Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
He closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath.
“Brooke was crying; she didn’t want to go with Caroline. I should have demanded that Caroline leave her with me. I don’t know why I didn’t.”
I reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. “There was no way you could have known what would happen, Levi.”
He nodded. “I know. There are nights I wake up in a cold sweat, hearing Brooke cry out for me. Anyway, the accident wasn’t Caroline’s fault. A truck ran a red light. Brooke passed on impact, and for that, I guess I’m thankful. Caroline immediately blamed me for making her leave. She completely ignored Rhett for weeks, and when she finally managed to get out of bed, she started drinking. That’s something I don’t share with many people.
“I finally realized that my being there wasn’t making things better. Rhett would overhear us fighting, hear Caroline blaming me. He unleashed on her one night, and told her that she was the reason Brooke died. That’s when I realized I needed to get us both out of Denver. I asked for full custody, and she didn’t argue, and had given written permission for me to move back to River Falls with Rhett. I served Caroline with divorce papers three weeks ago. I’m waiting on her to sign the papers so I can move on.”
Stunned, I asked, “She gave up custody of Rhett, just like that?”
“Yeah. Pretty sad, isn’t it? And Rhett, he lost his sister and best friend, and his mother. It’s been tough on him.”
“Where is she? Back in Denver?”
He drew in a breath and then quickly released it. “As far as I know. She moved out of our house and into an apartment right after the night Rhett unleashed on her. I told her about my plans to return to River Falls, and that if she ever wanted to share custody of Rhett, she’d have to move back. She just stared at me with a blank expression. The last thing I said to her was that she needed therapy…and I hope she gets it for Rhett’s sake.
“Caroline’s never going to win Mother of the Year, but she had a rare moment or two when she was a good mom. We had some good times, but it was pretty clear we weren’t meant to be together. Brooke hadn’t been planned. She was a happy surprise, but we hadn’t planned on having any other kids.”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m so sorry, Levi. I’m sorry about Brooke, Rhett, and your marriage. It seems like a lot to lose in such a short amount of time.”
“Thank you, Emeline. I appreciate it.”
He pulled into a parking spot in front of Anna’s Café. I stared at the building, then at Levi. “This is where you want to eat lunch?”
“Would you rather have pizza, or something else?”
Granted, River Falls was small, but over the last few years, we’d gotten more restaurants. The locals, however, still seemed to eat at the older places, like Anna’s Café.
Nodding toward the door, I said, “It’s just…Anna is Janet’s sister. And Janet writes The Daily Dirt column.”
He grinned. “Are you afraid we’ll end up in the next edition?”
“Yes, I am. She doesn’t have anything to write about. She actually wrote about Ms. Betty’s chickens getting out, Levi.”
“All of her chickens got out?”
I nodded.
“Did someone let them out?”
“Levi!”
“Sorry, you got me curious now about her chickens. I know how much she loves those birds, or at least she used to.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “All I’m saying is, don’t be surprised if people talk when they see us together.”
“About us eating together? Em, it’s just lunch. Your brother is my best friend. I have a son whom I want to enroll in your summer camp, and I’m pretty sure I was volunteered to help at each session this summer, not just the one Rhett’s attending. It’s not like we don’t have a reason to have lunch together.”
“You’re right. It’s just a business lunch.” I knew I sounded a bit childish, so I attempted to play it off. “You know how small-town gossip is. I just didn’t want you to have to deal with it right off the bat, considering everything else you have going on in your life.”
“Truth be told, Em, I don’t give a shit what anyone says about me.”
A small laugh slipped free. “Well, okay then. Let’s go get some lunch.”
Levi
The moment the bell above the door rang, I wished I’d listened to Emeline.
All heads turned and stared. And I don’t mean a curious stare; I mean the kind where you just know the moment they get a chance, they’re going to tell everyone who they saw together at the local café.
“That pizza sounds good right about now,” I whispered as a young girl walked up to us.