Uncle Matthew, “you can’t live with each other.”
“That settles nothing.” Matthew puts his hands on his hips and looks over at my grandfather and his uncle. “I’m buying us a house, and we are moving into it, married or not married.”
“Buying a house?” my father questions. “She has a house, this one.”
“But it’s not our house.” I stand next to Matthew, a united front. “So we are getting our house and—”
“And,” his uncle Matthew says, “getting married.”
“What is it with you and getting married?” Zara asks him. “It’s the twentieth century.”
“Shall we move to the kitchen?” my mother suggests. “I brought some sweets,” she says, then looks at my father. “Can you go get them?”
“My mother is the owner of Hazel’s Sweets,” I say and the women all gasp.
“I’m obsessed with the lemon cranberry scones,” Zoe declares.
“Well, you’re in luck. I brought extra,” my mother says and then looks over at the guys. “Why are we all standing here watching?” She looks at my father and then my grandfather.
“Do you want me to tell Charlotte how we behaved today?” my grandmother Olivia threatens them. “Perhaps we can FaceTime her on that shiny new iPad you got her.” They look at each other before turning to walk out of the house.
“Go help.” Zoe points at the men. “And be nice.”
“I’ll be back,” Matthew says, kissing my lips and he walks out.
“I’m going to go and get things going in the kitchen,” my mother and grandmother inform us.
“If it’s okay,” Zoe says, “can we have a moment?” She looks at me.
My mother and grandmother both look at me, not sure what to do or say. “Of course,” I finally say nervously, wanting to vomit all over the place. “Let’s go in the office.” I point over to the closed door right in front of us, opening it, and stepping into it.
“This is so pretty,” Zoe compliments, stepping in, and I close the door behind us. “Can we sit?” she asks, pointing over at the big white plush love seat.
“Of course.” I nod, walking over to the couch and sitting down. My hand on my leg trembles just a bit. “I’m sorry if I stutter or I’m nervous.”
Zoe sits next to me and reaches out her hand to take mine in hers. “If anyone should be nervous, it’s me,” she says. “I just wanted to clear the air a bit. I know how you must be feeling with the whole…” She uses her hand to go in a circle, not sure what to say.
“The whole him being engaged to Helena and being their wedding planner,” I say the words for her and she puts her head back and groans, making me laugh.
“I thought I was going to be okay doing this,” she says softly, looking down at our hands. “I knew the minute he said he was getting married, it was the wrong thing for him to do.” My heart pounds in my chest. “I mean, he didn’t even propose to her, who does that?” She looks at me and I can see she is trying not to cry. “I love my son, I really do, but I had no words.”
“It’s okay,” I say softly, “I get it.”
“No, I don’t think that you do,” she replies softly. “I think it was always you, Sofia. I think after you guys went your separate ways because of another stupid thing he did.” She shakes her head. “He didn’t think he could love like that again, so he just chose what he did. What I’m trying to say is, I think he’s only ever loved you, and now that you’re back, I have a feeling it’s for good.” She smiles. “I know we can be a lot, trust me I know, but I just want to say how happy we are for you two.”
“Wow,” I say, blinking away my own tears. “I can’t tell you what that means to me. I was nervous, so nervous, today because, well, he was just engaged, and I didn’t know if you would be accepting of it.”