Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Katie glares. “That’s because I’m writing notes as I watch videos, and they talk so damn fast, I can’t always keep up.”
“Ever hear of typing?” I snicker. “Okay, well, I saw one of your drawings, and I think it’s a pantry?”
She immediately lights up. “Yes, the pantry of my dreams.”
I snort, taking another large bite. “I’m very invested in what you consider the pantry of your dreams.”
“You can make fun of it all you want, but it’s gonna be amazing. I’m turning one of the closets into a floor-to-ceiling pantry that’ll have plenty of storage. Wood shelves along all sides that are wide enough for wire baskets and Tupperware. I need to find a contractor for it, though, because it’s beyond my skill level. But I already have the paint for it in the garage. ”
“What color?” I ask.
“Like a robin’s egg blue.”
I scrunch my nose, trying to imagine it.
“Hold on, let me show you my Pinterest board.”
“Really? People still use that?” I chuckle.
Owen giggles as he shoves potatoes in his mouth. “Mom’s obsessed with Pinterest!”
Katie furrows her brows. “I am not! It just helps me visualize my ideas.”
Moments later, she shows me her screen and scrolls through dozens of images. “Okay, this one here. This is how I’m hoping it’ll turn out.”
I grab the phone and study it. It doesn’t look that hard. Most of the aesthetic she’s after is in the wire baskets and white brushed jugs.
“It looks really nice, Katie,” I tell her honestly, then wonder if I could actually do this for her. I could easily get it done while she’s at work, and I doubt she’d notice.
Plus, she wouldn’t have to hire someone, so it’d save her some money.
“So besides the pantry, what else are you thinkin’ for the kitchen?”
“I want to restore the cabinets. It’s far too expensive to get new ones built, so I’m gonna sand and paint them. I just need time to do it.”
“My offer to help is still on the table. You can boss me around all you want…”
Katie nearly chokes on a piece of chicken and scolds me with her eyes.
After we’re done eating, I help clean up. “So Owen, what do you think about the house? Are you excited to move into a new place?”
“Yeah, but it’s taking literally forever!” He groans, and Katie laughs at his dramatics.
“I’m hoping to have it done before he graduates high school,” she teases, though I remember her mentioning the end of the year as a dream goal.
“I doubt it’ll take that long, especially if you let me take over some of the big items on your task list.”
“I appreciate that, really I do, but I want to try to do as much as I can myself.”
“Great, I’ll be married before it’s done.” Owen sighs, and I burst out laughing.
“It’s safe to say he got your personality.”
“And attitude,” she adds.
“So what did you bring for dessert?” I ask, remembering Owen mentioning it.
“I picked up a pie from Belinda’s. She texted me and said she made your favorite.”
“Sweet potato?” I ask excitedly.
Katie laughs. “Yep. Brought whipped cream too.”
I press a palm over my chest. “You two spoil me.”
“I saw your truck in the back parking lot,” she says softly. “I’m so sorry about what they did to it.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll clean it off, and Violet will look as good as new.” I smirk. “Hopefully, anyway.”
“Who’s Violet?” Owen interrupts.
“My truck,” I confirm.
He giggles. “You named your truck?”
“Of course.”
“How’d you think of that name?” he asks. “I thought your truck was blue.”
“It is, but Violet is a character from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. You ever seen that movie?”
Owen’s eyes light up as a soft gasp escapes Katie’s mouth.
“Mom loves that movie! We’ve watched it eighty bazillion times.”
I chuckle at his exaggeration, though, knowing Katie, it might not be.
“Wait, hold up,” Katie interrupts. “You named it after her?”
I flash her an amused smirk because I know where her head is going. “Yeah, she was my favorite character because she reminded me of you.”
“What? How?”
My eyes nearly bug out of my head. “Are you kidding? You were always chewing gum! Plus, you were sassy and talked a lot like she did.”
Katie covers her mouth when she laughs as Owen gets up to use the bathroom.
“Oh my God, that’s right. To be fair, I always secretly hoped you’d kiss me one day, so I wanted to be prepared with fresh breath.”
“I thought you did that because you didn’t want me to kiss you…like a barrier of some sort,” I admit.
“Wow…our communication skills kinda sucked, huh?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “Though, I would’ve been too nervous and choked on my gum or something.”
I smile because it’s definitely something teenage Katie would’ve overthought. Owen returns, and I finish our conversation.
“Well anyway…that’s how Violet got her name,” I tell him.