Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Sure.” I hand her back the photo album I was looking at, and she slides it in its place on the bookshelf. “Do you want me to help you with anything?”
“There isn’t much to help with. We normally just make plates in the kitchen and take them to the dining room.”
“And we don’t normally eat in the dining room,” Hunter says. “Normally, we eat in front of the TV in here.”
“We can eat in here if you like,” I say as Tide takes my hand and pulls me up to stand.
“We are not eating dinner in here, Hunter.” Jolene gives her husband a look that he ignores. “And you’re not going to expire from missing one of your TV shows, especially since you got everything set up to record and can watch it later.”
“Calm down, woman. We’re eating in the dining room.” He pushes out of his recliner. “Lord knows we need to, since you paid an arm and a leg for that God-awful wallpaper hanging in there now.”
“It’s beautiful.” She spins around, planting her hands on her hips. “You said so yourself.”
“No, I said that if you like it, then you should get it, and I said you did a good job,” he returns, and I choke on laughter and end up coughing to hide the sound when I can’t hold it back any longer.
“Sorry.” I wave a hand out as Tide pats my back, his own lips twitching.
“Let’s get you some water.” Jolene grabs my hand and tows me with her to the kitchen, where she pulls down a glass, filling it with water before handing it to me.
“Thanks.” I take a sip, and she nods at me before going to the double oven and lifting a roasting pan out of the top one, setting it on the island. She then opens the bottom oven and takes out a tray of biscuits that look like something out of a magazine, along with a pan of roasted vegetables. My mouth waters and my stomach growls as she grabs a stack of plates, setting them on the counter.
“What do you want to drink, babe?” Tide rests his hand against my lower back, and I meet his gaze over my shoulder.
“This water is fine.”
“Are you sure?” Jolene asks. “I was going to open a bottle of wine for us girls, since the guys will likely have beer.”
“I’ll have a glass of wine with you,” I say, and she looks at Tide.
“Will you grab a bottle of red and open it for us?”
“Sure.” He kisses the side of my head before walking away.
When he comes back a minute later, I watch him open it, then join everyone in filling a plate with food and carrying it to the dining room that is through an open doorway off the kitchen. The wallpaper is bold and bright with lots of different flowers and birds, but it still somehow fits the antique-looking table with wingback upholstered chairs. As we take our seats, Hunter says a quick prayer before we dig into our food and there is something about that I really like because it seems they always do it, and it’s not something just for show like my parents have done at dinner parties in the past.
As Hunter and Tide talk about work, Jolene tells me about a couple of projects in the house that she is attempting to do herself, and I’m honestly awed by her. Instead of paying someone to work on her house, she’s taken classes and had Tide show her how to paint, tile, hang wallpaper, and refinish floors—all things I wouldn’t have the guts to do. Honestly, even thinking about starting a project like that is overwhelming.
“So I know Tide mentioned you’re an author. Is that your full-time job?” Jolene asks during a lull in conversation, and I open my mouth to answer, but Tide cuts in before I can.
“She’s a very successful author, Mom. She even has a series that is being turned into movies.”
“Really?” Hunter asks, and my cheeks warm. I hate talking about myself and my work. I always feel awkward.
“Really,” Tide takes my hand under the table. “And I just finished the final book in that series, so if they do it justice while filming, I have no doubt it’s going to be a huge success.”
“That’s very impressive, Aria,” Jolene says softly, and since I don’t know what to say, I just shrug.
“She doesn’t like talking about her success.” Tide gives my hand a squeeze. “But trust me—she’s got talent.”
“She must if they are making one of her books into a movie,” Jolene says.
“Not one. Three,” Tide corrects her, and she smiles fondly at her son before looking at me.
“You’ll have to give me the titles so I can read them.”
My heart starts to pound and my stomach rolls with nervousness. “You don’t have to do that.”