Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“I came to get lunch, but I also wanted to bring you these. Is it sanitary to have them in here?”
He looks so proud of himself, I can’t resist leaning over to kiss him.
“I’ll set them right here by the cash register.” I lean in to smell one of the velvety blooms and then turn back to my man. “What would you like to order?”
He ends up buying four sandwiches for his crew, and all I can do is grin because my man not only supports this career of mine, but he is feeding into it in ways that I never knew I needed.
Brooks is the best thing to ever happen to me.
“Two hours left,” Christy whispers in my ear. She looks pretty disheveled compared to how she did this morning, and we both have food all over our aprons and shirts, but we’re still moving.
Hazel and Tandy refused to leave when their shifts were over, which was awesome because lunch was busier than breakfast, and we had to prep for dinner. Laurie and James are killing it, running out orders to tables, clearing and wiping them when people leave, and making sure that everything is running smoothly.
This place has never, not even in the very beginning, been this busy.
It’s amazing and horrifying, all at once.
I have to order more food first thing in the morning. I won’t make it through the week if this continues. And I’ll have to hire more staff.
None of these things are bad problems to have.
Just as I plate a slice of lasagna and add a side of steamed broccoli, ready to take it to a table, I hear voices that I recognize.
“I came for my mac and cheese, Jules!”
“I’ve got this,” Tandy says, taking the lasagna order from my hands. “Go see your family.”
With a frown, I turn, and then I can’t move.
I can’t breathe.
Because it’s not just sweet Birdie with Dani and Bridger.
It’s the entire Blackwell family.
Beck and Skyla. Billie, who has tears in her eyes, with Connor. Blake and Harper, and even their parents.
Brooks holds Birdie high in his arms, and he winks at me.
“Surprise,” Becca says, holding her arms out to hug me. “We all had to come in for dinner.”
“Oh my God, the lasagna smells so good,” Bridger says, before he leans in to kiss my cheek. “Way to kick ass, sis-in-law.”
I’m passed around. That’s the only way to describe it. Handed from one Blackwell brother to the next for hugs and congratulations.
Then the girls close in, and we have a group hug, and if a human heart could heal in the matter of mere moments, that’s what just happened to mine.
“So freaking awesome,” Harper says before kissing my cheek. “It’s beautiful in here.”
“We’re all just so proud of you,” Skyla adds.
And then they all get in line to order, talking happily about what they want to eat, but Brooks’s dad, Brandon, pulls me to the side and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“You’ve done so well here, sweet girl.”
I made it all freaking day without giving in to the tears, and now this amazing man is going to make them spill over. I don’t have parents here today. My mom’s been gone for several years, and Dad chose to leave—permanently—when I was twelve. I like to think that they’d be proud of me today. That my dad would have some words of wisdom and a supportive hug.
I haven’t had a father in my life in a really long time.
And now I have Brandon.
“I know it wasn’t easy,” he continues and hugs me into his side, both of us watching this family as they joke and laugh together. Brooks glances our way, checking on me, but doesn’t walk over to us. He helps Birdie order her dinner. “But you turned something pretty damn shitty into this amazing place. It’s even better because it’s safe for you and our Birdie.”
“I’m so honored that you all came,” I tell him softly, and give in to the urge to rest my head on his shoulder. He kisses the top of my head, and the first tear spirals down my cheek. “So many of you came by throughout the day, I certainly didn’t expect everyone to come back for dinner. And this is the third time Brooks has been in today.”
“You’re our family, Jules. You’re ours, so this is what we do. What we’ll always do. And my son is so damn in love with you, it borders on inappropriate. Blink twice if you need me to help you escape.”
I laugh and shake my head. “No, I don’t ever plan to let your son go, especially now that I finally have him in my life again. I don’t know how I survived as long as I did without him.”
He sighs and gives me one last squeeze. “Timing can be a bitch. Now, what do you recommend I have for dinner? I’m starving.”