Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
“Exactly my reaction, too,” Valerian admitted rather wryly. “But they all seem to be getting along, and if it’s any consolation, Krista has since realized that she never found you attractive, and that all she wanted was for you to be her ticket to an easy life.”
“I’m...going to take that as a win.”
“I’d do so, too, in your shoes.”
Guy’s jaw clenched as he worked the mop around a particularly stubborn stain that looked suspiciously like chocolate pudding mixed with despair. He could feel his friend biding his time, which was unusual for someone as decisive as Valerian. “There’s a but, isn’t it?”
Valerian ended up wincing for the second time even though he knew Guy couldn’t see this.
“Poppy says Jilly’s forgiven you, and she also understands how circumstances, and her not telling you about Jack, have caused you to misjudge her.”
“There’s another but coming, isn’t there?”
“I really hate to say this—”
“But you’re sorry again.”
“Jilly admitted this herself. She doesn’t know what she’s waiting for. She just knows there’s something missing still...”
“THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE place, Jilly.”
It was Jack’s first time to visit her in Evergreen, and such words were high praise, coming from someone as meticulous as Jack.
Jilly watched with fond amusement as Apple the cockatiel immediately flew to Jack’s shoulder and started preening his hair while Mounty brought him his favorite tennis ball, tail wagging with pure joy. Middle the gecko had somehow made his way onto Jack’s hand to show off his latest shed, and even Mack had graciously allowed Jack to scratch behind his ears before settling into his favorite supervisory position on the patio railing.
They had dinner at one of the small tables in the patio facing the garden, where warm lantern light cast dancing shadows across the stone tiles.
Jilly saw Jack’s gaze narrow as they were served the first course. "What?"
“It's your favorite potato leek soup,” Jack observed, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses as he studied the bowl.
Guilt stung her conscience at Jack’s words. She hadn't even noticed that, and she realized too late how heartache hadn't just made her lose her appetite. It had also blinded her to all the things the people around her did just to make her feel better.
I'm so sorry, God. I promise I'll ask for their forgiveness and find a way to make it up to them, a.s.a.p.
“Did you tell them you love this soup?” Jack questioned.
“I didn’t.” She would have to ask Josiah about how they knew all about her favorites. Like, seriously. How in the world had she managed to overlook something so obvious for seven whole weeks?
The rest of the evening went by pleasantly, but Jack had one last bombshell to drop when the staff had finished clearing the table.
“You hit the jackpot with Guy."
Jilly choked on her coffee at Jack's unexpected comment. "Where did that come from, and since when are you on first name basis with him?"
"It's not like you to answer such silly questions." Jack frowned at her disapprovingly. “He’s your husband. That makes him my brother.”
Oh, Jack.
“I understand why you’d think that—”
“Guy agrees, too, by the way.”
He what?
“You keep gaping at me like someone without brains.” Jack was now staring at her, visibly disturbed by her reaction. “Does marriage make one dumb?”
Jilly would have answered no in the past, but right now, she wasn’t so sure.
“Why... why did you say earlier that I hit the jackpot with Guy?”
“Whose idea do you think this menu was?”
“I...I...”
“You’d never be the type to tell your staff what you love to eat. Who else could have told them then?” Jack then pointed to the new garden beds, their blooms glowing in the lantern light. “See that?”
Tears began to prick her eyes as she realized that they were all her favorite flowers.
“And then there's that.”
The mysterious cabin that was undergoing renovation, its skeletal frame outlined against the darkening sky.
“Have you checked what that is?”
“They said it’s for new staff...”
“Judging by the square footage of the house, it can likely accommodate three new staff members, possibly a full-time vet and two caretakers to provide round-the-clock assistance.” Jack pointed to the specialized ventilation system being installed. “That’s likely where the lab will be located based on the medical-grade air filtration units. And that shows they have both a quarantine room and ICU prepared for all emergencies.”
This time, she just had to cut him off so she could ask Jack—
“What are you getting at?”
“Guy wants to make sure you have the best life, in case you can’t find it in your heart to forgive him.”
Jack patted her head awkwardly as she started to cry, the gesture both comforting and endearingly clumsy.
"I can't believe...didn't see...so stupid..."
Jack privately agreed. Marriage had remarkably lowered his sister's I.Q. It was a good thing he had no plans to tie the knot.
JACK HITCHED A RIDE with her as Darwin took them back to San Antonio, and throughout the ride, Jilly could only fight back tears as Jack told her how he had been spending much of his free time with his new brother.