Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 143453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
“Sort of?”
“We haven’t been together for a long time, but time is irrelevant because I share a special connection with him. The type I’ve never shared with anyone else.”
Mom’s fingers pause in my hair and I think her face pales a little, or maybe it’s the lighting. After a moment, she goes back to her soothing rhythm. “Why haven’t you told me about him before?”
“I wasn’t confident that we had a relationship. He didn’t really like me at the beginning, you know, so we had to get past that, and then, well, find compatibility. So I avoided telling you until I was sure about what we share.”
“And you are now?”
I grin. “One hundred percent.”
Her rhythm falters again, but only for a second. “Tell me all about him, his family, his personality. I want to know everything.”
“Where do I even begin?” It takes me about fifteen minutes to introduce Creigh and his family to Mom.
She never interrupts and listens carefully, attentively. Because my mom cares.
“It sounds like you have a lot of fun with him,” she says after I’m done.
“The best ever.” I sigh. “I actually miss him.”
“Can you tell me how the relationship started? Did he pursue you?”
I smile sheepishly. “It was actually the other way around. As I told you, he didn’t really like me at the beginning and said I talked too much. My pride was bruised and brutally stomped upon, I tell you, but then he started to grow fond of me. He even listens to me talk on and on, and said he likes the sound of my voice. Guess that means I brought him around.”
“He…really didn’t pursue you?”
“No. And yeah, maybe a lady shouldn’t chase after a man, but that’s like a Middle Ages mentality. I say women should go after what we want. Also, he did warn me away, thinking we weren’t…compatible, but I soon proved him wrong.”
“Proved him wrong how?”
I chuckle awkwardly. “You don’t need to know.”
“Are you hiding things from me?”
“I just…would rather not talk about it. Everyone needs their own secrets.”
“Since when do you keep secrets from me, baby?”
“Since I’m all grown up.” I grin.
She sighs deeply, the sound slightly chopped off. Her gaze gets lost in the distance and I feel her escaping into another reality that I have no access to. Like earlier.
“Hey, Mom?”
She blinks, focusing back on me. “Hmm?”
“Remember when you told me that if I have someone I love, you wouldn’t let Papa shove me into an arranged marriage? Creighton is that someone.”
She pales, and this time, there’s no mistaking it. But her voice is still composed and soothing. “You’re still too young to know what love truly is.”
“Would everyone stop saying that? I’m not that young, and there’s no explanation for the feelings I have for Creigh besides love.”
“Anni, honey, listen to me. Love isn’t a crush or an infatuation. Love is when you go through life together, face your fears together, and at times, even hate each other in the process. It’s not love if it hasn’t been tested.”
I get up, forcing her to release my hair, and face her. “That doesn’t apply to everyone. And what are you insinuating, Mom? Does this mean you won’t help me convince Papa? Jeremy said he’d leave me alone if Papa accepts Creighton, and I need your help to make him see reason.”
She takes my hand in hers. “I think we should give it a bit more time before we bring it up to your father.”
“I don’t have more time. We’re going back tomorrow, and I can’t have Jeremy locking me up for sport. I’m so done with that.”
“Honey…”
“You said you’d help me.” My chin quivers. “You promised to be on my side in this world that treats women like second-rate citizens. I knew I could do it, because I have you. How could you turn your back on me?”
“It’s not that I’m turning my back…we just can’t be rash.”
A tear slides down my cheek and I wipe it away. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Papa or Jeremy said those words, because I know they don’t really trust me to be responsible for my own life, but it kills me that you don’t trust me either. I never expected this from you.”
“Anni…there’s so much you don’t know.”
“Then tell me. Don’t just keep me in the dark and ask me to accept situations I don’t understand.”
“I will, but as I said, I need time, baby. I’m just asking you—imploring you, begging you—to cut off ties with this Creighton.”
“Mom!”
“I’ve never asked anything of you, Anni. I only wanted you to grow up into the bright, cheerful, and absolutely beautiful young lady you are. I didn’t stop you from ballet even though I’m uncomfortable with it, I didn’t stop you from traveling to the other side of the world, although I was scared for your safety, but I’m begging you to let him go.”