Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Bess joined the group, on the outskirts. Graham was next to her, giving me a tired look.
I caught movement from behind them on the other side of the minivan. Oliver was trying to wrangle the two dogs. Pooh was in his arms but struggling to jump out.
I looked down, distracted, seeing that the dog had escaped my arms at some point.
“Honey.” My mom’s voice broke.
I went straight to her, no longer waiting.
She stepped into my chest, her forehead meeting just under my neck, and she was already sobbing before my arms closed around her. “Oh, honey.” Her hands fisted my shirt from behind me.
I was at a loss.
My mom cried. Sure, this happened. A good movie. A sad movie. Animal rescue commercials. A neighbor telling a story about their kid coming home for a weekend. These things made her cry, but it was also a few tears shed. Not this. She was sobbing.
“Mom.” I tightened my hold on her.
She burrowed even more into me. “It’s nothing. It’s everything. The wedding. You left. We couldn’t get a hold of you. Then you were gone again. I couldn’t stay home. Your dad kept reassuring me you were fine, but it’s a mother’s intuition. You weren’t. I could just feel it. But you’re here.” She was squeezing me so hard.
My breasts were going to pop, but also, oh no. A mother’s intuition was correct. I shared a look with Blake, even though I knew she couldn’t have heard my mom.
“I’m fine, Mom. We’re all fine.”
Bess was tsking her from behind, pushing her way to me. “It’s my turn. Always the last, I’m telling you.”
My mom refused to let go, but it made no difference to Bess. She towered over my mom, who was barely taller than Maude, but my mom was the skinniest. She was too skinny. Bess wrapped her arms around us both. It was as if my mom was barely there.
“It’s good to see you again, Sawsaw.”
“Sawsaw,” Clara snickered, now holding Pooh, who was licking her face and her little tail wagging. “Always makes me want to cut down a tree with a real saw.”
Oliver looked slightly horrified and confused, but seeing me looking his way, that expression cleared. A warm smile took its place, and once Bess stepped back, and my mom loosened her hold, I stepped toward the outskirts of the group.
Oliver met me halfway, giving me a tight hug, which surprised me. He murmured into my ear, “I’ve not said anything, but Graham and I are a bit more in the know, and we know there are other factors here. We can talk about that later, but for right now, are you safe?” He stepped back, his face still leaning close. “Are we safe?”
My throat suddenly swelled.
Graham joined us and my eyes went sideways to him.
Oliver read my expression, his hands falling back from my arms. He stilled.
“Oliver?” Graham was watching his husband.
Oliver patted his arm, his gaze trained on me. “We need to go. Right?”
I nodded, slowly.
Graham heaved a deep sigh, his gaze trailing behind me. “It’s honestly like herding a bunch of stray feral cats who think they’re chickens. I swear I heard Clara clucking in the van. Then she was hissing at my mother. Hissing. At my mother. Who barked back. Bear and Pooh joined in. Is this normal for them?”
I cringed. “I’d like to say no, but . . .”
He huffed. “Gracious. Thank you for coming here. I already love you. I’m looking forward to continuing this relationship, but take them home. Please.”
Oliver was softly laughing beside us, his shoulders shaking.
“Who are you?” Clara barked over the group, staring at Blake, who was still leaning by the car.
Everyone looked her way.
“This is . . . uh—” In the distance, there was a screech. Some honking. I wasn’t paying it attention, instead concentrating on how to introduce Blake. “Um—” I had no idea.
Blake’s eyes widened. She stepped forward. Her hands were pressed together, in front of her. Her shoulders were hunched. “I met Sawyer through—”
My head went higher. “Yes. Right. Through Jake—”
“Through that undercover cop?” Clara supplied, her voice gravelly.
I frowned, but no one was reacting to those words. “Undercover what?”
“Yeah. Detective Worthing. Chelsea and her daughter told us all about him, said he was undercover and that’s why you never called the police to Graham’s with those bodies. Jess Montell filled us in.”
A choked sound came from Blake, who’d gone back to blinking rapidly.
I had no idea who Chelsea and Jess Montell were.
Blake moved to my side, her frown deepening. “Jess Montell? Engaged to Tristian West?”
“Oh yes! That hottie. He was there that night Detective Drool-Worthy took Sawyer because he needed her help identifying men for the case he’s working on.” My mother was beaming, so proud that she could contribute to the conversation though she’d never been there. She added, “Chelsea told us there’s a bun in the oven too. It’s still a secret.”