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)
As she looked at the numbers, she figured since she had the summers off, she’d get a waitressing job downtown. When tourist season was in full swing, the bars and restaurants were so busy that locals rarely went to any of them. She could easily supplement her income. None of that would work, though. Anything she made would go to a babysitter, leaving her back where she was.
Her luck changed when her brother called one rainy afternoon in late February.
“I got a job offer in Boston,” he told her.
“That’s fantastic.” Over Christmas, he’d mentioned switching jobs but hadn’t said where. Having him so close would be a relief and a gift. Living away from her family, especially during such a tumultuous time, had been hard. Her mother had stayed with her for some time, and her dad had made numerous trips up north to help around the house and maintain the yard until Kiran took over. Having her brother close would mean she’d have someone, other than Hazel and Kiran, to depend on. And the girls loved their uncle. He’d be able to help out with them whenever she needed.
“I’m going to need a place to stay,” he said.
“I can definitely help you look.”
Reuben cleared his throat. “What about if I live with you and the girls?” he suggested. “We can convert a space in the basement into a room. There’s already a bathroom down there. Dad can help me extend it into a shower. This will give you a man in the house, not that you need a man living there. But also, I’ll pay rent. I’d rather live with you and the girls than in some apartment where I’m lonely, and I expect to spend most of my free time at your place anyway. You’d be saving me gas money.”
It took Nadia all of three seconds to agree. Now, when she looked at her bank account, there’d be a bit of a cushion, thanks to her brother.
Currently, Warren, Reuben, and Kiran were hard at work in the basement, and her mom fluttered around in the kitchen, making copious amounts of food to freeze later. Lorraine had been concerned Nadia wasn’t eating well enough when she saw her at Christmas. She’d commented on how much weight she’d lost, which Nadia had explained away by the pain she felt from losing her husband. She vowed to get better. If not for herself, for her girls. They needed their mother to be strong and healthy.
It was something the therapist had said. Nadia needed to find a way to move on, to start living her life again. For the most part, life had moved on. Nadia and the girls got up every morning, dressed, and went about their day. In her mind, she could almost pretend Rafe was temporarily gone—on a business trip, out with Kiran, or visiting his parents. That was until Kiran came over. When he was there, they smiled and laughed. He brought that out in them, and she truly appreciated having him around. It was when she put her head on her pillow at night and stared at the space Rafe should’ve been in that her heart broke all over again.
Nadia stared out the window. After Rafe’s death, they’d kept the blinds closed. One of her New Year’s resolutions was to keep them open to welcome light and nature back into their home, even when it was gray and rainy outside. She wanted to watch the seasons change, see their daffodils and tulips bloom, and witness the transformation from winter dullness to vibrant spring.
The guys came upstairs for lunch. Nadia smiled when she saw Kiran. It was as if the response was automatic. After everyone made chitchat and ate, Nadia started cleaning up.
“I saw that,” Lorraine said as she carried plates to the sink.
“Saw what?”
“The way you looked at Kiran.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lorraine stood next to Nadia. She shut the water off, forcing her daughter to look at her. “Gemma says Kiran is here a lot.”
Nadia sighed. “He comes over on Saturday, does the outside chores, and makes sure everything still functions properly. In exchange, I feed him.”
“And on Sunday?”
Nadia stared out the window. “He’s Rafe’s best friend, Mom. Nothing more.” Except when her therapist had brought up moving on, Nadia had refused to even entertain the idea. The notion seemed so far out in left field for her. Until she closed her eyes at night and saw Kiran there.
“It’s okay if he’s more, Nadia. You’re young and you have young children. No one expects you not to move on or remarry. Rafe would want that.”
“Would he?” she asked, looking at her mom. “Would he want his best friend marrying his wife?”
“I think he would. If I know anything about my son-in-law, it’s this—he would want you to move on with someone he trusted—and he trusted Kiran. He’s been a part of your life since the day you met Rafe. He’s known the girls their entire lives, and he’s never done anything to cause you to mistrust him. Give yourself a chance to be happy again, Nadia.”