Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
“On her way.” Caroline turned a page of her book. “She’s been spending Sunday mornings with Gavin for the last few months, which has been a huge help so I can get errands done or the house clean without that little tornado throwing everything into upheaval as I go. Gives them some good bonding time, though I had to make sure he wasn’t teaching her keg stands or anything. He hasn’t been late one time for a Sunday morning.”
Damn, that was impressive for Gavin.
“She could come over to our house every single Sunday if you lived near us,” Mom called out from her seat. “Or I could come help you with laundry, or cooking. You’re not alone, you know.”
It wasn’t the first, or the hundredth, time they’d made the offer.
“I have Hudson and Gavin,” Caroline replied. “I’m not alone.”
Which was why I had to put Cape Cod as my first-choice duty station when they asked me for my list next month. I pushed away the irrational flare of impatience that I’d have to wait at least another three years before asking for Sitka. Maybe by then, Juniper and Caroline would function on their own, and I could be the fun uncle instead of the necessary one.
“Juniper’s great. I’ve never met a smarter ten-year-old.” Allie kicked off her sandals and dug her toes into the sand.
Caroline fought a smile and lost. “She’s something else. Did you give her the phone back yet, Hudson?”
My stomach pitched. “The phone?”
Allie leaned back, clearly taking herself out of the line of fire.
Caroline looked up over her sunglasses at me. “Come on. I’m busy, but I’m not completely oblivious. I just let you think you have one up on me.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since the first time she connected it to the Wi-Fi,” Caroline answered. “What did she do to get it taken away?”
“I think that falls under uncle privilege.” I settled back in my seat.
“Hmmm.” She looked past us and grinned. “Hi, honey!”
Juniper raced across the sand, sandals in hand, and hugged her mom. “Hi, Mom!”
Gavin followed and dropped Juniper’s backpack on the next empty seat.
Pulling back, Caroline stroked her hand over Juniper’s head and down her hair. “What is in your hair? It’s all sticky.” She shot an accusing glance at Gavin.
“I just pulled the uncle-privilege card, if that helps,” I told him.
“Uncle privilege,” Gavin declared, throwing a hand in the air. “Good to see you, Allie.”
“Hey, Gavin.” Allie waved.
“Allie!” Juniper grabbed her hand. “Want to help me build a sandcastle?”
“That sounds fun.” Her mouth curved into the start of a smile.
“Mom, you too,” Juniper declared.
Oh fuck. Here we go.
Ten minutes later, the four of us were on our knees with a bag of sand toys, constructing a castle while Beachman and Gavin tossed a Frisbee nearby. Allie had shucked off her usual button-up, revealing a black tank top that I was trying like hell not to stare at.
“That’s good.” Juniper supervised as I pulled the bucket off the dampened sand that would serve as the center tower. “You, too, Allie.”
“Thanks.” A smirk played across her mouth as she did the same with a smaller bucket.
I immediately started filling mine again, struggling to keep my eyes off Allie, like she’d disappear if I looked away for too long.
“Did you make a lot of sandcastles in the summer?” Juniper asked. “With your sisters?”
“Not really.” Allie sat back on her heels, holding the little green bucket in her lap. “We didn’t get a lot of playtime in the summers, and when we did, we liked to hunt for shells or read on the pier.”
“Or sneak out and stargaze,” I said.
“Or sneak out and stargaze,” Allie agreed, her eyes hidden behind those damned glasses.
“Because you danced all the time?” Juniper dug into the sand, continuing the moat, and Caroline paused in the middle of packing sand into another bucket.
“Yes.” Allie pushed her sunglasses up her nose. “It took up more time as we got older, and eventually we were at it about ten hours a day between the gym, taking class with whomever Mom had brought in for that session, then rehearsing in the afternoon.”
She’d been miserable and euphoric all in the same breath during those summers, and I hadn’t understood it until my first few close calls out on the water. Loving something that actively worked to destroy your body was a bitch.
“Sounds like you didn’t get to be a kid,” Caroline noted, resuming with her own shovel.
Allie glanced at me, then Juniper. “There’s a balance to be had.” She hand scooped damp sand into the bucket. “I’m not sure I’d be what I am if my mother hadn’t pushed us like she did. But I also think that ballet could have been a major part of our childhood without being all of our childhood. Balance would have been good, and I think that’s why Dad wanted us out here every summer, to force that balance, but Mom built the studio and . . .” She sighed. “Well, I love ballet, but I never got to know who I am without it.”