Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
The other glaring difference between me and the rest of my family was my high IQ. Theirs weren’t. I doubted they knew any other insults to give. “If one of you will fill me in before we reach the rest of the family, I’ll give you my first paycheck.”
“Some incentive,” my brother barked. Joy followed in his laughter. “I spent more on breakfast than you’ll make all week.”
“But, Uncle Collin, he’s working for a living,” Joy teased, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “And saving the family’s reputation and business with all his prettiness.”
“Shut up!” I countered, knowing they wouldn’t, but it helped my heart to say the words aloud.
“Shut up,” Collin squeaked, mimicking me.
“Leave him alone,” Joy said, her hand flipping out to playfully hit Collin in the chest. “He can’t help what’s going on.”
I cast a quick glance at my niece as she reaffirmed my decision to call her my best friend.
Time didn’t allow me to process anything more. We stepped into the main greeting foyer of the resort where my mother and father stood waiting. They both had giant grins on their faces, directed at me.
Even at my parents age, my mom was just shy of her sixty-third birthday and my father close to sixty-six years old, they appeared an impressive force. My mom looked boardroom ready all the time. Sculpted hair, freshly applied makeup, and a business suit—a jacket and matching skirt. Barbie had nothing on the permanent arch in my mother’s feet. I’d never seen her without high heels on.
My father wore his usual bespoke suit, silk tie, and Italian loafers. As for the rest of my family, all but Collin were married with children. There were thirty-two of them in total. All miniature versions of my parents, looking at home in the most ornately decorated lobby I’d ever seen.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Dasham,” my father started toward me, wrapping a strong arm around my shoulders.
My mother came up beside me, smiling tenderly. My brows lowered in disbelief. The smile felt so real… I was truly unnerved.
“Happy birthday, son. You’ve made us proud,” my father said both loudly and boldly. My parents caged me in with their love. I reared back, giving an unsure glance past my parents to Collin. Probably not the best call. He stuck a finger down his throat in a gagging motion.
None of this made sense. I still had weeks to go before my birthday.
With my dad on one side and my mother on the other, they walked me across the marble tile entry and through the main doors of the resort. The valets stood on either side of the impressively large portico with the ocean churning its waves in the distance. The drive leading to the valet stand was blocked off. A shiny red Ferreri with a giant white bow on the windshield was parked between me and the ocean.
With a glance in either direction, I searched for who drove such a beauty even as my brain gave a blip in understanding.
No. My parents believed the first car needed to be a safe, yet expensive sedan. Usually in the BMW or Mercedes class. I, of course, had asked for something sporty and quick, but I never expected to receive it. I had only said it to get underneath my mother’s skin.
Under the arm of my father’s hand gripping my shoulder, we walked toward the car. The sun was bright, the sky clear, a gorgeous day that I barely recognized in my current state of stunned silence.
“You don’t have anything to say?” my father asked teasingly and dangled a key fob with two keys in front of me. My mother gave a cultured singsong laugh then a side hug as I took the offering.
“Go see,” she said happily.
My father kept me in his hold as he and I walked the distance to the driver’s side door. “I thought we were waiting until September,” I said lamely as he let go of me and opened the door. It was then I saw the photographer in the distance, snapping pictures.
“Don’t look over there,” my father guided quietly. “It’s staged. We’re pretending we don’t know they’re here.”
The excitement I did my best to rein in deflated. This was a setup. Some play to show strength, or wealth, or family first. Maybe all of the above. Most definitely a mighty flex of financial power, showing his strength to continue the legal battle for the expansion of the resort.
I looked over the top of the car to where my entire family stood watching. Joy’s brother, Jon, came jogging toward us.
“He’s twenty-one and going to ride with you to keep it legal,” my father said proudly, and whacked me on the back, packing in a solid punch. “Go.”
Whatever he saw on my face had laughter booming. He grabbed the bow while taking several steps backward, waving his hand in a motion to get me moving.