Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Mom, he hurt you.”
“Yes, that was part of our path as well. I know you don’t understand now, but sometimes people hurt each other in the worst of ways only to come back stronger.”
There’s something in the fucking water in this place. Am I the only sane one here? If so, this whole island is fucked. “Mom, why are you talking like that?”
“Because it’s true. Why do you think I never got married or even so much as dated again? Because there are some loves that just cannot die.”
“Mom, you’re freaking me out. Have you been drinking?” She giggled. Mom does not giggle.
“Of course not silly. I’ve just had lots of time over the years to think and put things into perspective. After you were born, I went a bit batty. I hated your father with a passion; don’t ask me why. Of course, I now know I was suffering from PPD, but back then, who had time for that mess?”
“Anyway, your father and I had a dead bedroom for about five years, and he just fell for the first hussy that spread her legs after one of our fights. It took me years to accept my fault in the whole thing, plus the fact that that woman was awful to me back then didn’t help.”
“I have or had a lot of guilt over my part in the whole thing. I always thought Till Death Do Us Part stood for just that, but I forgot that your father is human, and he had needs. When he told me about the affair, I just about died, and maybe we would’ve gotten back together, but then Helen threatened his job because she worked for him at the time, and that would’ve been a whole mess.”
“What do you mean threatened his job? Why am I only now hearing about all this?”
“Because you were too young back then. Your brothers only just learned about all this recently as well. But, as to her threatening his job. He wanted to come home, but she got a lawyer and was going to sue him and take everything. She even threatened you kids, especially you.”
“Oh?” Now, I really can’t wait to watch the videos of their home security when I get back to the hotel.
“Enough about that now; we’re talking about you and your young man. What do you think? I can say one thing: he’s worlds above Denny. If I ever see that person, I’m going to knock his bloody lights out.”
Not the southern belle, say it ain’t so. Then again, maybe now I know where I got my brand of crazy because I’m pretty sure she’s nuts, too.
GARRETT
I’m pleased that her family showed up here. I was testing their mettle, whether they realized it or not. Some people would’ve seen my bottom line and not given a second thought to their sister or daughter as long as that much money was involved. They might even have tried talking her into giving in to me.
But the Archers were not like that. Their response was meant to show me one thing: what kind of people they were and where she stood in their lives. I knew all I needed to know about her, so there was no need to test her the same way.
She’s diabolical as fuck, which is just fine by me. You need to be that way sometimes with the world we live in. Her brothers didn’t care one wit about my money; their only interest was in their sister’s wellbeing.
“Alright, what the hell is it you want with my sister?”
“Brian, right?”
“How did you…”
“It doesn’t matter how I know, but to your question, I’m going to marry her this weekend in fact. Didn’t you come here for a wedding?”
They looked around at each other before turning back to me. “Did she say she wanted to do that?”
“We were just discussing that very thing when you showed up. That was good detective work, by the way, finding this place.”
“Yeah, well, you left enough breadcrumbs for us to follow.”
“We don’t understand how this all came about, though; there was nothing about that in your dossier, only that you met at a business meeting a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, that’s when I met and fell in love with her.”
“Wait, what? In love?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t know that, and you’re not to tell her.”
“Why?”
“Because your sister is complicated. She has…. trauma.” I looked at the Dad when I said that.
“If I pressure her right now or come on too strong, it’ll just push her away because of the fears in her heart. She’s fooled all of you over the years that she’s fine, but she hasn’t been fine since she was eight years old.”
“What are you saying? Do you think you know her better than us?”
“Not now, Trey. Carry on.” Brian interrupted.