Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
The door slams shut. “What a shit ending to an incredible night. Can you believe her?” I stomp my way upstairs with Kane hot on my heels. “Comin’ here at this time to ask about money. Thinks she was any kind of mother.” It’s almost laughable.
“She’ll be back,” Kane points out and I know he’s right. “She’ll probably contest the will too.”
“I doubt it. She knows she won’t win. Too many witnesses in this town that would love to speak up against the bitch.”
He sighs heavily and then yawns. When I climb into bed, he clears his throat, pulling my eyes his way. “Get naked.”
“I can’t be bothered to m—” With a strong yank, he pulls his boxers down my thighs and tosses them on the floor behind him. “Well okay then.”
“Sit up, arms up.”
I like it when he’s bossy.
With a grin, I do as I’m told, and he yanks his T-shirt off me too. Then he climbs in beside me naked as the day he was born. Just like the past week and just like when we were teens, he rolls onto my back, traps my thigh under his and soon after his breathing evens out. I thought I’d have trouble sleeping what with all the “excitement”, but I fall to sleep faster than a baby on a tit.
Approximately 3 days later
I have to leave today. It’s been an amazing few days catching up with old friends and walking around town. The patch is still used as a teenage convivial lot. But for all the joy I’ve had, I don’t see myself moving back here. It’s just too painful and I know Kane wants to come back eventually so I’m wondering now where we go from here.
I have clients in tomorrow and a life to get back to. A shit life but a life none-the-less.
My mother, and I use that word in the biological sense, has been working together with Felicia to get Mee-maw’s belongings sorted. I don’t want to step foot in that house again and I’m grateful that I have somebody I can rely on to oversee that shit.
I told my mom I’m putting it on the market and that I already have a realtor coming to take pictures. Of course, she sobbed and begged me to let her have it. Fat chance. That house is going to a family with no ties to it. I’m hoping the love of a good and happy family can erase the hatred that festers in that place.
I’m both surprised and unsurprised when Mom shows up at Kane’s again while I’m dragging my luggage towards the open trunk of my car. Kane is coming too, a box in his arms, to keep me company on the drive back and also because Webber would like to talk to us both about some new possible leads. I told Kane not to get his hopes up, if Webber had anything solid, he’d have told us over the phone.
“What do you want?” I ask her as Kane nudges me to the side and shoves a box right to the back of the empty space.
“I have a proposition for you,” Mom declares, raising her chin.
We both stop loading the car and turn to face her.
“You’re kidding?” I say around a laugh. “What could you possibly have that I could even want from you?”
“For the house, I’ll tell you what I know about your kid.”
My spine straightens faster than a flash of lightning can cut through the sky. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I know how you can find out where she is.”
My heart starts pounding in my ears as I stare at the woman who looks just like me but has no fucking soul. “You know where my child is?”
“Not exactly, but I know how you can find her.”
“Her?” Kane demands, stepping forward. “She’s a girl?”
“Yes,” Mom answers bravely. “But if you want to know where she is, you’ve got to give me the house.”
My palms start sweating as a familiar red haze comes down over my eyes. “You evil, manipulative bitch.”
“I’m just looking after my own skin.”
I glower at her, hands balling into fists, anger leveling at boiling point. “Mom, my daughter’s whereabouts is still an open case. If I call Agent Webber right now, he will arrest your skanky ass for lying to him all those years ago.”
“I didn’t know how to find her years ago!” she argues, stepping back when I step forward. “I only just found out.”
“She’s lying,” Kane snaps but I’m not so sure and neither is he by the cautious tone to his voice.
“Look, if we get it in writing and you give me the house I will tell you what I know.” Mom raises her hands when I take another step towards her. Kane grabs the back of my shirt, stopping me in my tracks.