Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Shannon Steele shouldn’t have been in New York City. It was an impromptu trip. She should be in Columbus, at home and getting ready for the big party tonight. The big party for four hundred plus guests that now won’t happen.
If we’d gone on that honeymoon she wouldn’t have gone to New York.
I spot Jonah and Grace walking toward the building and am about to get out of the car and approach, but Grace looks devastated, red-eyed, crying. Jonah has his arm around his sister, leading her inside. They don’t see me, so I leave.
I’m back at the house and putting coffee on when I send a message to Carson, whose earlier message indicating which airport to go to and what time the flight would leave, I missed.
Can you please keep me posted on things? And please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help with canceling tonight’s event.
He responds promptly.
Thank you, Chloe. Elijah just arrived, so we’ve boarded and are about to taxi. Thank you for the offer. The company’s team is working on notifying all guests of the anniversary party’s cancellation, though there is media coverage now. I shall keep you updated.
I turn the local morning show on, and it doesn’t take long before something pops up on the ticker.
Local CEO Michael Steele in critical condition after car crash in NYC. Wife: (Continued…)
My sinuses burn at the sight of the next ticker line:
socialite, model, actress Shannon Steele, 59, pronounced dead on scene.
Derek’s family is dysfunctional. But most people only get one family. And now he’s lost his mother and is facing losing his dad.
I think about my own parents and realize I didn’t answer my mom’s text message yesterday.
I message her, knowing she’s probably getting ready for work.
Hi Mom. Sorry I didn’t reply yesterday. I’d love to visit but Derek’s parents were in a bad car accident and his mom didn’t survive. It’s on the news. His dad is in surgery. I’ll keep you updated.
My phone rings not even a whole minute later and it’s my mom calling.
I answer.
“Hi, Mom.” My voice cracks.
“Oh Chloe, I’m so sorry.”
I hold the phone a second, feeling choked up. Feeling like a little kid who just wants her parents to make everything all better. There was a time when a hug and kind words from either of them did make everything in my world right again.
I feel for Derek and Grace. And the other Steele family members. And also, I feel exceedingly emotional that my mom is calling me. That she sent me that text at all yesterday, wanting to spend time together, wanting to do something we haven’t done in a decade in a half. Emotional that she’s currently acting like… well… a mother toward me.
“I’ve got the news on now,” she says. “Dad isn’t awake yet, but I’ll tell him and if there’s anything we can do, please let us know. Please give Derek our condolences for his mom and let him know we’ll be thinking good thoughts for his father.”
My phone makes a text alert noise.
“Thanks, Mom. I’d better go,” I say.
“Keep me posted. Text me if you’re too busy to call. Just… text over some updates. Okay?”
“I will.”
“We’ll be thinking of you both.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, “Lah-love you. B-bye for now.”
“Love you, too, honey,” she says softly.
When I press end, my hands are shaking. I can’t remember the last time she and I exchanged I love yous.
The text I missed was from Alannah.
WTF? I just saw the news. Where are you?
I call her.
She answers right away.
“Hey,” she says softly. “Where are you?”
“Hey. At home.”
“Home?”
“The house in Dublin,” I say, feeling strange at referring to this place as home.
“You okay? What’s happening right now?”
“I took Derek to the airport. He’s on his way to New York. His mom died at the accident scene, but his dad is in surgery, apparently. That’s all I know. I’m here by myself just waiting for updates.”
“Want me to come over and hang out with you?”
“Could you?”
“Of course I can.”
“Oh God, yes, please.” I’m feeling immense relief.
“I’m on my way. I’ll bring coffee and donuts and… some flotsam and jetsam. I’ll be there, soon.”
Flotsam and jetsam means she’ll bring things to occupy us. Alannah has always been immensely good at distracting you when you need it most.
It’s forty-five minutes later and I’ve had no choice but to phone Derek.
He doesn’t answer, so I send him a text message.
Hope everything is okay there. Sorry to bother you, but Alannah came to keep me company and Ken isn’t allowing her past the gate. Can you have a word with him?
I didn’t bother bitching Ken out when he wouldn’t let Alannah in. He wasn’t rude about it, simply said he’d only open the gate on Derek’s orders.
I don’t get an answer to my text, but just two minutes later, Alannah is allowed in with a stern look from Ken, who I’m pretty sure communicates silently that he will make sure I don’t leave.