Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Something that doesn’t just pay the bills, but something that makes me—at the very core of my being—happy.
That’s performing.
Going on this tour with Jesse and the band is just what I need. Maybe it’s a good thing that Brock and I are separated for a few days.
Everything happened between us so quickly. It was like a lightning flash or a volcano erupting.
I love him. I’m sure of that, but how much of our need for each other is brought about by the situations we both find ourselves in?
Separation will be good.
We’ll be able to see what’s truly important between us.
I pack my bag quickly, and then I realize I’m going to have to call Dave again to have him watch the dogs.
Until—
Callie comes strolling into the room. “Hey.”
I look up. “Callie, what are you doing here?”
“Donny and I decided to come home.”
“I know that.”
“I mean, we’re going to stay here. Take care of the house while Mom is gone. Make sure the dogs are taken care of.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” I give my sister a quick hug. “I was just about to call Dave.”
“Why?”
“I decided to go on tour with Jesse and the band. I’ll be gone for almost a week.”
Callie raises her eyebrows. “Rory? Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
She clears her throat. “I mean… You and Brock…”
“Brock and I are fine. He’s going to be in Wyoming for a few days with his dad, as you probably know, and I… Well, I just want to focus on something else for a few days. Get onstage and leave my troubles behind.”
“I hear that one.”
“You and Donny should come to one of our performances.”
“I’d love it. Send us the schedule.”
“Will do. I’m sending it to Brock too. I’m hoping he’ll be able to make one of the shows once he and Joe are done.”
“Maybe Donny and I can come to the same one.”
“That would be a lot of fun.”
“Man, I wish I could escape with you.”
“Maybe you can.”
“Are you kidding me? I actually have a workload now, since Donny’s the only city attorney. I love the work, and I don’t know what Donny’s going to do when I start law school on the first of the year.”
“He’ll probably hire another city attorney.”
“Except he doesn’t want to. He wants to save that position for me.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Truthfully?” Callie shrugs. “I don’t know. I think I might want to hang out a shingle and start my own practice.”
“You have to do what you want, Callie. There are plenty of other lawyers Donny can hire to work for the city.”
“I know, but I feel bad. This isn’t the life Donny envisioned for himself. He was on a partnership track in downtown Denver, and he came back here at his mother’s request.”
“Well, then… Maybe the two of you can open a firm.”
“In Snow Creek? We wouldn’t have enough business.”
“Not in Snow Creek, Callie. In Grand Junction maybe. Or even in Denver.”
“Except…Donny won’t. You know how close he and Jade are. He’ll stay here, as the Snow Creek city attorney. He’ll do it for his mother because he promised her.”
“Even if it doesn’t make him happy?”
“It makes him happy to make her happy.” Callie sighs. “But he’s not challenged, Rory. He tells me all the time. And then he wants me to come work with him as the assistant city attorney, and then I say to him, ‘Why? So we can both be bored?’”
“What does he say to that?”
“Usually nothing. And then he finally says that all he wants is the best for both of us.”
“I think you’re marrying a mama’s boy, Cal.”
Callie chuckles. “I always knew that.”
“Tell him to hire someone,” I say. “Be honest with him and tell him that you don’t want to be a city attorney.”
“I will. It’s just that with everything else going on, I don’t want to throw a wrench into his plans right now.”
“I understand.”
“So what do you think… You said you might be moving in with Brock?”
“Yeah, I will be. Sometime after the tour, probably. Brock may want to wait until more of his family issues are resolved.”
“I doubt that.”
“I just don’t know. We haven’t had a moment in the past couple of days to sit and talk together.”
Callie nods. “I know. Donny and I feel the same way. At least we work together and can talk at lunch.”
“I’m glad you haven’t quite finished moving in with him. I’m glad you’ll be staying here while Mom is gone.”
“Me too. It was actually Donny’s idea. He knew it would be a load off Mom’s mind.”
“You know?” I say. “The Steel boys are just damned good men.”
Callie smiles. “They are.”
CHAPTER TEN
BROCK
Brittany shoves her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “I shouldn’t have told you about the atropine.”
“You haven’t told me anything about the atropine.”
“Haven’t I?” She shakes her head. “I swear I’m keeping so many secrets that I feel like I’m ready to burst.”