Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
I tap his phone, sitting on the table. “You call them?”
“About a hundred times. Keeps going to voicemail.”
No surprise there. “What about you?” I ask Charlotte.
Her eyes widen. She glances at Marcel, then Hope. “I can try…”
“She’s not answering my calls either,” Hope says.
“Where do you think they went?” Marcel asks me.
“How the fuck would I know?” I snap.
“You didn’t ask?” Marcel’s snide tone rubs my last nerve.
“He wasn’t in the mood to hand me his itinerary.” I blow out an annoyed breath. Don’t strangle him. “They’re together. He won’t do anything stupid while Heidi and Alexa are with him. They have each other. They’ll be okay.” Who am I trying to reassure?
“They just need some time,” Hope says.
“It’s okay,” Charlotte adds. “It’s done. It’s out in the open. That’s what’s important. We’ll repair things when they get back. Everything will be okay.” Seems like Charlotte’s trying to reassure herself as well.
This is it. The worst happened. The truth is finally out. But I don’t feel any relief.
“Everything will be okay,” Charlotte says again.
Now there’s nothing left to do except lie to ourselves some more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Murphy
The stuffy resort we stayed at last time we were here doesn’t have any rooms available. I stalk out to the parking lot to give Heidi the bad news.
“That’s okay,” she assures me as I climb into the truck. “We weren’t totally comfortable here anyway. And I bet they’re not kid-friendly.”
I don’t know how she can stay so upbeat when our whole world’s been turned upside down.
“Let me find someplace.” She pulls out her phone and holds it up. “The signal sucks up here.”
“Let’s get out of this place. If you get more bars, tell me and I’ll pull over.”
We’re at the bottom of a hill when she yelps, “Got it!”
“Really? Here?” The road’s surrounded by trees and rocky hillside. I pull off onto a half-circle of dirt meant for travelers to stretch their legs and enjoy the view.
“Yup. Still good.” Heidi leans over her phone, tapping on the screen. “Not a lot of options on Expedia,” she murmurs.
“I’m not surprised.” Rural New York is full of places untouched by technology or time. “Find something nice. Doesn’t matter how much.”
“Oh! Here’s something…” Her excitement fades from her voice. “You might not like it, though.”
“What is it?”
“The Tall Pines Lodge and Waterpark has a suite available. I always wanted to go there when I was a kid, but it’s probably—”
“Let’s do it.” I shift the truck into drive, flip my blinker on, and pull onto the road.
“Are you sure? It’s probably crowded and full of annoying families and kids.”
“We’re with our kid,” I point out.
“Yeah, but she’s not annoying. Other people’s kids are.”
When I stop laughing, I glance over at my beautiful, now-smiling wife. “Book it. Alexa will be thrilled.”
“We don’t have bathing suits…or anything. Shoot. I don’t even have a toothbrush with me.”
“There’s a huge shopping center right near there. We’ll get what we need.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yup.” I glance over again. Her fingers are still hovering over the screen. “Hurry up and book the room. My wallet’s in the console.” I bump my elbow against the middle section of the seat.
“Okay.” She lifts the lid and pulls out my wallet, plucking out a black credit card. While she reads through the terms and conditions of booking the room for two days, I navigate our way back to the Northway and head south.
“Sorry we came all the way up here just to drive two hours back.” She opens the console lid again and tosses my wallet inside.
“I don’t mind driving. I’m with you. That’s all that matters.” If anything, the long ride has helped calm me down. Hard to be pissed when I’m focused on the road and keeping my girls safe.
“We can check in any time after five.”
“Perfect.” I reach over and curl my hand around hers. “Gives us time to do some shopping and get what we need.”
HEIDI
As Blake predicted, Alexa’s enchanted with the water park. She fussed when we woke her up to go shopping. But a glittery white bathing suit, new sandals, a unicorn beach towel, and water toys cheered her up.
If only my own happiness could be bought so easily.
Blake said to forget about it for now. We’ll talk about it after Alexa falls asleep. But the news from this morning hovers over me like a storm cloud. Every time I’m distracted by my daughter’s laughter and Blake’s smile, a lightning bolt reaches out to zap me with the truth.
Marcel’s only my half-brother.
What does that mean for our relationship?
Oh my God. That means little Grace is his sister. Why’d it take me so long to figure that out?
My temples throb.
“Heidi!” Blake calls out.
I find him grinning and pointing at Alexa, happily paddling in the water in front of him.
Fighting off my anxiety about my pregnant body in this too-small swimsuit, I wade through the cool waist-high water. I dodge playful, splashing children, a woman swimming laps, and finally reach Blake’s side.