Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
I plan to tell her I’m wealthier than I’ve admitted soon. After I propose with a modest three-quarter carat engagement ring. I know Hannah loves me for me, but I need to plan a life with her that’s centered on us, not my money.
I chose to become an accountant and live in the same type of apartment other people in my pay grade would have. Some of my friends know my parents are wealthy, but they also know I’m a guy who loves bar pizza, watching football, and playing in a basketball league.
“Okay.” Hannah takes a deep breath, her exhale forming a cloud in the chilly October air. “Aldous and Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher.”
I kiss her forehead. “They’ll tell you to call them Aldous and Kate, babe. It’s going to be fine, I promise.”
We walk toward the plane stairs. Taking the plane to meet my parents for the first time at a ritzy downtown New York City steak house wasn’t my original plan. They were going to come here this weekend and Hannah and I were cooking at my place. Our place, really. But Dad had a big work thing come up and my mom wouldn’t accept rescheduling for another weekend as an option.
Mom cried when I told her I’d met someone. When I told her Hannah’s a teacher with a master’s degree in special education who runs and volunteers at a homeless shelter, she cried even harder.
My parents were adamant that I not end up with a fortune hunter or celebrity chaser. Hannah said last weekend that she won’t even consider an engagement without a prenuptial agreement in place that stipulates neither of us gets anything from the other if things don’t work out, no matter how long the marriage lasts.
There won’t be a prenup, but I’m not approaching that conversation until later. Everything that’s mine is already hers in my heart, anyway. I miss her hearty laugh when we’re apart, even for the workday. I love that she tries so hard to cook for me, but just isn’t great at it. Hell, I even took up running to spend more time with her, and I hate running.
I met the one ten months ago in a sports bar decked out in fake garland and twinkling holiday lights. And when I knew, damn, did I know.
As a mom of two sons, my mother always told me and my brother Deacon to choose our life partners wisely, because they would become her daughters.
Deac is gay, and his husband Alex is one of our mom’s favorite people. But Deac and Alex don’t want kids, and I can see the sparkle of hope in my mom’s eyes as she gets to know her future daughter-in-law over dinner.
“We had something like that at my grade school,” Mom says to Hannah across the dimly lit table. “I don’t know if I got more excited over the school store or the book fair.”
Hannah smiles, putting her hand over her glass when I move to pour more wine into it. I set the bottle back down. She doesn’t drink much alcohol, but she also said a little extra wine tonight might help ease her nerves.
Not that she needs it. I can tell my parents love her.
“Book fairs were the best,” Hannah gushes. “My school is fortunate to have a grant from a private company that allows us to use vouchers for our book fairs, so students who don’t have money from home still get to purchase books. Whether your parents send money or not, everyone gets the same vouchers.”
Mom gives Dad a meaningful look and says, “I love that.”
Dad pulls her a little closer, his arm behind her, and grins. “I’ll ask Trinity to look into it.”
I don’t want Hannah to be confused, so I say, “Mom’s going to steal the idea and do it, too.”
Hannah’s eyes widen and she turns to my mom. “Really?”
“Absolutely. We’re big supporters of literacy programs. I love the idea of the kids getting to choose their own books.”
Dad meets the gaze of a server clearing away our dishes and thanks him, picking up plates to pass to him.
“We can cut out the middleman and run it ourselves, though,” he says, the wheels inside his head in motion as always. “If we buy the books at cost and hire our own people, we can make the money go a lot further.”
“Oh!” Mom’s face lights up. “What about a mobile book fair? We get a huge bus and have it remodeled and it goes from school to school. The kids could each get vouchers so they could learn about money management and budgeting.”
Hannah turns to me, dropping her jaw as she squeezes my hand under the table. I can tell she’s about to burst with happiness.
I grin at her. “I went to book fairs for the cool posters and erasers.”