Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Alex says, staring at his bottle. “We have lots to tell you, Dad. First of all, Mom and Max got married last year. I call him Dad now, and I hope that doesn’t make you mad.”
The train whistle blows again, and I smile softly. Cary’s here, and he’s talking to Alex.
“The wedding was in California, which I thought was kinda weird at first, but it turned out really great.”
Alex spends the next fifteen minutes giving Cary a play-by-play of the past year.
“Oh, and I got a dog. His name is Rocky. I wanted to bring him to show you ’cause he’s the best dog there is, but Mom said it’s too cold today, so he’s at home. I’ll bring him in the summer so you can meet him.
“My best friend, Pierce, got a dog, too. But Rocky’s better. When I told Pierce that, he said I was full of shit.”
My head whips up in shock. “Alexander Cary Monroe-Hull. Watch your mouth.”
He grins and giggles. He loves to say shocking things so I use his full name. He was thrilled when Max presented him with adoption papers at our wedding, hyphenating his last name.
“His dad would have laughed his ass off at that,” Max whispers to me, and I narrow my eyes at my husband.
“You’re not helping.”
“We get to move into our new house this summer,” Alex continues, chatting as if he were actually sitting with his dad. “And I’m excited because I have a whole suite of rooms, with a game room and everything. Mom’s gonna let me decorate it. Oh! And Mom has news, too. Go ahead, Mom.”
“You want me to tell him?”
“Yeah.” He takes a swig of his root beer and grins.
“Well, we’re going to have a baby.” I cover my belly with my hands over my coat and rub a circle. “We’re only halfway there, and she’ll probably come when it’s time to move into the house because nothing’s ever easy, but we’re excited.”
“The baby’s suite is the same exact size as mine,” Alex says. “But first, she’ll be in a room by Mom and Dad’s room that they’ll make into a sitting room later.”
He sounds so grown-up, talking about babies and house plans.
“When did you grow up?” I ask him. “Where’s my baby?”
“In your belly.” He giggles. “I’m a big kid, Mom.”
“That you are. Do you have anything else to talk about?”
“No, I think that about covers it,” Alex says.
“Then I guess we’d better go,” I reply. “If you want to get some skiing in this afternoon, we need to get a move on.”
“I wish you could ski with us,” Alex says.
“It’s not that I’m afraid, Alex. Remember?”
No, I’ve let go of the fear.
“I know. You have to protect Bailey.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m going to hang back for a second,” Max says and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect. I just need to thank him.”
I frown, but then understanding dawns.
“He already knows, my love. But I understand.”
I turn and follow Alex to the car, with Bailey turning circles in my belly. I don’t know what Max just said to Cary, but the train whistle blows behind me.
Chapter One
~Fallon~
“NAMASTE.”
“Namaste,” my class repeats. Some of them jump up immediately to get on with their days, and some sit quietly for a few more minutes.
Summer yoga is my favorite. I get to teach classes every morning at the Lodge on the Lake, for tourists and locals alike. Some days we’re overflowing with newcomers, and some days like today, it’s mostly familiar faces.
The sun rises early in this part of the world during the summer months, so a start time of seven a.m. is perfect to get the blood moving through our veins.
“Sorry I came rushing in late, Fallon,” Nina Wolfe says with a smile. She’s rolling her mat. “I can’t believe I over slept.”
“No worries,” I reply. “It happens to all of us. I’m just glad you made it.”
She sighs and walks over to me, her mat slung over her shoulder. Nina is a pretty blonde woman, with an athletic body and a happy smile. She moved to Cunningham Falls, Montana just a few months ago to be closer to her brother, Christian.
Who happens to be Christian Wolfe, the hottest Hollywood actor in the world.
Of course, he’s married to another client of mine, Jenna.
“How long have you lived here, Fallon?” Nina asks.
“Oh goodness, it must be almost two years now.” I blink rapidly, realizing that this is the longest I’ve stayed in one place in more than five years. “Wow, time flies.”
“Was it hard for you to feel like you fit in? To make friends? I mean, I have Christian and Jenna, and I have acquaintances of course, but—”
“I get it,” I say with a nod. “Small town life is different. There’s not a lot of people here, and it feels like there are a lot of cliques.”