Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. The Navigator is still here,” Beth announced. “Shane had to go into town for some parts, but he got a ride.”
“I noticed the keys on the counter,” Rachel added. “I think they left it for you. There are enough vehicles and people here that they can easily get a ride. That’s what’s great about living in a place like this. You have so many people around to help.”
And Rachel was feeling isolated.
She was surprised they’d left her the SUV, but she would take it. She needed to run to the theater. “I’ll try to return before they get back. Bay wants to go out to Stef’s and get some work done. I heard him on the phone earlier, and he said something about a materials delivery. I think it was clay.”
“Everyone’s getting ready for his show at the end of summer. Stef thinks it could be his big break.” Rachel hugged her. “Thank you for letting me stay the night. I’ll have Beth drop me at the house.”
“You can stay,” Brooke said, hugging her.
Rachel stepped back. “I know I can. I know my husbands are patient and understand, but my kids won’t. I’m heading home after I spend a nice day out and Max and Rye and I are going to sit down and talk. Maybe we could use some time at the clinic.”
Alexei Markov had formed a mental health clinic that serviced the valley and the small towns around Bliss. He offered triples therapy as one of his specialties. The Bliss Wellness Center also offered help to those affected by alien abduction. Mel and Cass held special sessions.
She missed Bliss.
“It’s never bad to give your marriage a tune up,” Beth said with a smile. “We’ve been. We went after the boys were born because I was feeling too focused on nothing but Miranda and the boys, and it was hurting my marriage. Alexei helped me see that letting Bo and Trev be hands-on dads helped us all. I was very much in the mindset of where I came from instead of where I want to be. I thought the mom should do it all. Now we split the load pretty equally, and I get to do a job that feeds my soul.”
Rachel nodded. “Yeah, I feel that. I love my life, but I might need something more. I might need some work outside my house.”
“Let’s talk about it.” Beth gave her the biggest smile. “If you want to learn about home repairs, I’m your girl. You could start trying some stuff out and see what fills your soul.”
“I would like that.” Rachel smiled back, the first time Brooke had seen her sister-in-law smile in days. “And I’ll give you some recipes for Hope. Nell taught me how to make some ginger candy that helped with nausea. Brooke, I’ll see you later.”
“And I’ll make sure you get all your presents. I’ll drop the basket and flowers off at your place.”
Beth’s head shook. “Oh, I’m sorry. The flowers are for you. I should have mentioned that. See, the guys are trying.”
“Oh, they’re trying. Let me tell you what happened last night,” Rachel was saying as the door closed behind her.
They sent her flowers? It was odd. When had they had time to go down to The Trading Post and get some flowers? She reached for the card. Sure enough, her name was on it but there wasn’t an address.
They shouldn’t spend money on flowers. They had a truck to repair. She hoped this wasn’t what put that distance between them. She opened the card and felt her whole body flush.
I’m at the Lodge. We need to talk. We can make all of this right and you can take your place at Bianchi. Call me. You’ve been keeping secrets.
Mark
Her old boss was here and her peace was completely shaken.
* * * *
Shane was still thinking about Bay’s accusations even as he sat in the cab of a truck that would either take him to his doom or maybe drop him off in the middle of nowhere and leave him to rot.
“Was she okay last night?” Max Harper had been at the front door of the main house when Shane had been walking through. He’d been planning on asking Noah Bennett if he could catch a ride into town, but the vet was closed off with his wife. Hope was having a hard time.
Did he need a credit card to call a Fuber? Or did those kids take cash? That was what he’d been thinking when Max had shown up, shoved a bunch of stuff for his wife Shane’s way, and then asked if they could talk.
Shane decided they could kill two birds with one stone and offered himself up as a sacrifice. He’d passed the basket to Beth, who it looked like already had some flowers, and gotten into Max Harper’s truck.