Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Quit?” Mom sat straight up. “Why would you do that?”
“It’s complicated. But at least now I have an idea what to do for a career. I even met with the academic advisor.”
“You need money for college,” Dad said. I knew he felt guilty that they couldn’t help with that, but I’d never even anticipated pursuing a degree before my move.
“Which is why I have another job lined up when I return.” The lie came easily, which made me feel worse. But it would be true soon enough, even if it was temp work again. “You all should feel lucky that you know exactly what you want to do with your life.”
“It’s not that we know, exactly,” Michael said. “It felt natural to work with Dad, and we like being on the job for the most part, so why not?”
Dad nodded as if satisfied with that response. “Work is not life, Shae. Making a life with someone and having kids is what fulfills us.”
“Maybe not everyone wants those things,” I countered. So why did my words ring hollow? Not the kids part so much as the sharing-my-life part.
“How do you expect Shae to have a baby anyway?” Connor teased.
“You’ve never heard of adoption or surrogacy?” I rolled my eyes. “There are all types of different families, even gay families. Duh.”
“Yeah, duh,” Michael added, egging his brother on.
Connor hid his smirk. “But how does the kid know which one to call Dad?”
“You’re an idiot,” I replied, and Michael laughed. “He can call them anything they all feel comfortable with.”
“Don’t listen to these knuckleheads who are still living with their parents,” Kathleen said, and I cracked up. We always teased the twins when we were kids, so this felt more real than anything else. “And you should take your time and figure out whatever you want to do in your life.”
I glanced at the twins. “There’s nothing wrong with living with your parents either. At least you’re not wasting money on rent.”
“Don’t give them any ideas,” Mom said with a pointed look. “I like having them close. But I agree that you have plenty of time. Even when it comes to having someone special in your life.”
I looked away so she didn’t see my eyes.
That night after Kathleen had gone home, I played video games with my brothers while we devoured Mom’s plate of cookies, and it almost felt like old times. Even though I didn’t have much in common with my brothers, we were still family, and there were always inside jokes and complaints about one thing or another that I could relate to.
I slept in my childhood room, which felt so strange because Mom hadn’t touched a thing. But I’d always enjoyed it because it was above the garage, and once Kathleen moved out and my brothers got separate rooms, nobody bothered me up here. But now it just felt super lonely. I considered jerking off, but I just wasn’t in the mood.
The next morning, breakfast was quiet with just Mom and me. Dad and my brothers had an early house call, and Kathleen was already in the office with her calculator and invoices.
When there was a knock on the door, Mom and I looked at each other.
“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked.
“Nope.” Mom stood. “Could be a delivery.”
When I heard Mom’s singsong voice, I thought it must’ve been a neighbor, so I shoveled more oatmeal into my mouth.
Except the deeper tenor of the visitor sounded very familiar to me.
“What a surprise! So nice to see you again, Mr. Abernathy.”
I gulped, which only made me cough.
“Please, call me Rowan.”
“What brings you to our neck of the woods?” I glanced down at my phone, worried I’d missed some calls. “Or should I say who?”
I stood so fast that my chair crashed to the linoleum as I rushed to the front door, a horrible feeling washing over me.
“Is everything okay?” My feet got tangled on the rug, but I was able to keep myself upright. “Did something happen?”
I ignored how strange Rowan looked standing in my childhood home.
“No, nothing like that.” He laughed nervously. “Everything is fine.”
I breathed out. “Then why are you here?”
Awkwardness crossed his features as he stepped forward. “I just…well, your parents invited me for a visit when they were in the city, and I thought, why not?”
“And you didn’t think to tell me? Do you need the number for accommodations? I’m sure there’s a motel that might suit your—”
“Honey, I’ve never known you to act this dense.” Mom’s hand landed on my shoulder, steadying me. “Rowan is not really here because we invited him.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, unwilling to believe it.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Mom said and left the room, humming an unfamiliar tune. In fact, nothing felt familiar with Rowan standing there looking like some runway model who’d landed in a backwater town.