Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“You and I have some talking to do, boy,” he says.
Levi holds up his hand in front of him. “I know. I didn’t ask you in person about marrying her, but I swear there was no time. I had it in my head that I would ask her later on today, but when I woke up this morning I knew I wouldn’t be able to sit with the ring in my pocket all day. That’s why I called instead.”
“You should have asked me in person,” Aiden says, looking disappointed.
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Levi runs his good hand through his hair. “You’re right. I should have asked you in person.”
Aiden looks at me, and I shift in my chair.
“If you’re planning on asking Mac to marry you, you better heed my warning. Come ask me in person. I better not get a phone call from you at one in the morning,” he says, looking back at Levi. “I wasn’t happy about that call. When you guys have daughters, you’ll understand how important it is.”
I make a mental note to tell him about my intent to propose to Mac in advance.
“I’ll remember that,” I say.
He grunts, glaring at Levi once more. Then he smiles at the girls as they come back into the dining room carrying pies and plates.
“Is everything okay?” Mac whispers as she takes her seat next to me.
“Everything is fine,” I assure her as her eyes take in the empty chairs across the table.
“What happened to your mom and Miss Ina?”
“They went out to smoke.”
“Miss Ina smokes?” Libby asks as she takes her seat once more.
“No, but she wanted my mom to blow the smoke in her face for old time’s sake,” I say.
She shakes her head. “That lady is crazy.”
“I heard that, girl,” Miss Ina says as she comes back into the room followed by my mom.
Libby rolls her eyes. “Good,” she mutters under her breath.
“I also heard that.”
“I think Lib just found a new best friend,” Mac whispers.
I laugh as Libby grouches something else under her breath that I can’t make out.
Taking a bite of pie, I sit back and enjoy the quiet hum of conversation and laughter.
When it’s time to go, I wish I didn’t have to.
“Well, today was fun,” Mom says as the town car pulls to a stop outside my apartment to let her and Peter off. Since Libby decided to stay out on Long Island with her parents, she suggested Mac take her bed and I take Mackenzie’s so I won’t have to sleep on the couch again at my place. I’ve learned the hard way over the last few days that it’s less comfortable than I thought it was when I purchased it after moving here. I would much rather sleep in my bed with Mac, but I’ll take what I can get.
“It was fun.” Mac gets out to hug my mom on the sidewalk. “We will be back in the morning for breakfast.”
“Sure thing.” Mom kisses her cheek, then gives me a hug and a kiss.
Peter gives Mac a hug.
Watching them head toward my apartment and disappear down the steps, I wait until I see a beam of light appear inside, then disappear behind them as the door closes. I get back into the car with Mac.
“You two better not keep me up all night, banging around,” Miss Ina blurts into the quiet of the car. I fight back a laugh. I almost forgot that the old woman was still with us.
“Miss Ina, we’re only going to sleep. You don’t need to worry about us disturbing your slumber.”
Mac sighs, so I give her knee a squeeze.
“Good. This world is going to hell in a handbag,” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest as she looks out the window.
“Maybe we should find you a boyfriend, Miss Ina,” Mackenzie suggests, pulling out her phone. “They have a dating app for older people.”
“Have you lost your mind, child? Does it look like I would ever need to find male companionship with the help of a telephone?” She crosses her arms over her chest again.
“Put like that, I guess not!” Mackenzie laughs.
“The day the portable phone was invented, the human IQ must have dropped ten points,” Miss Ina mutters.
“Hey, that’s not very nice.”
“No, it’s not nice. But it’s the truth,” she replies as the car pulls to a stop in front of Mackenzie’s building.
“Whatever . . . ,” Mackenzie grumbles back.
Shaking my head at the two of them, I open the door. I get out, then help both women out of the backseat. I take Miss Ina’s arm and help her up the steps to the front door. She refused to bring her walker with her today. Even though she’s been getting around pretty well, I did notice that later on in the evening she started favoring her right leg more than her left—showing that she’s in pain, even if she would never admit it. Once we’re inside the house, Mackenzie takes over helping the older woman. I open the door to Miss Ina’s apartment and let both women in.