Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
The urge to blurt out that I’m having a baby with Matt’s boss is strong but I won’t put her in a position where she’ll feel compelled to keep a secret of that magnitude from her fiancé.
“Thank you.” I sniffle my way through those two words. “I think I’m just worn out.”
“I get it.” She brushes a strand of hair from my forehead. “If you want to bow out of dinner, I can get you home.”
“I’ll stay.” I need my family around me now even if none of them have any idea about what’s going on in my life.
If I go home now, I’ll cry myself to sleep. I may as well eat before I head out to do that.
“I’ll give you some privacy.” She reaches for the doorknob. “If you ever need me for anything, I’m here for you. Always.”
“That works both ways.” I hug her again. “I’ll always be here for you, too.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Donovan
I cut my trip to Boston short because I sense that something isn’t right in Delia’s world.
That concern stems from the fact that she hasn’t returned any of my phone calls and her two word response to the countless text messages I’ve sent her over the course of the past twenty four hours was curt.
I glance at my phone to read the short exchange again.
Donovan: I’m worried about you, Delia. Please let me know how you are.
Delia: I’m fine.
I followed that up immediately with a call, knowing that she was literally cradling her phone in her hands, but it went unanswered, as did every text I’ve sent since.
I even reached out to Matt to see if he was in panic mode because of something happening with his sister, but he was handling a work emergency and didn’t have time to get into anything beyond telling me that everything was great back in Manhattan expect for the broken leg on the schnauzer he was about to cast.
I exit the rideshare I took from the airport and step onto the sidewalk outside of my home.
As tempted as I was to go directly to Delia’s penthouse from the airport, I didn’t. I couldn’t. I made her a promise that I wouldn’t show up unexpectedly, and I intend to keep every promise I ever made to the woman.
My plan is to do that forever if she’ll allow it and I want it to reach beyond the scope of my role as the father of her baby and her “fun” fuck partner.
If this short trip to Boston taught me anything it’s that I never want to be away from her again.
The lure that has repeatedly taken me to that city in recent years is strong, but my feelings for Delia far surpass that. I love her. If I doubted that in the least before I boarded the plane headed out of New York, I don’t now.
I glance down when I feel my phone vibrate in the pocket of my suit jacket. I tear it out as quickly as I can, hoping beyond hope that it’s Delia wanting to talk to me.
It’s not.
It’s my mom.
Her life in this city was marred by so much pain that as soon as I graduated with my master’s degree she took off in search of a spot on this planet that would offer her happiness.
A two week vacation to the wilds of Montana has extended into more than a decade of happiness with a man who adores her.
My father couldn’t be that man for her, but Barry Neagle is. A retired rancher and lover of nature, he’s given my mom a place to land that involves endless love and admiration.
I’m happy for her and even though I haven’t had the opportunity to visit her in more than a year, I’ll change that once the baby arrives. I want her to meet her grandchild as soon as possible.
“Hey, Mom, “ I answer the call on the second ring. “How are you?”
“I’m almost perfect,” she answers my question the same way she always does. “Are you?”
I was until something shifted between Delia and me, so I spin my answer to reflect what I hope is still my reality. “I’m happier than ever.”
“Really, Donovan?” Curiosity edges her tone. “What’s going on?”
I know she’s expecting one answer, and I wish to fuck I could give her that, but I can’t. At least not yet, so I sigh. “I just got back from a conference.”
“Oh.”
I can almost feel her hope evaporating over the line, so I take the conversation on a new path. “How’s your garden looking, Mom?”
There isn’t a distraction big enough to steal her attention away from the missing piece of her heart, but my question does lure an answer out of her. “There’s nothing quite like eating vegetables you’ve grown. If you came to visit, you’d find that out in person.”