Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Mom helped me,” she glowed. “She FaceTimed with me and told me when I needed to turn a little bit. We’ve never mowed a lawn before, but it was fun.”
I looked at the woman on the screen and smiled. “I appreciate it, Lea. Lunch break?”
Lea waved. “You’re most welcome. I can’t wait to do it again with her next week. And yes, we’re just eating and talking.”
She signed off, leaving the now-black-faced phone strapped to her chest.
She placed the headphones she’d pulled out of her ears into her pocket and said, “I thought you were planning our vacation?”
“I was, until Hollis came in from work and said you were mowing the lawn,” I drawled.
She scrunched up her nose. “I was bored. And I miss being outside and sweating.”
I could imagine being stuck inside the house with nothing to do was suffocating sometimes.
“We go on walks every night,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, but I miss the sun. I miss the burn of the muscles in my legs as I push them. I’m…” She trailed off.
“You can start working out with me,” I said. “If your doctor okays it, that is.”
She patted her belly. “I don’t need more than just a walk for now. When he’s born, then we’ll discuss more.”
I was relieved, even though I didn’t tell her that.
“Hey, bro.”
I looked over to find Quincy walking toward me, his youngest daughter strapped to his chest.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Got the news,” he said. “The Harris family was sentenced to multiple counts of attempted murder.”
The grin that split my face was epic. “Really?”
“Really,” he confirmed. “And the lawsuit was announced. They officially owe you twenty million dollars, Bindi.”
Bindi shook her head.
That was the one thing she hadn’t wanted to deal with, but her father’s urging had forced her to pursue it anyway.
“I guess everyone’s kids will be set for life.” Bindi chuckled.
Quincy snorted. “They have to find a way to pay for it first.”
“That’s their problem,” Ruben grumbled. “I got the mower, honey. You head inside and get some water.”
Ruben and Lea had taken me up on the guest house and had made the final move here two months ago.
Also, it was a running joke at the department that Bindi and I were in a secret relationship, even though half of the department had attended our wedding.
Everyone loved to tease Bindi.
It was all in good fun, though.
She took it like a sport, and I got to love on my wife anytime, anywhere. Department or not.
“So what’s next, Garrett?” she asked.
Auden and Quincy left with a wink, and I twirled a piece of Bindi’s wild hair around my finger as I said, “The rest of our life, Bindi Carter.”
Please pray for my husband. There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s just married to me, and I’m a lot.
—Bindi to the sister-in-law group chat
GARRETT
We were both exhausted zombies when we made it into the coffee shop.
My mom had taken our son, Race, for the day.
Race being our third and most troublesome child.
I think my mom took pity on the way that we were looking like ran over roadkill.
“What do you want, honey?” I asked.
She shrugged. “What are the specials?”
“They have pumpkin spice out for a Thanksgiving special,” I said.
“That.” She paused. “But also my usual amaretto latte in case it tastes like shit.”
“You’re not pregnant anymore, so I highly doubt that the pumpkin spice will be what you remember,” I pointed out.
She knew I was right.
“Okay, so maybe not that,” she replied sheepishly. “Just my regular.”
I squeezed her hand and let it go to pick up the sheet of paper next to the door to scan the bakery items.
The place was packed.
As in, wall to wall people.
If it wasn’t my wife’s favorite spot, I would never come back here again.
“This is crazy,” I said as I grabbed my wife’s hand.
Except, my wife’s hand was definitely much bigger than it was supposed to be.
I looked over to see a man that was definitely not my wife standing there.
“You’re not my wife,” I said to him, yet still held his hand.
“Nope,” he agreed.
“You’re holding the wrong hand, Gee,” Bindi said from my other side.
“You’re sure?” I asked.
“We’re sure,” my wife and the man beside me said.
“I feel committed to finishing this Huey Brew experience with you, though,” I admitted.
“I’m not paying,” he said.
“Well, then I guess I’ll go back to my wife.” I dropped his hand.
“I’m not paying either,” Bindi pointed out when I reached for her.
I wrinkled my nose.
“Come hold my hand, Garrett,” I heard called from ahead of me. “I’ll buy you anything you want.”
I walked up to the man’s younger brother, Dima, and held out my hand.
He laughed and clasped his hand with mine, giving it a good shake before throwing his arm around my shoulder and said, “What are you doing here?”
“Holding hands,” Shasha said.
Shasha, Dima, and their sisters, Nastya and Milena, came and went from Dallas.