Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
This is a woman who is a few years older than Tallie at most. There was no warning for Tallie. Just a freak event of nature. I look around the room, and see other families in tears as they view the bodies of their loved ones, all of them snatched away too suddenly. Life is cold and cruel, and all we have is one another’s warmth.
And I want to be Tallie’s warmth.
She has to hold herself together as she signs several forms. My heart goes out to her as she completes mundane paperwork while dealing with such a powerful and sudden tragedy in her life. It’s cruel, but it’s necessary.
Finally, we leave. We’re back in the parking lot when she breaks down. Full-on crying. Sobbing, desperately trying to muffle herself against my chest. I say nothing, just stand strong, embracing her, giving her the support she needs right now.
She looks up at me through tear-soaked eyes. There’s a passion in there. It’s at odds with everything that’s happening. Maybe she needs something good to deal with this onslaught of misery.
I’m drawn to her, and she’s drawn to me. Our faces drift closer together, her lips pursing.
Despite it all, I want her. I feel her. Seeing her in pain is so agonizing for me, and I want to break down in tears with her.
I stay strong. Someone has to stay strong here, and she’s shown enough strength already.
She leans in. She wants it. I could kiss her right now, and she’d happily accept my embrace.
I turn my head away. Not now. I’d never forgive myself if I thought I was exploiting this situation for my own benefit.
She realizes this too, and turns away from me, breathing deeply. I wonder if she can sense my desire for her?
It’s such a weird series of thoughts, and I try to push them out of my head.
“You’re welcome to stay with me as long as you want to, Tallie,” I say as I guide her back to my truck.
“Why are you doing all of this, Graham?”
Because I’m falling in love with you.
It’s what I want to say – but I hold back.
“Because my mother raised me right. When someone’s in need, you help them. You don’t ask questions. You don’t take advantage of them. You just help them.”
She sighs and nods as she climbs into my truck, her curiosity satisfied, if only for now.
6
TALLIE
The relentless kindness continues. There’s plenty of baby food for Lucy, lots of attention for her. But it’s not for the baby alone. I was asked my size and got some fresh clothes and nightgowns of my own, so I’m not strictly in hand-me-downs even though they were more than enough.
We ordered a pizza too. After taking care of ourselves, feeding Lucy, and putting her to bed, we’re sitting at the kitchen table alone.
It’s been a horrific day. Finding out that Julia is gone broke me. I am all alone, caring for a child that is family, but doesn’t belong to me.
Well, I guess she does now.
She is all I have left.
“They proposed after spending a night in a cave together of all things,” Graham is telling me. “That’s what people did back in the eighties. Seems kinda wild, doesn’t it?”
He’s regaling me with the tale of how his parents decided to get married. Apparently they’d known one another growing up, but didn’t realize they had feelings for each other until they were both out of high school. It was a warm, fuzzy, over-the-top story that I could never dream of happening to me.
“I envy my parents, you know,” he continues.
“How so?”
“They got the perfect marriage. They still love one another passionately after all this time. And I think they have the perfect family too. It’s traditional and kind of boring for a modern family, but hell, traditions live on because they’re a good thing.”
I laugh. “You’d describe your family as perfect?”
His cheeks color, becoming self-conscious in light of everything that’s happened the last few days. “Well, no. I want to punch Rye and Bart in the fucking face sometimes, and even Lemon and I have had our fair bit of sparring matches.”
“Still way more perfect than what I have, at least.”
He’s quick to correct me. “Lucy is a lovely child.”
I can’t lie anymore. “Lucy... Lucy is my niece, Graham.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and cocks an eyebrow. “Your niece? Not your daughter?”
“Lucy is Julia’s child. I moved in with her before the disaster. I was carrying Lucy when we were separated from Julia and wound up on the mountain. Lucy’s father’s a piece of work and I was scared of what would happen if Julia died, if he found out. I’m so sorry, I never meant to lie to you. Or your wonderful family.”
There’s a bit of silence. But he breaks it with a question, “Do you intend to treat her as your daughter going forward?”