Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
We continued passing the pad back and forth as she told me a far sadder story than the one I’d told her on the way into town. While mine had been ninety-nine percent fairy tale, her body language, the sudden lack of illustrations, and the occasional blurred word on the sheet caused by a fallen tear told me hers was the cold, hard truth.
“I’m so sorry, Livvy.” When she sat back and started to rub her fingers that had gripped the pencils so tightly, I reached over and when she laid her hand in mine, I took over that task, massaging her fingers gently. “Your ex sounds like a jackass, but to tell the truth, I’m rather glad to hear he was.” At her shocked look, I chuckled. “Only because his loss is my gain.” Fearing she might not agree despite what she’d written about how he’d treated her, I lifted her palm to my mouth and kissed it before continuing. “As for your father? The man doesn’t deserve that role. To rob you of your grandmother, especially after you lost your mom is unforgivable. But for him to lie and tell you your grandmother passed years ago and deny you the choice to visit once you’d grown was just plain evil. Pixie, you’ve deserved all the best your entire life and have been denied so much and still, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. I know it doesn’t help, but I hope you know how very much Grammie O and Granpops loved you.”
Tears slid down her cheeks but these weren’t ones of physical pain. These were broken-hearted tears of a girl who first lost her grandfather, then her mother, and finally the woman who she’d loved beyond all others, Grammie O, and each tear ripped at my heart.
“Oh, pixie,” I said, and did the only thing I could. I slid out of my side of the booth and without asking, lifted her into my arms and slipped into the booth on her side. When she buried her face in my shirt, I slid into the corner and laid my legs out along the bench so she’d have them to keep her legs supported. Only then did I wrap my arms tighter around her and bend to kiss the top of her head.
“Cry it out, honey. I’ve got you.” And I did. It was at that moment that I knew the only way anyone would ever hurt this woman again would be after they climbed over my cold dead body.
I had no real idea of how long we sat there nor did I honestly care. Her tears had slowed and when hiccups had her wincing with each muscle contraction, I slid a hand to cup her neck in my palm. I softly massaged the tightened muscles with the pad of my thumb. “Shhh, you’re safe.” The thought of moving was a fleet one as she sighed deeply and snuggled closer. Within minutes, I knew she was sleeping because her entire body melted into me.
The bell tinkled above the door as people came and went, but except for a few glances and soft smiles, not a soul bothered us. They either enjoyed their cones while seated at nearby tables or took their pints of ice cream to go as ours melted into an abstract puddle of ivory, brown and pink in its silver boat.
When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I moved slowly so as not to disturb Livvy and pulled it free only to have it stop buzzing. Still, I could see that it had been Luther. My finger hovered over the screen to answer the message I knew would be appearing.
Luther:
WTH? I called Frank to add some meds for the calves, but he said you were at the ER? Said there’d been an accident!
Me:
Relax. Not me.
Luther:
Who?
I had no desire to sit and tap out the story using one finger in order not to wake Livvy. Instead, I gave him the CliffsNotes version.
Me:
Livvy.
Luther:
Livvy? Our Liv?
Me:
Y/N
Luther:
?
Me:
MY Liv!!!
Luther:
Well, well, well, what do you know. Is she all right?
Me:
Fine. Sleeping.
Luther:
Do you need me to come to the hospital?
Me:
No. I got this.
His response was immediate and had me pulling one of a Little’s favorite tricks and rolling my eyes at a smiley-face emoji—the one with hearts where its eyes were supposed to be. Still, it also made me grin.
Chapter Ten
Livvy
While I was very relieved when Lincoln had assured me the only thing my car had murdered was his fence, I felt like I’d been the one run over by every single four-legged Disney character–who then reversed direction in order to run over me again. There wasn’t a muscle in my body that didn’t ache and my head and ankle were throbbing like they were in competition to win the regional high school drum-line trophy. Oh, and go ahead and throw in the fact that I was burning up.