Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Harper’s folks were thrilled with his decision, because now they won’t worry as much either. His mother told me that she knows that the three of them will take care of one another, and she couldn’t be happier. The added bonus is, with Jake’s mother in California, even far away, they’ll be covered with a parent.”
“That’s true,” I agreed. “Linda would most definitely step up.”
“So yeah,” he said. Now that I was done, he grabbed a towel, and when I turned to him, patted my face dry. “The boys will be far away, but they’ll be together, and your daughter, I’m sure, will be home on the weekends to do her laundry.” He chuckled. “And eat.”
“Okay,” I choked out, leaning into him, wrapping my arms around his waist, pressing my face to his chest.
“Hey, excuse me,” he teased. “Don’t get snot all over my T-shirt.”
I chuckled and hugged him tight.
Hannah was updating photo albums when I came downstairs. She would make stacks and then do them all at one time. She had prom pictures of her and Jake to add, some of Kola and Harper hiking, and of all of us in New Orleans.
“Oh, you and Jake make a beautiful couple,” I told her, looking at the photo of them. She had chosen dark blue for both of them, and the color complemented their complexions and hair color. They looked amazing.
“I know,” she teased me, leaning sideways and bumping me with her shoulder. “It’s too bad we drive each other bananas.”
“Yes, well, you’re both young. I’m not giving up on you and Jake quite yet.”
“Which is good, because he made me promise to FaceTime with him at least once a week.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“You’re such a romantic,” she said, like I was ridiculous.
“Well, of course I am.”
“So I was thinking that we would have a going-away party for Kola, Jake, and Harper. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a great idea,” I told her. “When are you thinking?”
“One of the Saturdays, like the ninth or sixteenth.”
“Fine, whichever one, you pick.”
It ended up being the ninth, because everyone was gearing up to leave and pack and spend time with family, and many were taking trips. I’d asked Kola if he wanted to go on a trip anywhere, but all he wanted to do was stay home and soak everything up.
“You won’t change my room, will you?”
“No, love,” I promised him. “It won’t ever change.”
“That’s good,” he said and walked to the kitchen to get something to drink. What was interesting was that he came right back and hugged me, really tight.
“Are you all right?” I asked as I hugged him back.
“I just…you know…need things to stay the same.”
“Me too,” I assured him.
It turned out that the party was on the same night that Sam and I were having dinner and cocktails at Dane and Aja’s home. It was funny that their kids were at my house while we were there in the penthouse. As a rule, Sam didn’t love cocktail parties and buffet dinners, but because it was Dane, who he’d grown to respect and like, and Aja, who he adored, he made an effort. My sister-in-law was a smart cookie too. The second we stepped through their front door, she was on him, arm through his, keeping him with her, getting him liquored up and making sure he was his civil, if not charming, self.
I always went to see Dane, who was normally holding court in his living room, which overlooked Lake Michigan. People who were seeing it for the first time were always stunned by the view.
His friends were there, people he’d known many years, and I was looking at his best friend, Jude, trying to remember the name of his current girlfriend. It was hard to keep track.
“I think it's Jennifer,” Aaron whispered when he joined me, passing over the old-fashioned I’d asked him for earlier. "And it's spelled weird, with an A. Like Jenn-a-far. Like far away.”
“Thank you for this,” I said, smiling at him. “But are you sure? I thought she was gone and now it was Sherry? No. Shelly?”
“Oh that's right,” he agreed with me as we both waved over at Dane and Jude. “And it's Sharon, by the way.”
“Sharon," I repeated. "That's right. Sharon. God, I hope I remember that.”
“Or is it Shelly?" He was thinking out loud. "Now I'm confused.”
“At least he doesn't marry them like whatshisname, the plastic surgeon. Why can't I ever think of that man's––”
“Reggie? I feel like it's an R name. Perhaps Randy?”
“Roger? Rufus?”
“Rufus?” The look I got could not have been any more patronizing.
“What?”
“How many men named Rufus have you met in your life?”
“Fine, but my question is still valid. Why do people get married multiple times?”
“I have no idea. But you know, some people are quite fond of the pageantry of it all.”