Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
A weak smile shaped Julia’s lips before she replied, “Ah, right, well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Charli. You’re just as beautiful as my sister described.”
Again, that strange look passed over her face, and I couldn’t figure out why she seemed so overwrought. I could tell it was starting to freak Charli out, too, because her smile wavered. “Oh, thanks, that’s very kind.”
Julia sucked in a breath and drew her shoulders back, then continued out to see Jo.
“Well, that was weird,” Tristan commented.
“Maybe she’s doing one of her juice cleanses again,” Nuala suggested. “Remember last time? She saw me eating a sandwich and almost burst into tears.”
“Yeah, that must be it,” Tristan agreed, but I wasn’t so sure. There was something unusual about the way their aunt had regarded Charli. It was too deeply emotional like she was meeting a long lost friend, someone she’d thought she’d never see again.
I suspected Charli felt the same because she seemed withdrawn and thoughtful when she resumed eating her cereal. After breakfast, I had to go see my mam. She was returning to work in a few days after a period of sick leave, and she also had a bunch of meetings with the divorce lawyer coming up. I wanted to be there for her because I knew going to those meetings alone could be stressful.
Mam had decided she would sell the house and split the proceeds with my father. I thought it was far too generous, but Mam was determined to give him enough to start over. I suspected she feared leaving him with nothing and provoking his anger. I also had a feeling the house was too full of bad memories for her, and she wanted rid of it. I felt the same. Even stepping through the front door made my gut bottom out, like negative energy had poisoned the very foundations it was built on. I hadn’t told Mam about the incident outside the hotel, nor my agreement with Padraig to turn the CCTV over to the Guards. She’d only worry and try to talk me out of it.
Almost two weeks went by. Charli and I could hardly keep our hands off each other, sneaking around and taking whatever opportunities we could to be together, whether it was when everyone was out of the house or our breaks lined up at work. I couldn’t get enough of her, and a part of me wished to have no other obligations so I could spend all my time with her, exploring and discovering all the ways we could drive each other wild.
Was it normal to crave someone as much as I craved her?
I didn’t think so. Whatever was between us, it was different to a normal teenage relationship. I’d seen Derek and the others with various girlfriends, but it had never seemed like they were consumed by them, not like I was with Charli.
On the day the divorce papers were signed, Aunt Claire and Uncle Eugene, along with my cousin Shay, took Mam and me out for dinner to celebrate. It had been a long time since I’d seen my mother look so relaxed, like the weight on her shoulders had finally been lifted. It made me unbelievably happy to see her like that, but at the same time, I still had a duty to fulfil. It was the right thing to do, but that didn’t make it any easier.
When I arrived back at the Balfe’s that evening, Padraig was waiting for me out front. I was surprised since I hadn’t told anyone yet that Dad had signed the papers. He wore a grim expression, and I expected him to say he was driving me to the station, but then he released a heavy sigh and said, “Rhys, your father has been arrested.”
I blinked, feeling like I’d misheard him. “But I haven’t gone to the station yet. I—”
“He was at one of the pubs in town,” Padraig interrupted. “The barman I spoke to said he was talking about celebrating his freedom and insisted on buying rounds for everyone at the bar, said he was going to be loaded as soon as the house was sold.”
Frowning, I ran a hand through my hair, stressed because Padraig’s tone told me this story wasn’t going to end well. “That’s right. My mother agreed to sell the house and split the proceeds.”
“Right, but the house isn’t sold yet, obviously,” Padraig said. “So, after running up a bill of a few hundred quid, your father told the barman he was good for it and to put it on a tab. When they insisted they didn’t do tabs and the bill would have to be paid in full, your father lost his head, started throwing barstools around, smashing glasses, and threatening the staff. He managed to flee, but someone at the bar knew where he lived and told the Guards when they arrived. He was arrested shortly after.”