Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Before you do that,” Blake cuts in, “how about we sit down and get you some water?” His smile fills my heart even bigger. “Maybe a snack.”
“I’ll get her some juice.” Samantha ushers me to the couch, basically pushing me into it. “Maybe we can get you some fruit?” I can see her own tears in her eyes. “Or do you want pizza? Maybe fried chicken or a burger? Whatever you want to eat, we’ll get it for you.” She looks at Theo. “Have you fed her recently?” She folds her arms over her chest, and her eyes go into slits. “I thought I raised you better than this.”
“Mom, you’re freaking my girl out.”
“She’s not freaking me out.” I glare at him, then turn to Samantha. “You are not freaking me out.”
“I’m not freaking her out.” Samantha puts her hand to her chest.
“I think we need a time-out.” Blake puts one hand up and then the other hand on top in a T. “We’ll get her something to drink.” He grabs Samantha’s hands. “You tell her it’s going to be okay,” he tells Theo, “and we’ll be back.”
I watch Blake drag Samantha to the kitchen. “You don’t have to tell them anything,” Theo says as he sits next to me. “No one has to know.”
“But then if they find out, it’ll be like I was hiding it from them, and I’m not going to be that person who lies.”
“It has nothing to do with you.” He’s just trying to make me feel better.
“It has everything to do with me.” I don’t say another word because they come back with a glass of water for me. “Thank you.” I smile at her, accepting the glass. Theo wraps an arm around my back, pulling me to him.
“We’re going to have to get this moving,” Theo whispers to me. “I want everyone out since we just got back together.”
“Got back together?” Samantha gasps. “You broke up with her?” He ignores her and looks at me, waiting for me to take the lead.
“I sort of broke up with him.” I don’t want them to be mad at him at all.
Samantha sits down, and Blake follows to sit beside her. His arm goes around her shoulders, holding on to her arm. “It’s—” I start nervously. Theo’s reassuring look calms me. “It’s my parents. They’re not the nicest people. They are definitely not good parents, and I’m going to be nothing like them.” He reaches over with his free hand to grab mine and brings it to his lips. “They’ve done horrible things, but someone told me recently that what they did has nothing to do with me.”
I fill them in on everything my parents have done. I know if they are in town long enough, they are going to hear the whole thing anyway. Might as well get it over with now, and hope for the best.
When I finish, I take in a deep breath, surprised that I’m not a blubbering mess.
“You aren’t responsible for what other people do or don’t do,” Samantha states. “You are responsible for what you do and only for what you do. I’ve learned that the hard way. But someone held my hand while I did it.” She puts her hand on Blake’s knee. “I know that it’s not the same thing, but we’re here for anything that you need. We are going to love you and our grandchild no matter what.” I think I’ve stopped breathing. “Now, how about we go into town and have lunch?”
“Um,” I start, “I really shouldn’t. I called into work sick today, and I don’t want them to think I was faking.”
“Of course you wouldn’t be faking,” Samantha comforts.
“I suggested that I’d go pick up lunch and we could eat here,” Theo interjects.
“Perfect, and then we can go through all the things we bought for the baby,” she says with glee.
“All the things you bought for the baby?” I ask, not sure what she means.
“I know it’s still early and all that, but I couldn’t help it. It’s just a couple of things. Some pj’s, socks, and a blanket. I got everything in neutral colors like white, yellow, green, and some beige.”
“A couple of things?” Blake says. “The whole trunk is full.”
I gasp at the same time as Samantha, but for different reasons. “It’s a surprise!” she scolds Blake, who shrugs. She turns to me. “We’re leaving before he tells you more. We’ll go get some food.”
“That’s perfect,” Theo replies. “You do that and take your time.”
“Theo,” I hiss as I stand up. All he does is smile and kiss me.
“We’ll be back,” Blake replies, “and we’ll take our time.”
“You don’t have to,” I shout after them.
“All the time you can,” Theo calls over me. “Go visit Sierra and Caleb.”
The sound of them laughing trails off until the front door closes.