Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Hell no, I don’t trust you, Dad! I’d trust Gatlin with that information before you.”
“What information?” Gatlin asked, as he joined us.
“Caden knows the sex of the baby and won’t tell me.”
Gatlin nodded. “Smart man.”
My father drew back and stared at my brother. “I’m sorry? What did you just say?”
Rolling his eyes, Gatlin said, “Everyone knows you can’t keep a secret, Dad.”
Folding his arms over his chest, my father said, “I can so keep a secret.”
“What about the time we were throwing Mom a surprise birthday party, and your only job was to get her out of the house and bring her back by a certain time. You broke down and told her about the party.”
“I had to tell her!” our father protested. “She was asking all kinds of questions! I can’t lie to your mother.”
I pointed at him. “And that’s why I’m not telling you.”
“You can tell me, though,” Gatlin stated, waggling his brows.
“Not telling you, either. You’ll all find out when Lilibeth is ready to tell everyone.”
Gatlin groaned. “Please tell me you’re not doing one of those stupid gender reveal parties.”
“We aren’t. We’ll most likely tell everyone at Sunday dinner, though.”
“Sunday dinner!” they both bitched in unison.
“Son, that’s three days away.”
I shrugged. “What was it you always told us when we were younger? Patience is a virtue.”
He huffed. “I knew you kids would throw that back in my face someday.”
“And today is someday,” I said, as I stood and hit him on the side of the arm. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Lilibeth is making chicken and dumplings, and I’d like to get home to her.”
I gathered my stuff and looked up when neither of them said anything. My father wore a goofy-ass grin on his face, and my brother was nodding his head.
“Why are you staring at me like that? And why are you impersonating a bobble-head, Gatlin?”
Dad cleared his throat. “I take it you discovered the needs.”
I closed my eyes. “Dad, I’m not talking to you about this.”
“You’re totally in love with her,” Gatlin said.
“Just tell me I was right,” Dad added.
“No.”
“Right about what?” Gatlin asked.
“Nothing,” I replied, as I headed toward the door. I stopped, turned back to my father, and winked. “You were right.”
He fist pumped. “I knew it!”
“Wait, knew what? What were you right about?”
As I walked away, I heard my father reply. “You’re too young to know.”
“What the fuck? Dad, I’m twenty-seven years old!”
Laughing, I pulled out my phone and texted Lilibeth.
Me: I’m leaving now. Will be there in a few.
Lilibeth: It smells divine in the house!
As I walked into the house, the little kitten Lilibeth had found—who wasn’t a kitten anymore—came running up to me. I reached down and picked her up.
“Hello there, Misty. Are you being a good kitty and not clawing my sofa?”
She meowed, and I laughed. “I’ll take that as a no.”
When I walked into the kitchen, I drew in a deep breath. “God, that smells so good.”
Lilibeth beamed. “I think it’s the best batch of dumplings I’ve ever made.”
“Is it done?”
“Yep,” she said, handing me a bowl. “Have at it.”
After dishing up a bowl for myself and one for her, we made our way over to the breakfast table. Lilibeth told me about her trip into town and then asked how the meeting went.
“It went well. I’m ready for warmer weather.”
“I take it things will get busier?”
I nodded. “Calving season has always been my favorite time of year on the ranch.”
“I’m excited to experience it.”
We spent the rest of dinner talking about when we wanted to officially start on the baby’s room. We also decided to definitely tell the family this Sunday the baby’s gender. Lilibeth admitted she’d have a hard time keeping it a secret, so the sooner the better, in her opinion.
“This Sunday it’ll be, then.”
She started to clear the table when I stopped her. “You stay there, I’ll clean up.”
As I was loading the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, the doorbell rang.
I looked at Lilibeth, who shrugged.
“If that’s my mother and father coming to try to find out if it’s a boy or a girl, we’re not telling them until Sunday.”
Lilibeth laughed as she made her way out of the kitchen. “Don’t be so hard on them. They’re excited.”
I dried off my hands and chuckled. I put the leftovers in the refrigerator and then headed into the living room. I expected to see my parents—and instead, I came to an abrupt halt.
Standing in the foyer was Rachel, Lilibeth shutting the door behind her.
What in the hell is she doing here?
Before I could ask or say anything else, Rachel ran her eyes over Lilibeth, then turned to me. “Is this the woman you got pregnant? Is she really living with you?”
Lilibeth drew her head back in surprise. “I have a name.”
Rachel lifted her chin and looked down her nose at Lilibeth, not acknowledging her words. I hated the idea that she was breathing the same air as Lilibeth.