Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“It would look really adorable with a pair of the leggings you picked up, that black vest you chose, and your black mid-calf boots you wore a week ago,” I propose, and she takes it from my grasp, looking at it.
“Do you really think so?”
“Just try it on. If you like it, they have it in a few colors,” I suggest, and she shrugs then goes to the dressing room with an armful of clothes.
This morning, before we left the hotel, I asked Zach about Aubrey’s clothing choices, and he told me that Tina has always been in charge of taking the kids clothes shopping. Since Aubrey has refused to be a part of it, Tina has just gotten her whatever, probably thinking if it’s hideous she will want to pick out her own stuff.
I didn’t point out that her plan wasn’t working, but did ask if I could go with her to a few shops and show her some stuff. I’m not sure if he was just being a man or if he really wanted me to take her, but he agreed to my plan without any argument.
Taking a seat outside the dressing room, I look at my phone and send a message to Zach, letting him know we should be done soon. He, Steven, and Hunter all left us two hours ago with plans to see some superhero movie. Hunter and Steven were done shopping and made it clear they wanted out of the mall. Zach wasn’t far behind them in reaching his limit, which was fine with me.
“Do you really think this is okay?” Aubrey asks, stepping out of the room she went into moments ago. I drop my cell into my bag and lift my head.
“Oh, my God,” I whisper. The shirt fits her perfectly and shows off her waist, and the leggings make her look young, hip, and very stylish. “It’s perfect, but how do you feel?” I ask, seeing she seems unsure.
“I don’t know. It’s not what I’m used to, but it’s still comfortable.” She shrugs.
“You look beautiful, honey,” I say gently, setting my bag in the chair next to me and standing. “And clothing doesn’t have to be uncomfortable to be stylish.”
“I just don’t know if this is really me.”
“You still look like you.” I grab the vest she picked out and help her into it then take a step back. “You’re a beautiful girl, and no matter what you wear, that beauty shines through.” She looks at herself in the mirror then looks at me and lets out a long breath.
“Do you think I’m too fat to wear this?” she asks, and something uneasy hits me, but I move past it, remembering how I felt at her age. Hell, how I feel even now some days. The world can be a cruel place, and everyone seems to have an opinion of what beauty is and what a woman’s body should look like.
“Not one part of you is fat, and I really hope you don’t think you’re overweight, because you’re not, not even a little bit.”
“Steven has abs, and I—”
“And you’re a girl. Girls have curves. We were meant to have curves. They’re nothing to be embarrassed about or feel unsure of. Right now, you have the body of a young girl, and one day, you will have the body of a woman. Your beauty should be embraced. It’s not always easy, but you should love who you are. You are perfect.”
Swallowing, her eyes return to her reflection in the mirror then she turns this way and that. “I think I like it.” She bites her lip, looking at me.
“I’m glad you do.” I smile.
Smiling back, she asks softly, “Do you think I can get a few more like this one?”
“Absolutely.” I nod, not caring even a little bit that I will probably blow the budget Zach gave me. Seeing her happy is worth any argument we may have.
“Thanks, Shel.”
“Anytime, honey,” I agree, meaning that more than she knows.
An hour later, we are finally done shopping and the boys are out of the movie, so we meet them at the food court, where the boys talk nonstop about the movie they saw while eating burgers and fries. By the time we’re done eating, we only have an hour to get to the airport, so we book it to the hotel to pick up our bags then rush to the airport to catch our flight home to Cordova.
Chapter 9
Zach
“Whose car is that?” I ask, and Shel looks back over her shoulder toward her house that we just passed, unhooking her belt.
“I don’t know,” she mumbles.
Shutting down the truck, I get out, open the back door for the kids, and then walk around toward the back of my truck, where I meet Shel.
“Hunter,” a male voice calls out, and all eyes swing toward the house next door. I know the instant my eyes lock on the man standing on Shel’s porch, wearing a tailored suit and polished shoes, that he’s Shel’s ex-husband and Hunter’s dad. What I don’t know is what the hell he’s doing here.