Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I sigh with relief. Clearly, he doesn’t know I witnessed him jerking his salami this morning while groaning out my name. Thank God.
“My dad’s an early riser,” I say. “And so is Raine, so I’m sure he’s up with her.” I jut my chin toward his plate. “Finish eating, and we’ll make the call.” With that, I get up and pretend to concentrate on the business of making coffee, even though I can physically feel his eyes on my ass the entire time.
Chapter 10
Caleb
“Take my truck into Billings,” Aubrey’s father, Joe, insists. “Rather than your rental car. They probably won’t have all the lumber you need in stock, so you’ll probably have to order it. But take Big Betty into Billings, just in case.”
“Big Betty?” I ask.
“That’s what my father lovingly calls his truck,” Aubrey interjects behind me with a laugh.
“She’s my pride and joy,” Joe says, matching his daughter’s chuckle. “Other than you, of course, Shortcake.”
I’m on a FaceTime call with Joe, standing on a patch of grass in front of my rotting deck, with Aubrey standing nearby. We’ve just finished giving Joe a visual tour of the place, from top to bottom, and he wound up independently confirming all his daughter’s suggestions from last night. Although Joe added a suggestion of his own: replacing the roof, if I decide to keep the place. I can’t fault Aubrey for not including the roof on her list of suggested fixes, though, since we didn’t climb up there last night in the dark. If we had, I’m sure Little Miss Meticulous Aubrey Capshaw would have mentioned that idea, too. As I’m beginning to learn, Aubrey is nothing if not thorough.
Joe says, “If you send me the dimensions of the deck you’re planning to build, I’ll write up a list of materials you’ll need to show the lumber guy in Billings.”
“Thanks, Joe. I appreciate that. I’ll take you up on Big Betty, too. Even if it turns out I can’t get all the lumber in Billings today, I’m gonna get myself a drum kit and some workout gear today, so I’ll definitely put your truck to good use, either way.”
“You’re gonna buy a whole new drum kit for a three-week stay?” Aubrey asks.
I shrug. “At home, I play drums every day. I’m already going batshit crazy, after only one day of going without.”
“Man, I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you play,” Joe says wistfully.
“Come watch me, anytime.”
“Really? Okay, I will!”
I chuckle at his exuberance. “Do you play?”
“I wish. I’ve always loved live music, though. Especially classic rock.”
“That’s my jam, too. I tell you what. Whenever you’re feeling up to it, I’ll give you a drum lesson to thank you for loaning me Big Betty. Pick your favorite song, and I’ll teach you how to drum to it.”
Joe gasps. “Seriously? Holy shit, C-Bomb! Thank you. But only if you promise to call me, anytime, whenever you need help with the deck.”
“Deal.”
“Well, isn’t this a lovefest,” Aubrey teases. “Hey, Dad, does Mom work today? How long can we stay in Billings before you’ll need us to come back to pick up Raine?”
“Stay as long as you like, Shortcake,” Joe replies. “Yeah, Mom’s working today, and then she’s got a committee meeting for the festival. But I’ve gotten pretty good on my crutches, so I can watch Rainey on my own, just fine.” After we thank Joe, he adds, “When will you be coming by for Big Betty? I’ll make sure Raine’s had breakfast by then, so she’s not cranky when you come.”
Aubrey giggles. “Thank you. God knows, Caleb doesn’t need to meet Hangry Rainey any time soon.”
“I’ll take her, any way I can get her,” I say.
Aubrey looks unconvinced. But what she says is, “When will you be done with your counseling session?”
“Ten. It starts at nine and lasts a full hour.”
Aubrey returns to her father on my phone. “Caleb has a Zoom call he needs to do till ten, Daddy, so we’ll be there around 10:30 or so to pick up Big Betty.”
“I’ll have the munchkin ready to say hi to you.”
“Make sure to tell her Mommy’s nice friend, Caleb, who colored with her yesterday, will be coming over again. You know how shy she can be. Let’s get her primed and ready for him.”
“Got it.”
“Thanks, Joe. I appreciate that.”
“Oh, Rainey just walked in and heard your voices. She wants to say hi.”
My heart rate quickens. But when Raine’s big, blue eyes appear on my screen, it’s instantly clear she only wants to say hi to her “Auntie Aubbey,” and not to me.
“Hey, baby girl!” Aubrey coos to the little face on my screen. “Did you have fun with Grammy and Pop-Pop last night?”
“We pwayed Hungwy, Hungwy Hippos!”
“You did? I love that game. Do you remember my friend, Caleb, here?”