Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Pearl’s voice carried through the window. Sail smiled. Her voice had a way of putting him at ease. He loved his mother more than anything and it was those feelings that ripped his heart into minute pieces. Knowing he messed up and how she would feel gutted him.
The door opened and he stood tall. Pearl laughed at something Jack said about Sail being home. As soon as Sail meet his mother’s gaze, tears fell from his eyes.
“Sail, what are on earth are you doing home?” his mother asked as she came toward him. He towered over his mom and peered down at her. Her thumb brushed his tears away. “What’s wrong?”
“I messed up,” he choked out the sentence.
“Okay,” she said as she took his head. “Let’s talk about it.”
Sail offered her a weak smile and then looked to his father, who stood there waiting his turn. “Are you in legal trouble?” Jack frowned as he asked his son.
Sail shook his head.
“All right, let’s go sit down.” Jack motioned for Sail to follow Pearl into the living room. His mom patted the spot next to him. Despite his age, he needed her. He sat next to her and cleared his throat.
“What’s going on?” Jack asked as he sat in one of two the wingback chairs. They rarely sat in the living room, unless they had special company, or someone needed some peace and quiet. The kitchen or family room was where they congregated.
Sail ran his clammy hands over his shorts and cleared his throat again. “I . . . uh . . .” This needed to be like ripping a bandage off. No matter how badly it was going to hurt, the faster he did it, the quicker the pain would subside.
He cleared his throat for the third time. “I was suspended for the semester,” he mumbled the words, but had no doubt his parents heard him clearly. Pearl’s noticeable intake of breath was a dead giveaway.
“Sail,” his mother said softly, while his father barked out, “What happened?”
Cutting to the chase was going to be the only way to move forward. While he wanted to look at his mom where he knew he’d get sympathy, he sucked in a breath and faced his dad.
“Last semester I was put on academic probation and I didn’t take it seriously. I started the school year under probation and I had been warned. I ignored the warnings about my grades, attending classes, and the parties. Dean Holmes suspended me. I can go back in January.”
Not once did Sail look away from his father’s hardened gaze.
“Sail,” his mother said his name softly, which brought another round of tears to his eyes.
“Do you know how much money your tuition is?” Jack asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“How do you plan to pay it back?”
“I’ll work,” Sail said. “Wherever I’m needed, and then when I go back in January, I’ll double up on classes, so I graduate on time.”
Jack said nothing for a long moment. “The car needs to be unpacked. Do you think you can take care of that while I speak with your mother?”
Sail nodded and stood. “Dad . . .”
“Not now, Sail. I need a minute.”
Sail made his way outside, pulled his phone from his pocket and texted his brothers with an update. He hoped nothing went wrong in their day because he wasn’t sure if Jack could take anymore disappointment in one day.
galvin
. . .
The day after Sail invited Galvin to go sailing and she politely declined, she expected to see him in the diner the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. As much as she hated to admit it, not that she had anyone to confide in, but she had hoped Sail would come in. Even if he got under her skin a little. She liked looking at him and found herself wondering what the other Carter boys looked like.
Just as she had the thought, the door to the diner opened and four, very tall and very striking men walked in. Galvin did a double take and swallowed hard when Sail came into view. His gaze leveled on her, holding her there as if he had some magnetic power. When he winked, her knees knocked together and brought her out of her stupor.
These were the Carter boys . . . or men, depending on how someone looked at them. As they passed by, Galvin leaned slightly into the counter and checked out Sail’s backside. He had a very nice backside.
The four of them walked to the last booth in the diner and sat down. They had to be uncomfortable. Sail’s leg extended out in front of him, in the aisle way, while his brother across from him did the same.
Galvin picked up four menus and then set them. When Sail first came in, he said he knew the menu even though he wasn’t as well versed as he had thought. However, Galvin knew the other three lived in town, even though she hadn’t met them yet. She put all but one down and walked toward the table.