Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Mom looked at me with my arm around Timberlynn, then focused back on Lindsey. “Honey, I’m guessing he said no because he has a good reason to say no. You have a lovely holiday season. Tell your mama I said hi.”
And like that, my mother dismissed Lindsey who huffed, spun on her heels, and walked away.
Without missing a beat, my mother gave my father a knowing head bob.
“Okay, Shaw crew, let’s head on out!” my father announced as we all piled out of the church and made our way to the parking lot.
“Did you want to ride with Ty and Kaylee, or with me and my folks?” I asked Timberlynn, not letting go of her.
Her eyes lit up. “As much as I love my cousin, seeing her and Ty kiss the back of each other’s hands every two minutes does get a little old.”
I laughed. “Have you ridden with my parents anywhere yet?”
She rolled her eyes and let out a fake moan.
Blayze ran up to us and faced Timberlynn. “Miss Timberlynn! Will you sit next to me at the restaurant?”
Timberlynn dropped down some and smiled at Blayze. “Why, I would be honored to sit next to you.”
My nephew beamed with happiness before he shot me a triumphant grin. Cocky little bastard. He was going to be upset when he found out I was sitting on the other side of her. My folks walked and stopped next to Blayze. When my mother looked my way and winked, I knew she was up to something.
“Timberlynn, sweetheart. Would you mind terribly riding over to the restaurant with Tanner in his daddy’s truck? Morgan is acting up a bit, and Lincoln has some serious morning sickness. I told her Ty Senior and I would ride in the back with the kids.”
My father’s head snapped over to look at my mother, and I almost laughed at his confused expression. “We are?” he asked, only to have my mother wave him off.
“Would you mind riding with Tanner?” Mom asked again.
Timberlynn smiled politely. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Great! We’ll see the two of you there.”
I held my arm out for Timberlynn, and she took it without a second thought.
“Save me a seat, Miss Timberlynn!” Blayze called out as he walked away, his hand in my mother’s.
She glanced back over her shoulder and replied, “I will, I promise.”
As we headed over to my father’s truck, I chuckled. “Seems Blayze has high hopes that his hat is still in the ring.”
Timberlynn giggled and shook her head. “He is such a sweet little boy. Did you see him singing that hymn? He was practically shouting to the heavens.”
I smiled. “Yeah, he’s a special little man.”
“He’s a lucky little man to have such a loving family. Parents and grandparents who love him, and of course, you and Ty.”
“Yeah, he’s blessed. We’re all blessed to have parents like my mom and dad. When they love, they love fiercely. It’s a Shaw trait, really.”
Her eyes met mine as we came to a stop at the passenger side of the truck. “I can see that. I mean, it’s obvious how much your family means to each other. And I didn’t believe for one minute that Brock and Lincoln needed your folks’ help in the truck.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. “She isn’t subtle, is she?”
Timberlynn laughed. “No, she isn’t.”
“She cares, that’s all. I hope you don’t mind her butting in.”
“Not at all,” Timberlynn said as she allowed me to help her up into the truck. I shut the door and jogged around to the other side, climbed in, and started up the engine.
“It’s pretty obvious how much your family loves and takes care of one another,” she said. “That’s not something I’m used to at all.”
“Yeah, it’s nice when they’re not all trying to meddle and butt into your life.”
“I guess that’s fair enough.”
“There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for each other, though. Family or not. That’s the funny thing about love. It looks past all the faults, forgives easily, and has a way of changing people.”
Timberlynn stared at me for a moment or two before she sighed and looked out the window. “Well, some of us haven’t experienced that type of love, so…”
I took her hand in mine and kissed the back of it, breaking the intensity of the moment and causing us both to laugh.
“Okay, that must be bred into you guys!”
I winked. “Must be.”
Timberlynn Holden didn’t know it yet, but she was about to experience that type of love…and a hell of a lot of it.
Chapter Seventeen
TIMBERLYNN
Christmas Eve Dinner
Laughter.
It was something that was in abundance with the Shaw family. Even at a fancy country club filled with uptight, rich people, this family seemed to be at ease. Not one of them seemed to have a care in the world.