Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Following him into his house, I pass the dining room on the way. “Where do you want to do this?” he asks me over his shoulder, and right before I’m about to answer him, we hear Ariella screaming. “And she’s up.” We stop in the middle of the family room that leads to a dining table. This one looks more used than the other one with Ariella’s toys on it. “I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home,” he says, pointing at the three massive couches that all face each other and look at the fireplace and television in front of it. I put my bag on the big glass table in the middle of the family room and walk over to the windows overlooking his backyard. If I thought mine was an oasis, this one has me beat.
The massive pool in the middle of the yard has a rock wall to the side. A replica of the house is in the back and has Ariella’s name written over the door, and I have no doubt it is filled with things for her to use when she is older. I turn and try not to invade the space, but my eyes fly to the picture hanging on the wall. My feet move on their own almost as if someone is pushing me to it. There is a picture of Ralph and a woman. He’s standing behind her looking down at her stomach, and she is wearing a white top and a long white skirt with her belly sticking out. Her hair is dark exactly like Ariella, but she looks down at her belly so I can’t see her eyes, but something about the picture isn’t right. There is no smile on their face, nothing but a stern look. I am about to look at another picture when I hear his voice. “We have a visitor,” he says as he walks into the room, and I see that Ari’s eyes are still sleepy. My heart speeds up even faster, and the smiles just comes naturally.
“Well, hello there, little girl,” I say softly. Walking to them, I rub her back as she lays her head on Ralph’s shoulder, her pacifier in her mouth moving as she sucks on it. “Did you have a good nap?” I ask, and she just blinks.
“She’s always slow to wake up,” he says. “She definitely got that from me.” He puts his cheek down on top of her head. “Do you want to sit on the couch or at the table?”
“Wherever is going to be most comfortable for her,” I say and wait to follow his lead. He picks one of the long couches, and I see her bottle on the table next to a blanket. I grab my bag and take out a blank book that I have packed for notes and the calendar with it. “Okay, then,” I say, sitting on the couch in front of him. “I think before we get this started there should be a couple of things said.”
“You’re right,” he says. Sitting there with a baby on his chest, he taps her bum softly as she watches me from his chest. I try to not let it get to me. “I need your help. I’m not even going to lie. Every single time I ask someone about hiring someone, everyone brings up your name.”
“Well, I think that’s a good thing. But I am full. I can’t possible take you on as a client and give you exactly the help that you need,” I say and see his face fall. “But I will help you as much as I can. We can sit down and go over things, and I can help you plan things.”
“At this point, I’ll take it,” he says, smiling at me. “I need all the help you can give me.”
“If we are going to do this, two things have to happen,” I say and wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t, so I speak for him. “One, I’m over your hot and cold moods.” I put up my finger. “If you’re pissed or crabby, then I suggest getting a therapist or some of them squishy balls, but I am not going to be that person.” I wait for any reaction from him. “Two, you have to be one hundred percent honest with me. I am not one to judge if you like to play bongos naked while a harem of women fan you or feed you grapes. That’s a you problem.” I see his lips roll. “But if this makes it a me problem, I need you to tell me about it.” I take a deep breath in. “Now, if you can agree to those two things, we can continue. If you can’t, then no harm, no foul, and I can recommend someone else.” I set my hands on the two books on my lap as I wait for him to give me his answer. My heart beating just a touch faster than it should.