The Homemaker (The Chain of Lakes #1) Read Online Jewel E. Ann

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary Tags Authors: Series: The Chain of Lakes Series by Jewel E. Ann
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Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
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“We haven’t known where she’s been. We just knew she’d eventually come home. How did you two meet?” he asked, squinting with concern as Alice’s mom kneeled on the floor in front of the sofa to console Alice.

It took me a moment to register what he’d asked. I felt dazed and confused. “Uh … I own this place. She rented it from me. We were⁠—”

“Let’s go, baby,” Krista said, helping Alice to her feet.

When she looked at me, I thought for a second that it was all a bad dream, and she would be fine. Then her face contorted into an unrecognizable scowl.

“Don’t look at me,” she gritted through clenched teeth. “I’m not yours. Do you understand me?”

Her mom winced right along with me. “Sweetie, shh. You’re not well. He hasn’t done anything.”

“DON’T EVER TOUCH ME!” Alice screamed before her knees buckled, and she sobbed as her dad rushed to catch her. “I’m n-not h-his … he c-can’t have me …”

“Sweetie, he’s not trying to take you. He called us. He’s just trying to help,” Krista said, stroking Alice’s hair before her dad scooped her up in his arms.

I could barely fucking breathe, but I managed to clear my throat. “Uh, let me see if I can get her things gathered quickly.”

Her parents gave me appreciative nods, so I stepped into the hallway just outside of the bedroom. Leaning the back of my head against the wall, I closed my eyes burning with tears, and pinched the bridge of my nose.

What the hell is happening?

I sucked my lips together and choked on a sob. Then I quickly wiped my eyes and headed into the bedroom, grabbing everything of hers I could find, shoving it into her bag. I did the same thing in the bathroom.

“Thank you,” her mom said, taking the bags from me. “What do we owe you?”

Owe me?

I couldn’t speak past my heart in my throat, so I shook my head. She offered a sad smile. “Well, again. We can’t thank you enough. Bye.” She opened the door, and they left.

I was so fucking scared that she wouldn’t come back, but never did I imagine it ending like that.

Did I … break her?

Chapter Thirty-Four

Murphy

The heart has an infinite capacity.

Sometimes we wish it didn’t.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, quickly swiping at a tear on her cheek.

“Don’t.” I shake my head, sitting back on my heels as my hands slide off the sofa. “Don’t apologize.”

“He drowned.” She tips her head to the ceiling and closes her eyes while taking a long breath. “And I was⁠—”

My phone chimes. “Fuck,” I mumble, pulling it from my pocket.

“Blair is looking for you?”

I stare at the screen and nod.

“Thank you for taking me to urgent care.”

I type a quick reply and slide my phone back into my pocket. “I don’t have to go yet. Keep talking.”

“I think …” She turns and stares out the window. “Perhaps we’ve said everything there is to say. I lost a lot. And maybe you did too. But we’ve moved on.” Her gaze returns to me. “Sometimes I get lost in what might have been, but it only keeps me from moving forward. You said it yourself. Sometimes the only way to move on is to actually move. If my being here is too much, even just for the summer, I’ll leave. It was never my intention to turn your life upside down. Not then. Not now.”

I stand and drag a hand through my hair. “Worst timing,” I mumble.

“Us?” A smile plays along her lips as I nod. “What if it’s perfect timing?”

I grunt my objection to her “what if.”

She drops her gaze, picking at the edge of the bandage around her finger. “When Chris died, I didn’t cry. Not a single tear. Everything inside of me rejected the idea that he was gone. And when that no longer worked, I pretended he never existed. No love. No death.”

I slide my hands into my pockets, resisting the urge to touch her and comfort her.

“My parents were worried I wasn’t facing the truth.” She laughs. “As usual, they were right. But I didn’t see it. All I saw were people telling me what to think and how to feel, so I left. Drove all night and ended up in Minneapolis. I spent the night at a hotel and decided to find a rental. I found you.”

Maybe she’s right. We’ve said all that needs to be said. Everything else feels like torture.

“What if I needed you to help me breathe again?” she asks.

“That’s not how it felt the night your parents took you away from me.”

Alice frowns. “I know,” she whispers. “And I know this feels like terrible timing to see me again, but what if it’s what you need to really move on? Get married. Be happy. You said you needed closure. Now, you have it.”


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