Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I’ve seen a lot of Eli soundbites,” he told me. “And he always looks just as annoyed as Dad does.”
“Well, once you’ve said something and then get asked over and over only to receive the same exact answer, one wonders why the first time wasn’t enough.”
“Yeah.”
“So,” I said innocently. “I understand that you and Finn went to his parents’ house and told them that things were serious and that you moved in together.”
He grunted. “Hannah’s a narc.”
“I think she thought that you would have told us that.”
“But you knew that already.”
“I did, but still, you could have told me you did that so I wasn’t blindsided by Finn’s mother wanting to have us over.”
“Oh no,” he groaned.
“Oh yes. As far as she knows, you two are engaged. She asked me if there would be a ring or not.”
“Good God.”
“I thought it was very sweet. She adores you, so that’s good.”
“And you’re crazy about Finn, aren’t you?”
“I am,” I assured him.
He cleared his throat. “Is Dad?”
“Is your dad what?”
“Crazy about him?”
“Really?”
“I can’t—does he like him at all?”
“Yes, dear, your father likes Finn very much.”
“How can you tell?”
“He doesn’t bark at him to take his shoes off in the house, but instead waits for him to do it himself. He listens when he talks, doesn’t mutter under his breath or roll his eyes, doesn’t forget his name or call him a different one, and most of all, he shared the last piece of key lime pie with him.”
“He did?” Kola gasped.
“Yeah. Last Sunday.”
“I must’ve missed—oh, that’s so good.”
“Yep. Your father, as a rule, never gives away any part of his dessert.”
“He’s always done it with Harper and Jake.”
“Yes, well, that’s to be expected. He’s very possessive of the two of them.”
“True.”
“He hasn’t shared anything with Wick yet, but I think that has more to do with how Harper’s father feels about him more than anything else.”
Kola sighed deeply, clearly happy to hear that his father liked Finn. “Wait,” he said after a moment. “Harper’s father doesn’t like Wick?”
I grimaced.
“Pa,” he groaned like he was in pain.
“Listen,” I said with a shrug, “I think the real issue is that Wick has said that he wants to work at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City over and over, and since Harper doesn’t plan to move, they’re worried that Wick will leave and that Harper will be absolutely gutted. They don’t want to get attached.”
“Well, I think that’s more Wick being Wick.”
“What does that mean?”
“He did his undergraduate work at Columbia and fell in love with the city, and you know how it is when you set your heart on something.”
“I do, so that’s why I didn’t argue with Harper’s folks when they said that they don’t want to treat Wick like a member of their family if he’s not going to stick.”
“I’m sure Harper feels that.”
“The thing is, though, isn’t Wick’s family here as well?”
“Yeah. They live in Lake Forest.”
“Well then, I have to wonder why Wick wants to leave.”
“Not everyone loves Chicago,” he teased me.
“Oh, I know that. But it’s not about Chicago, it’s about family.”
“Some people want to do more than travel, though,” he reminded me.
“Certainly,” I agreed. “And lots of people want to fly away, and maybe Wick is more bird than tree.”
He chuckled then. “I can hear you gettin’ worked up, but just keep it in mind that both Hannah and I are trees.”
“I am aware."
“So are Harper and Jake.”
“I know.”
“Even Rob and Gen are.”
Dane’s kids were the same as mine. Now, nobody wanted to live under the same roof as their parents. Dear God no. And it didn’t mean that they wouldn’t go places for a few years and then return. But what it did mean was that being on an opposite coast, long term, forever, was out of the question. In fact, only Kola had initially flown so far from home. “Which I’m sure thrills your aunt,” I told him.
We lapsed into yet another easy silence, and then he reached over and took hold of my hand.
At the next light, I turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry I was stupid and went to California for a bit. That was a bad decision.”
“As I said when you decided to come home, I never begrudged you flying away, I simply missed you.”
“Well, I’m glad you did, and I suspect that saved me where Melton Prep is concerned, so I’m thankful.”
I squinted at him before I saw the light change. “What’re you talking about?”
“Pa, have you not been watching the news?”
Scoffing, I glanced at him. “Uhm no, love. I give myself a half an hour in the morning and that’s it. Any more and I would be a basket case. I’m so worried about everything and everyone, I could potentially combust if I’m not vigilant.”
“I get it,” he said and then chuckled. “Did you hear Aunt Rachel tell Dad at dinner last Sunday that she’s choosing joy and isn’t going to think about politics?”