Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
But instead, Chloe’s surprised me. She knows what an Anglophile is, and also knows a bit about horse-racing, which is a somewhat esoteric sport. Not only that, but she’s articulate and intelligent, with a sweet smile and gentle manners.
“So do you live here alone, Mr. Jonsson?” she asks, tilting her head at me in the cutest way.
I laugh.
“I think you know the answer to that.”
She laughs too.
“You’re right, I do,” she readily admits. “Everyone knows everyone else’s business at St. George Crossing. We’re packed in like sardines, and nosy by nature too.”
“You can say that again.” But then I fix her with a look. “Do you live here alone, Miss Mackie? I don’t feel like I’ve ever seen you with a parental figure.”
She blushes.
“Oh that,” Chloe hems and haws. “Well…”
I raise a black brow in her direction as she sighs, her shoulders collapsing a bit.
“I used to live here with my parents,” she says. “But they left about two years ago. You only moved in recently, right?”
“Yup. Last year, around this time.”
Chloe nods and bites her lip, her eyes darting away for a moment.
“So you’ve never met Bertha and Tom. I mean, Bezimba and Trekko, because my parents changed their names. Basically, my parents became fervent devotees of a new religion, and they decided to make a pilgrimage to Neglati with their shaman. It’s strange. They’ve been gone for a while now, and I don’t know when I’m going to see them again.”
I stare at the beautiful woman.
“Neglati? Isn’t that on the other side of the world?”
Chloe nods.
“Yeah, it’s near Bangladesh, in the South Asia region. Bezimba and Trekko are having a good time, judging from their monthly phone calls. I still talk to them, of course, because I’m their daughter. I just think Bertha and Tom, I mean Bezimba and Trekko, have gotten carried away, that’s all.”
I whistle.
“You could say that again. They left their teenage daughter here, all alone?”
Chloe nods.
“Yeah. I mean, they send me money every month for expenses, and obviously left me the trailer to live in. I also work at the local McDonald’s. It’s not much of a job, but it’s not so bad. At least we get free fries,” she says with a halfway smile. “And free McFlurries too.”
I shake my head.
“Still, it’s insane that they ditched their daughter just like that. Do you have anyone looking after you? Were you able to finish school?”
She nods.
“Oh yeah. I graduated from St. George High last year, and with honors too. Of course, my parents didn’t make it to graduation. Bezimba and Trekko were on a meditative retreat in the far reaches of Neglati, so they couldn’t fly back in time. But it’s okay,” she says with a shrug. “I’ve been in St. George my whole life, so I had lots of friends cheering for me. Some of us have known each other since kindergarten, so it was like having family there.”
I shake my head.
“Still, friends aren’t family, even if they’re close. Your parents are definitely missing out. I’m sorry to hear that, Chloe.”
“Oh don’t be!” she says quickly. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
I shake my head.
“No, it’s a shame. When I was your age, I felt like my parents were looking over my shoulder non-stop, and it was annoying. But I now know that it was the right thing for parents to do. They wanted to make sure I didn’t get into trouble. Or impregnate any unsuspecting women,” I add in a rueful tone.
Chloe laughs, the melodic tone pealing through the air.
“You were impregnating women?”
“Well, I wanted to,” I say with a smirk. “Although seventeen-year-old me wasn’t too successful, I’ll admit. But yeah, my parents were on top of that shit. They didn’t want grand-babies until much later, although of course, it’s much later now, and I still haven’t given them grandchildren to fawn over.”
Chloe laughs.
“But you’re a guy! You can reproduce into old age. There’s no rush.”
I shoot a wry smile at the beautiful blonde.
“I agree. Biology doesn’t necessarily constrain men, at least not in the reproductive sense. But this is where scientists lead people astray because how many women really want to date a grizzled seventy-year-old dude? One with a huge gut and thinning hair?”
Chloe squeals with giggles.
“You don’t have a huge gut or thinning hair! And you’re not seventy either.”
I grin.
“I know, but I’m just saying. Guys put things off for a long time because we can, biologically speaking. But sociology plays a role in mating too, and I don’t think there are many pretty young things who want to hook-up with someone old enough to be their grandfather.”
Chloe merely laughs.
“You’re not anyone’s grandfather! You’re young and vigorous! I see you working out all the time.”
“I lift, yeah,” I acknowledge. “It’s important to build muscle and stay fit. Why, do you work out?”