Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Doctor said it’s a good thing the gun was a twenty-two.” He runs his hand through his hair. “Missed all the organs, and she got shot in the side.” He moves to the side so Caleb can wheel me in.
“What happened?” I look at the two of them, who share a look. “You might as well tell me because I’m bound to find out. Someone got shot in my house. I’m sure there will be a police report out there somewhere.”
“She’s not going to let up,” my father concedes. “She’s tenacious.” He looks at Carl, who smiles sadly at me. My heart hurts for him, thinking I was dead all these years. I can’t even fathom what that would feel like.
“Fine.” Caleb fills me in on everything that was said while I was unconscious. My mother shakes her head side to side in shock.
“Where is he now?” I ask, my head reeling from everything that happened today.
“He’s being held at the local jail,” Caleb replies. “Carl broke his nose and busted his lip open, but it’s nothing that will cause him to stay in the hospital.”
“So they did all of this for money?” I ask, looking at Carl.
“It’s the root of all evil.” Fiona’s voice comes out hoarsely, and we all look at her.
“Fiona,” Carl calls, rushing to her side, “you’re okay.” He grabs her hand and tries not to disturb her. The tears just pour down his face. The way he looks at her, you can feel the way he loves her. “You’re okay,” he sobs quietly, taking her hand in his and kissing it. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m the one who should be sorry.” She tries to clear her throat, and I look up at Caleb, not wanting to ruin their special moment.
“I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t protect our child.” She tries to move her hand to wipe her tears, but it quickly falls down beside her hip. “I should have protected her.”
“I’m fine,” I interrupt softly. “I grew up with the best parents that I could ask for. They loved me unconditionally, and not once did I feel that I wasn’t theirs, not once.” I look at my mother, who puts her hand on my shoulder, and I put my hand on hers.
“But you were mine,” my mother says. “You were ours.”
“I’m still yours.” I try to steady my voice. “I’m here because of my parents”—I look at my mother and my father—“and because of you two. This is my story.” I look at them. “Our story is just beginning.” I look at Carl and Fiona. “That is if you’ll have me. Have us.”
“That’s the question we should be asking you,” Carl replies, then looks at Fiona. “Will you”—he swallows—“allow us to be a part of your life?”
“I never forgot you,” Fiona declares. “You were never forgotten. And I’m not about to forget about you now. I’ll take whatever it is you want to give us.” She looks at my mother. “Thank you for raising her when I couldn’t. For loving her with us.”
My mother lets go of my hand and walks over to the bed. “No, thank you two for creating the perfect child.” Fiona and my mother share a look. “Nothing I can give you can replace what you lost. But we can fill in the gaps.”
“I’d like that very much,” Fiona says, then she looks at Carl. “We would like that very much.”
I look over at Caleb, who comes to squat beside me. “Oh, by the way,” he mumbles, “I may have told them we were engaged.” I gasp. “I had to think of something. They wanted to know how we were related.”
“And you went with engaged?” I roll my eyes. “I better get a big ring.” I look over at Fiona and my mother. The two of them try not to laugh as Fiona closes her eyes. “It’s going to be okay,” I assure them between my own tears. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Two weeks later:
The knock at the door has both of us looking at each other. “Are you expecting anyone?” I ask Caleb as he walks to the front door.
“No,” he says over his shoulder before opening the door and seeing Theo standing there.
“Hey,” Caleb says, moving aside to give room for Theo to come in. “This is a surprise. I thought you were going to visit your parents this weekend.”
“Yeah,” he says and I can see that he’s going through something when he looks at me, then at Caleb, running his hand through his hair. “No.” He looks up. “Fuck, I don’t even know how to say this.”
“You’re scaring the shit out of me,” Caleb snaps at him and I stand here, my heart pounding in my chest thinking he’s in trouble. “Just say whatever it is.”
I don’t know what I’m expecting to hear, but from the shock and gasp out of Caleb’s mouth, it’s not what he’s expecting either. “I’m going to be a father.”