Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
She nodded. “That’s right. To hell with them!”
Palmer had always been the carefree one. She’d loved having adventures practically from the moment she’d learned to walk. It wasn’t a surprise she had never really picked a career path and stuck to it.
Since I was little, I’d known my love was nursing. Sutton had dreamed of owning a store since she was old enough to pick out her own clothes and wear makeup. Braxton’s love had always been fishing. My mother and father had clearly assumed that Palmer’s path would lead her to the restaurant. That maybe someday she’d run the Seaside Grill. But it didn’t seem to be the case. Oh sure, she’d worked there in high school like we all had, but Palmer wasn’t keen on doing one thing. She’d had a plethora of jobs. Dog-sitting, working as a receptionist for a vet clinic, walking dogs…even had her own poop-scooping business, which I’d never understood, though I’d cheered her on anyway. She also house sat for our folks and still worked at the restaurant from time to time when they needed her help. She clearly made enough money to support herself. She rented a little two-bedroom, two-bath house near the beach and, from what I could tell, always seemed pretty happy.
“Does Mom still get on you about not being more focused on the restaurant?” I asked.
Palmer let out a long sigh. “About once a week. It’s always ‘Palmer, when are you going to give up all this nonsense and get a real job with real money and real responsibilities?’ I ignore her or tell her I’m perfectly happy. Which I am.”
My sister met my gaze. I didn’t see anything in her eyes that said she wasn’t telling me the truth. “I am happy, Addie. I love my life. I love that every day is something different. Will I do this for the rest of my life?” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. Or maybe someday something will come along and turn my life upside down.”
“Or someone,” I added in a teasing voice.
She harrumphed. “Not unless he’s new in town.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Hey, you never finished telling me about Brody and Sutton. Is there still something going on between them?”
“I wish I knew. Anytime I mention him, Sutton either changes the subject or says he’s simply a friend helping her out. A part of me thinks maybe she’s afraid to admit her feelings. She’s kept them locked up tight for so long.”
I nodded. “I don’t blame her. Her whole relationship with Jack was toxic. It might take her a bit of time to let someone back in.”
Palmer stared at me like she wanted to say something, but she pressed her mouth into a tight line.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “What do you know that you’re not telling me, Palmer?”
She smiled sheepishly. “Nothing. It’s only a hunch. But if I was a betting person, I’d say Sutton has never forgotten that night she spent on the beach with Brody. We both know she’s not upset about the divorce. I mean, it got ugly there for a bit, but I know she’s happy Jack is out of her life. So why does it look like she has such sadness in her eyes sometimes? Is it because of Brody?”
I tilted my head, letting her words settle. “I don’t know, but you’re right about her looking sad sometimes. I’ll have to dig around and ask Sutton my own questions.”
Palmer stood to leave. “Good luck. She’s locked up tighter than Fort Knox.”
I winked. “I always did like a good challenge.”
A light knock on my bedroom door had me turning to look over my shoulder. “Come in!”
My mother entered and stopped, smiling as she took me in.
“Hey, Mom. Is everything okay? Why aren’t you at the restaurant?”
She let her gaze move over me before she answered, “Date?”
Nodding, I turned away from the mirror to face her. “Yes. Gannon texted and told me to dress casually.” Holding my arms out, I asked, “Is this casual? Maybe I should wear a nice T-shirt instead of a blouse.”
My mother walked farther into the room and reached for my hands, giving them a squeeze. “You look beautiful.”
“You have to say that, you’re my mother.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s not true.” Her gaze met mine…and my breath caught in my throat. She had tears in her eyes.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she replied, wiping her eyes.
I quickly sat her on the bed. “Mom, talk to me.”
She sniffled and let out a little laugh. “I’m so happy to have you back home. I’m sorry. I’m not sure why it makes me so emotional.”
Smiling, I put my arm around her and drew her close. “I’m happy to be back. Although, Palmer did offer to let me move in with her, and I think I’m going to take her up on it.”