Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
I frowned at him and snatched his mug. I made a disapproving face at him the entire time I was filling it. “Yeah, you’re Mr. Charming, all right.”
He took the mug back. “Call me Neil. Mr. Charming was my father.”
Damn. Even when I was keyed up and trying to stay that way, he could make me laugh. “Stop being so fucking cute.”
My entire life had been spent systematically lying to my mother about important things, either through flat-out dishonesty or the milder sin of omission. Like when I’d forgotten for a whole year to tell her that, hey, my boyfriend was twice my age. I’d sprung it on her the first time they’d met. And, today, she was going to get another shock, since I’d mentioned that we’d bought a house, but I hadn’t given her much detail about it beyond “mansion” and “there’s plenty of room”.
The plan was to pick up my mom up at JFK in the helicopter and fly her straight out to the house, where she and Neil and I could have a nice meal together while she recovered from the shock of seeing what my life was actually like. I lived it, and it still shocked me on a regular basis. Mom was coming here from her burned down single-wide trailer and a life where Houghton, Michigan was considered “the city”. She was going to need recovery time.
I met Mom on the tarmac as she disembarked our private jet. She already looked bewildered.
“Did you know there is a bed in this plane?” she demanded, in lieu of a hello.
She put her arms out, and I picked up my pace toward her. Most of the time, her constant phone calls were enough that I didn’t miss her, but hugging her hard, I felt every day that we’d been apart.
“Yes, I knew,” I said as I stepped back. “How was your flight?”
“Better than any time I’ve flown before.” She slipped her coat off as we approached the car waiting for us.
“You might want to leave that on,” I advised. “We’re only driving to the heliport.”
Mom’s eyes went wide, but she didn’t offer any further comment.
“Ma’am?” The flight attendant wheeled Mom’s small suitcase over.
“Is that all you brought?” I asked then winced at my stupidity. “That’s all that’s left.”
She nodded grimly. “I got my extensions redone before I came, though.” Her dyed blonde, extension-accentuated hair was straightened, the front pulled back in a slight poof. Her jeweled sunglasses were, I swear to god, the size of my bra.
“Oh my gosh, you look so different,” she said, following me to the airport car that waited for us.
I looked down. “I do?”
“Well, yeah, honey,” she said in disbelief. “You’re filling out.”
“What?” I shrieked.
But Mom was already past that, lifting one of my dark curls from my shoulder. “And your hair is longer. That is such a good style on you. I hated the long bangs.”
“Thanks.” I’d forgotten that seeing my mother was like getting hit by a train transporting backhanded compliments. “Look, the helicopter is waiting, is this all your stuff?”
“I’m only staying the week,” she reminded me. Then, as though the word had just penetrated her brain, she asked, “Helicopter?”
“Yeah, Sagaponack is a long way from the city. It’s just faster.” The nonchalant way it rolled off my tongue made me happy. When Neil and I had first gotten together, I’d been super weird about his money compared to my roots. Now, I was like, “let’s get in my helicopter and fly around.” Like it was nothing. I hoped Neil had noticed at some point; my discomfort had made him uncomfortable, as well.
I don’t think Mom’s mouth closed the entire ride. At first, it was from shock. Then, as we approached Long Island, she boggled at the houses below us. “Oh my god,” she exclaimed. “Look at that one. How does anyone even live there?”
I peeked out the window. “That’s um. That’s actually my house.”
“Sophie Anne!” Mom exclaimed.
“Are you mad at me? Over the house I live in?” That was not one of the reactions I had rehearsed for.
“Not mad, no!” She still sounded mad. “But you’re two people. That’s a…that’s a…”
“I guess it’s a compound,” I finished for her. “It’s forty-nine acres, and there’s more than one building.” I added, “There’s a guest house that would make a perfect mother-in-law residence.”
“Are you trying to sell me the place? Your mother-in-law is dead, and my future son-in-law isn’t too fond of me,” she huffed. “Plus, I would never leave your grandmother. Although, we could probably put up the entire family in one wing of your house. Your house has wings!”
“You should see his house in Somerset.” I grumbled.
“Are there any other surprises for me this trip?” she demanded. “Are you pregnant? Is Neil secretly gay?”
No, he’s bisexual, and his douche bag ex is writing a tell-all. “No. Would you stop being so suspicious of everything?” I leaned back in my seat. “Put your belt back on, we’re going to land.”