Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“It’s been a wonderful lesson for him to discover that not every girl he meets will fall at his feet. It’s difficult to instill humility when one grows up as he has.”
He was handsome and rich; I wouldn’t want to be in his mother’s shoes.
“The saving grace is that his father and I made certain there were rules and consequences. Without limits, children don’t know that they’re loved.”
“I agree,” I told her as she squeezed my hand.
“It’s a terrible tragedy to allow one’s children out into the world thinking they’re not loved and adored, that as a parent, you’re not so very proud of them.”
“My husband would agree with you. He always says that failing as a parent is one of the worst things you can do, because you leave your child vulnerable to others.”
She nodded.
“He’s a federal marshal, so he sees what the long-term effects can be. If a kid doesn’t get what they need at home, love, security, shelter, then they’ll look for it in other places, and those people they come across will take advantage of the hole you left in them.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed firmly, and then her eyes crinkled and I knew she was smiling at me behind her mask. “It’s so lovely to come across someone who shares your same beliefs.”
Yes, it was. “Which doesn’t mean my kid didn’t come out extremely judgmental.”
She chuckled. “Oh, heavens yes, mine as well.”
Walking Hannah over to one of the glass cases that she had already checked earlier, David crouched down, and after a moment, Hannah followed his lead. A man walked up on the other side, slid open the back, and David pointed until the man had his hand on the piece David wanted.
“The malas are handmade,” Mrs. Chan explained to me. “Some are more expensive than others. He knows which one she wants, and he’s offered it to her on many occasions.”
Of course he had.
“She refuses, and he won’t sell it to anyone else.”
I turned to look at her. “She’s crazy about that kid,” I said, pointing out Jake, who, even in a suit and tie, was not the same crisp and polished his two buddies were and was not, on the outside, in David Chan’s league. The thing was, though, there was his heart to consider. “So David might need to set his sights on a different young woman.”
Mrs. Chan nodded. “He’s young, but so is Hannah. Nothing’s written in stone.”
She was not wrong. Young love was sometimes quite mercurial, though I had a feeling about Hannah and Jake.
“I’ve found in my own life that shared passions can become a bridge when other things wane. Sometimes when we hold on through a storm, in the morning things become clear again.”
It was true. Jake’s parents were living proof. His mother told me they had been parents together, and little by little, day by day, the bond had eroded between them. They had nothing in common but a shared history, and in the end, it wasn’t enough. Dane and Aja, on the other hand, had so many things, in addition to their beautiful kids, that they were both passionate about.
“I just want you to know, your daughter is a rare…oh.”
Turning, I saw Kola leaning over a glass case, and there was—I wasn’t sure—a person, laughing, pulling things out for him. They were just as tall as my son was but more slender, with short black hair that was styled so it fell into their eyes. There was a single red stone stud in their right ear that I could see, and the fitted suit, shirt, tie, and waistcoat were all black.
“It’s been quite some time since my youngest child laughed, Mr. Harcourt, I must go and meet your charming son.”
The best part, for me, was when Harper joined them, he brought both Kola and his new friend a bottle of water, and then all three of them were talking when Mrs. Chan reached them, shaking hands with both Kola and Harper. It was nice to see all my boys make such a good impression.
Twenty minutes later, Hannah was done, she had emailed the auctioneer all her notes, and we piled back into my minivan. Jake and Hannah were cuddled in the back, Harper was in the passenger seat, and Kola was behind me texting.
“Who was your friend?” I asked him.
“Their name is Jian,” he told me, which explained everything I needed to know. It wasn’t my place to pry.
Near home, we stopped at one of our favorite Italian places, near our house, one street south of Lake. They were doing to-go orders inside, so you walked in, picked up your food and walked out. The only seating was outside on their large patio, and because Hannah was proactive, she had made a reservation. Our waitress was new, but since we knew the menu by heart, it was fine. She really appreciated us, gushed that we were saving her life, and I ordered myself a dirty martini, since I had four other people with me who could drive.