Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Oh my gosh, the teepee!”
“That was my idea,” James said. “I saw it in a magazine and thought it was cute.”
Gavin and I both turned to gape at James. Before I could say anything, Gavin said, “You bought it in blue, didn’t you?”
James blushed. “I did. When I found out you were having a girl, I ordered a pink one.”
“Did you send the blue one back?” Aurora asked.
James shrugged. “No. I kept it.”
My mouth twitched, and it took everything I had not to laugh.
“Aww, are you going to play inside the teepee, bro?”
“Fuck you, Gavin.”
“The baby, James!” I chided and placed my hands to either side of my stomach.
Everyone looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
James rolled his eyes. “I hardly think the baby understands what I’m saying, Brystol.”
I laughed, then looked around the room and smiled. “This really does look beautiful, you guys.” Walking over to Aurora, I pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you. You did a fantastic job.”
She kissed me on the cheek. “It was fun to do. I haven’t painted like this in a long time.”
“You’re really good at it,” James said. “You should do this for a living.”
“Then who would run the bookstore?”
“Your sister and aunt?”
Aurora laughed. “Hardly.”
Gavin and James went to the teepee to see if they would fit. I hooked my arm with Aurora’s and led her down to the living room.
“Any news on how Liam’s doing? Have you seen him and Winnie?” I asked.
Aurora let out a long sigh. “Not in the last few weeks. Nathan said Liam’s doing the best he can. He said he sometimes feels like Liam’s living in a bubble, not accepting that Hope is gone.”
I shook my head. “Oh my gosh. That’s terrible.”
She nodded. “I know. Nathan says he’s been staying at the house to help Liam and also taking care of things at The Muddled Moose.”
“Is there anything we can do?” I asked.
Aurora shrugged. “Pray for them. Liam stopped the meal train. Nathan said he was hardly eating any of the food.”
“I’m so sorry. We should probably stop by. I just don’t know if it’s a good time or not.”
She gave me a sad smile.
“What about Aunt Judith? Is she doing anything to help?”
A look of fury transformed Aurora’s face. “She’s in Italy.”
Shocked, I asked, “What do you mean, she’s in Italy?”
“According to Nathan, Liam totally lost it with his mother. Said he no longer wanted to see her—ever. That was right before Christmas, I believe. Around the time they got the news about Hope’s prognosis. I guess she only just recently moved to Italy.”
“I can’t believe Mom didn’t tell me her sister moved to freakin’ Italy!”
Aurora shrugged. “Maybe with everything you’ve had going on…or who knows? Maybe she doesn’t even know yet. I don’t think it’s even been two weeks since she left.”
“Maybe, but you would think she’d have told my mother she was leaving the country.”
Gavin and James came walking into the living room, laughing.
“Did you both fit?” I asked.
“Not even close,” Gavin said with a laugh.
Aurora glanced at her watch, then snapped her head up. “Um, we need to leave.”
“We?” I asked.
“Yes, James and I need to leave.”
“We do?” James squinted at her, clearly confused.
“Yes,” she hissed back. “We have things to do, James.”
As if a light bulb went off in his head, he said, “Shit. Yeah. We have things to do. Gotta go!”
He quickly made his way over, kissed me, then bent down and said, “Bye, Lily! Be a good girl for Mommy!”
Aurora grabbed her jacket and purse. “Glad you like the nursery!”
“Wait, you’re both just leaving?” I asked.
James put his coat on and opened the door. “Got things to do, Brystol. Things to do!”
And just like that, they were gone.
Frowning at Gavin, I asked, “What in the world was that about?”
He seemed just as confused and shrugged. “I guess they had things to do.”
I laughed. “You don’t think they’re…”
“James and Aurora? No. Not at all. They’re like oil and water.”
“Why did they bolt out of here so quickly then?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? All I know is, our reservations are soon. I’m dying to try that new Italian restaurant.”
My hand went to my stomach when Lily kicked. I laughed, grabbed Gavin’s hand, and put it on my belly. “I think Lily is too.”
He winked. “Then let’s go feed my girls.”
The new Italian restaurant in Moose Village was just outside town and overlooked Moose Lake. A local resident named Toni Rossi, born and raised in Moose Village, had left town to go to culinary school after graduating. He lived in Italy for several years, then moved back to town and opened the restaurant. His mother and father were both retired, but they helped at the restaurant as well.
“Have you ever met Toni?” I asked. “I’ve met his mom and dad several times, Toni Senior and Tina. I always thought their names were cute. Toni and Tina. I don’t remember their son, though. They would come in to buy gifts for their granddaughter. I’m guessing that’s Toni’s daughter?”