Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Weird how?”
“Like hiding her phone when Kelly would walk in the room, lowering her voice and going into her bedroom while she was talking to someone on the phone, closing the door. Then Kelly would hear her laughing and talking like she was flirting. One time she put her ear on the door.”
“And?”
“And she swears she heard her say the name George.”
I shrank back a little. “You think Dad has a girlfriend? In all the years since Mom died, he hasn’t so much as looked at another woman.”
“I know. ‘It only happens once’ and all that.”
I cocked my head, squinting at Xander. “But you think that’s changed?”
“I do, and I’ve got proof. When Kelly tours, she and her mom share their location. It’s their way of staying connected while Kelly is gone. And over the weekend, her mom was at a resort hotel casino in Detroit called the MGM Grand. She said she met some friends for a spa weekend.”
I folded my arms and waited for him to go on.
“Just now, I was waiting for this to heat up in the microwave, and that box where Dad keeps all his receipts like it’s 1985 was out on the counter. I happened to glance at it.”
“And?”
“And there are a bunch of receipts from the MGM Grand in Detroit. Valet parking, restaurant, room.”
My jaw fell open. “Seriously?”
Xander plunked the fork into the empty container and set it aside. “It’s official. Dad has a girlfriend.”
“I think it’s nice,” I said, once I recovered from the shock. “Do you like Julia?”
“Julia’s a little different, but yeah, I like her.”
“What’s ‘different’ about her?”
Xander ran a hand over his bearded jaw. “She’s just a little out there. But she’s sweet, she’s high-energy, she’s attractive, and she and Dad get along really well. She could be good for him.”
“How old is she?”
“Fifty-nine.”
“And Dad’s what, sixty-six?”
“Yep.”
“Good for him.” I locked my hands behind my head, leaning back in the chair. “So why’s he hiding it?”
“I don’t know. He must think we won’t like the idea.”
“That’s ridiculous. We’ve been telling him for years he should make an effort to meet someone.”
“I know. And Kelly is thrilled—she adores Dad and knows he’ll treat Julia like a queen.”
“Maybe we should—”
The patio door slid open, and our dad stepped outside carrying a white paper bag from a local bakery. “Decided to run into town. I had a hankering for a ham and cheese croissant.”
I couldn’t help but regard my father differently. Did he look a little younger? A little happier? He’d told me he was going to the gym three days a week, and I thought his renewed energy was due to taking better care of himself. But maybe there was another layer.
“Hey, son,” he said to Xander. “Didn’t realize you were coming over or I’d have brought extra.”
“No problem. I already ate.”
Dad set the bag on the table. “I’ll just go get us something to drink. Want a water or something, Dash?”
“I’ll take a water, thanks.” I fished a sandwich out of the bag and took a bite.
“Xander?”
“I’m good.”
“Be right back.”
We watched him enter the house and slide the glass door shut. “So what’s he do, call her while he’s in the car or something?” I asked quietly.
“That’s my guess.” Xander started to laugh. “Poor guy. Sneaking around like a teenager.”
“He’s been in a great mood over the last few days. I sort of assumed it was because of my surprise visit, but now I don’t know.”
“Maybe the sap is still rising,” joked Xander.
Our dad came out of the house and joined us at the patio table again, setting a bottle of water in front of me. Now it was unmistakable to me—the spring in his step, the glimmer in his eye, the quick humor.
After he’d eaten his lunch, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his stomach. “You know, I’ve been thinking about taking a little road trip before the wedding.”
Xander and I exchanged a glance. “Oh yeah?” my brother asked. “Where to?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I might just get in the car and hit the road now that the weather is good. See where the wind blows me.” He laughed.
“Want company, Dad?” I inquired, even though I knew what the answer would be.
“Actually, I was thinking of striking out on my own,” he said. “Maybe you’d be able to keep an eye on Fritz for a few days?”
“Sure. No problem at all. When are you thinking about hitting the road?”
“Oh, maybe next week sometime. No real plan.” On the table next to his glass of iced tea, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and glanced at the screen, a smile overtaking his face. “’Scuse me, boys. I need to make a quick call.”
Xander and I watched him hurry into the house and quickly slide the door closed. Then we looked at each other.