Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I told him that until things get back to normal—when they do—he can start up his speaking schedule again.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I agreed.
“So explain what that was, please,” he prodded me.
“That guy there, the one standing next to the girl who looks as stunned as he does—he thought that he and Kola were dating.”
“How?” George asked between bites.
“I suspect that Kola and he have had meals together. Kola has been thoughtful, because that’s how he is, attentive, because again, he’s that way, and Cody—that’s his name—got the impression that they were more than what they are.”
“They’re friends, aren’t they?”
“Yes, but I think when you meet someone as genuine and giving as Kola, it’s different from the way a lot of people are, so you think it’s more than it is.”
George went back to eating, and I was struck, as I always was, by how when he was quiet, there was a real aura of danger that clung to him. Sam was a big, strong, powerful man, and he could be menacing when provoked. But simply sitting, people didn’t look at him and think not only that he could hurt them, but that he would. With George, it seemed not only possible, but likely. Finn wasn’t like that. I didn’t see someone lethal when I looked at the love of my son’s life.
But of course, the fear dissipated instantly when Hannah took a seat beside him, close, all up in his space, and thanked him for the delivery of both her strand of pearls and the champagne.
“Can you give me some room?” he snapped, but made no effort to move away from her.
“Don’t fuss, just say you’re welcome.”
Dylan, Aja, and I all smiled at him as he muttered the words under his breath. He wasn’t scary, even a little, when he allowed her to bump her head down on his shoulder and close her eyes.
Of course, a moment later, a young man came up the stairs, smiling, clearly looking for Hannah, acknowledging all of us with a tip of his head before slipping around the table, mouth opening to speak.
George’s dark midnight-blue eyes lifted slowly, and as he stared, coldly, without blinking, I watched the poor kid turn absolutely ashen, spin around, and bolt for the stairs.
“Oh,” Hannah said, opening her eyes. “I have the food and supply fundraiser at the Knickerbocker on Monday. Are you coming with me or––”
“I’m coming. That’s too many people in a crowded ballroom with you for anyone else to go.”
She smiled at him.
“Excellent lasagna, Mr. Harcourt,” he told me. “Always a pleasure to have a meal here.”
“Thank you, George.” I smiled at him as Jake brought Hannah another flute of champagne.
She thanked him, and the moment he sat down, she moved from leaning against George to leaning against him. When I caught his gaze and grinned, he finally nodded.
“So basically, you announced Kola and Finn’s engagement, and by doing so, made Kola’s status clear for anyone who was unsure?” George asked Hannah.
“Correct.”
“Kola couldn’t do that himself?”
“Kola would be confused that he would have to. He’d be shocked if you asked him if Cody liked him.”
“Of course Cody likes me,” Kola clarified as he stopped at the table, Finn’s hand still in his. “We’re friends.”
“Yes, you are,” Jake assured him.
Kola bent, pushed Jake’s hair back from his forehead, and gave him a quick kiss. He then turned to his sister. “Thanks for the toast, B, that was cool,” he said before heading for the back door with Finn in tow.
After a moment George said, “I think Kola’s gonna need a big-ass wedding ring.”
Hannah gasped. “This is what I was saying earlier. That sweet Claddagh ring that he’s wearing at the moment just isn’t going to be enough.”
“Clearly.”
Hannah nodded.
Great minds and all that.
Okay, all, enjoy Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving, and whatever you do, make sure you take some time to hibernate a bit. Short days and long nights are made for slowing down. I’ll see you all in December.
DECEMBER 2025
Hello, all, and welcome to the last He Said, he said of 2025.
As years go, I have to say this one was a bit of a mixed bag. Personally, it was great. My son is engaged to be married, and he started his second year of med school in the fall. It’s weird with schools that are on quarter systems because it feels like they move faster but, technically, don’t. Since I graduated from the University of Chicago myself, I understood it better than other parents who had gone to semester colleges.
My daughter graduated from college this winter, and when I asked her if she was going to attend the spring convocation ceremony in June to get the whole walking experience, she said no. She’d be too busy, as she would be neck-deep in her master’s program by then. Plus, she would be working at Sutter as well. So the small ceremony was all we’d get, just as we had with her brother. Neither one of them was big hoopla people. Smaller intimate ceremonies with family and close friends was more their speed.