Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Ugh.”
“What?” He snaps.
“Are we really going to live on the boat?” I mutter dryly.
“Yacht,” he corrects me. “And a four-hundred-million-euro yacht isn’t good enough for you?” He bites his food off his fork as if annoyed.
“There’s just….” I shrug.
“There’s just what?”
“There’s no dirt here, Edward. How can I have a vegetable garden if there’s no dirt? You know gardening is my first love.”
“I thought I was your first love,” he mutters dryly.
“Yes, but you know what I mean?”
“Hmm.” He keeps chewing with an eye roll.
“What does hmm mean?” I snap, annoyed.
“Alora.” He exhales. “You’re killing me.”
“What, I’m just being honest. This yacht is nice and all, but as a forever home I’m not so sure. I want a kitchen I can cook for us in and I want a garden I can garden in. I want to touch the earth with bare feet whenever I feel like it.”
“Fine.” He bites the food off his fork as if annoyed. “I’ll buy us a new fucking house in Monaco.”
“Good. You do that.” I bite my food off my fork too as I fake annoyance as well. “Make sure it has good soil.”
The car door opens and Philippe smiles down at me. “Good night, Miss Sorenson.”
“Thank you, Philippe.” I climb out of the car. “Good night.” Edward gets out the other side, it’s just after 9 p.m. Edward picked me up from work and then we went and had dinner and are just arriving back to my place. Edward takes my hand in his and we walk up my driveway and I unlock the front door. Edward turns and waves the boys off and they leave us for the night. I flick the lights on and throw my keys down. “You want a cup of tea, babe?” I ask.
“No. I’m dead tired, I’m going to have a shower.” He kisses me before disappearing up the stairs and I turn the kettle on and flick the television on and notice that a book has fallen out of my bookshelves.
Weird…. How did that fall down?
I pick it up and slide it back into its place, make my tea and flop onto the couch to watch the late news. Ugh…. I’m tired.
EDWARD
Alora climbs into bed and I go to the window and look out over the street below. Shrouded in darkness, silent and calm.
There’s an uneasiness surrounding me.
I can’t put my finger on it but something feels off here in her place tonight, there’s a different energy to how it normally feels. I check the windows are locked and close the heavy drapes, then do the same in every room.
I’ll just recheck downstairs to put my mind at ease. I check the second-level windows and pull the drapes and then walk to the ground floor and flick the lights on.
A book is on the floor in front of the bookcase, Alora must have got a book out and knocked it loose. I pick it up and place it back in the shelving and walk around and tighten all the locks and close the drapes.
My eyes roam over the place as I walk around, why do I feel so off….
I’m being paranoid.
I dim the lights, make my way back upstairs and slide into bed, I pull Alora close and wrap my arms around her. “Good night, my darling,” I whisper.
She doesn’t answer, she’s already asleep.
ALORA
“I’m off, Doe.” Edward leans down and kisses me softly. The bedroom is semi-dark, only early, it’s not fully light. “See you tonight.”
“Okay,” I whisper sleepily. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Have a good day.” Another kiss and I hear him walk down the stairs and then the front door open and close, moments later the car drives up the street and around the corner.
I snuggle back into bed, close my eyes and doze for what feels like a long time.
Creak….
I frown with my eyes closed, what was that?
Creak….
There it is again; I drag my eyes open and look up to the ceiling as I listen.
Hmm, great, just what I need. A damn mouse in the roof.
I lie for a few more minutes, it’s raining and really coming down outside. There’s thunder rumbling in the distance and the sky is dark. Eventually I drag myself out of bed and walk into the bathroom and catch sight of myself in the mirror and wince as I pull my hair up into a high bun.
I turn on the shower and get in under the hot water. The room fills with steam and I smile into the heat, my favorite way to start the day.
Ring, ring…. Ring, ring…. My phone vibrates across the counter.
I walk out of the shower dripping wet to see that it’s Philippe. “Hello,” I answer.
“Hi, Alora, we’re at the front door. Edward said you had some extra things that needed carrying out to the car this morning.”