Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Gemma’s room was empty, but she’d made her bed, which made Nadia smile. She found her oldest downstairs, sitting at the table. The pancakes weren’t on the floor anymore, and the griddle had been turned off. Guilt washed over Nadia. Gemma was eight, turning nine in December, and more of an adult than Nadia at this point.
“I’m sorry I yelled.” She ran her hand down Gemma’s hair and kissed the top of her head.
“I miss him, too, Mommy.”
Nadia nodded, unable to find her voice. She moved toward the griddle and turned it back on to make more pancakes.
“Maybe we need help.”
Nadia looked out the kitchen window, staring at the bird on her neighbor’s fence. How could a child be wiser than the parent?
“You’re right, Gemma. I’ll call someone today.”
By the time they’d made it out of the house, Nadia was late for work. She called into school and said she would be there shortly and offered no other explanation.
Lynnea opened the front door and said, “What the heck.”
“Lynnea, please don’t say that in school.” Nadia came toward the door and froze. Kiran paused as he came toward the house. He held flowers in one hand and bottles of chocolate milk in the other. Rafe had bought the girls flowers and chocolate milk on their first day of school each year. Nadia swallowed the lump in her throat.
He smiled, but it wasn’t the one she was used to. Today was different. The wide, bright, cheerful smile showed happiness, excitement.
“What are you doing here, Kiran?”
“Well,” he said as he looked at his hands. “I was hoping to catch you at home before you lovely ladies left for the day.” He took the steps and stopped in front of Lynnea, handing her a bottle of chocolate milk and one of the bouquets in his hand, and then did the same for Gemma. “I know it’s not the same when it doesn’t come from your dad, but I wouldn’t be doing my job as his best friend if I didn’t have these for you today.”
“Thank you,” both girls said for their gerbera daisies.
“Why don’t you take your flowers into the house. Gemma can get you a vase, Lynnea.” Nadia watched the girls until they’d disappeared from her sight.
She turned back to Kiran. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did,” he said, nodding. “It’s not fair, what you and the girls are going through, and if something as simple as showing up on the first day of school makes them smile . . . makes you smile, then I know I’ve done the right thing.”
“Thank you.”
He extended his hand and gave her the last bouquet. Hers had white roses and carnations, along with lavender lilies, accented with baby’s breath and greenery. This wasn’t a bouquet you bought at the grocery for under ten dollars next to the checkout. This was an arrangement someone had put some thought into. After she inhaled the roses, she glanced at Kiran. He looked embarrassed.
“Thank you, Kiran,” she said. Nadia inhaled again, but only to hide her smile. She didn’t want him to see her grin.
“It’s my pleasure, Nadia.” He nodded and turned around. She watched him walk down the path to his car. When he got to the driver’s side, he stared back at her for a long moment, and then he ducked inside to drive away.
SIXTEEN
REID
The text from Grayson read: Be ready by 6!
Reid had lost count of how many times she’d looked at it or any of his previous ones. The shift in their relationship was definitely playing out in the way he texted her as well. Long gone were the ridiculous memes, although he still sent a few on occasion, and in their place were hearts and googly eyes. Each text brought a smile to her face.
She’d finally gotten her man.
Melanie, Reid’s best friend, had told her that if Grayson didn’t want to be with her, a minor thing like having his heart replaced wasn’t going to change his mind. Of course, there wasn’t anything minor about a heart transplant, and Melanie knew this. It was her way of proving to her friend that her errant thoughts were just that: wayward. Ever since Grayson had come home from the hospital and Melanie had seen them together, she could see for herself how in love he was with Reid, and Mel made a point of telling her friend that every chance she could.
Reid closed her phone and tried to work, but the words blurred on her computer screen. Three months ago, Grayson had told her he was all in, that she was the one he wanted to be with. While Reid accepted this, she’d made him wait until she was ready to jump back into bed with him again. She had to protect herself, and while she was madly in love with him, giving herself to him that way again was something she took very seriously.