Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“Oh.”
“So need for tears, just perhaps a bath and change of clothes?” he suggested.
“Yes, please,” I said and my true prize was the appearance of the dimple in his right cheek as he smiled.
“We don’t want to forget your voice,” he said. While I’d slept, he’d put the colored pencils back into their box.
“My jaw isn’t that sore anymore,” I said trying and failing not to wince at the flare of pain.
“And grass isn’t green.” He grinned as he handed the pencils and tablet to me.
“And don’t forget these either.”
The voice didn’t belong to the teenaged girl who’d prepared the banana split Lincoln and I had shared. That girl had been unknown to me. But hearing this one had a memory stirring. By the time Lincoln had made it halfway across the floor, I had put a name to it as well as the woman’s face.
“’Miss Eve!”
“Hi, honey. I could barely believe it when Judith called to tell me you’re back. It’s so good to see you again! We’ve missed seeing you.”
Grammie O had often brought me into town to this very ice-cream parlor owned by Evelyn and Richard Walsh. Years might have added more wrinkles around her eyes and a few extra pounds to her frame, but Miss Eve’s smile and welcome were both just as sincere as they’d been when I was a kid.
“I am sorry about the accident, but am grateful Lincoln brought you into town. Now, don’t you fret. Your jaw will heal and you’ll soon be back to the chatterbox you used to be. Until then, let Lincoln take care of you. And these should help.” With that, she opened the bag she held and handed Lincoln one of the items he’d purchased at the drugstore when we’d gotten the pencils and tablet.
“Lift your hair up, pixie,” Lincoln instructed and once I had, I gave a slight shudder as he placed something very cold across my neck. That shudder became one of pleasure as relief rushed through me.
Eve laughed and held up the other item the bag had contained. “And this will help your jaw.”
This was another cold ice-pack though far smaller than the long one now draped over my neck and across my shoulders to hang beneath my hair. I was pretty sure the eye roll I gave wouldn’t count, but even if it did, the cold against my sore jaw felt so good, it would be totally worth a pop to my butt.
“Thanks again, Evelyn. I’m sure we’ll see you again soon,” Lincoln said.
“If she’s feeling better by this evening, bring her to the dance with you. Even if she can’t dance, she can enjoy the music and everyone would love to stop by and welcome her home.”
Perhaps it was just me, but Lincoln didn’t seem pleased at the invitation because he didn’t immediately accept. Instead, he said, “We’ll see, but let’s not try to overwhelm her.”
“Good luck with that.” Evelyn grinned and gave a pointed nod toward the door when the bell rang as another customer entered the store.
“Hey, I heard about the accident,” a man I didn’t remember said. “Welcome back.”
Realizing Lincoln was still carrying me, I released my hold around his neck though all it took was a single squirm for Lincoln to give me a look. Wow, he didn’t even need pencils to communicate what that look meant.
The man smiled and waved away any concern I had that he was seeing me in the arms of Lincoln. “No need for that, I know you must feel like you’ve been in a blender,” the man continued as he came forward and offered me his hand to shake. “I’m just glad to see you’re being well taken care of. Oh, and, Lincoln, I see your folks have made it all the way to Boston.”
Lincoln chuckled. “Yeah, they are taking this whole retirement thing seriously. They have a bucket list about a mile long and are determined to cross off every historical site and national park they can drive to in their RV.”
“Well, more power to them. That photo of them dumping tea in the harbor is a keeper!”
With a final wave, the man went to the counter to place his order while Lincoln started toward the door again. Pausing before reaching it, he said, “Just so you’re aware, that’s two. Dr. Eastman’s instructions back me up so getting down is off the agenda. If you’d like to test me, feel free to do so. Just know that I can pop your butt and still keep your feet off the ground.”
Forget testing. I was pretty sure that even if both my legs were as sturdy as oak trees, my knees would still buckle at the tone of absolute authority coming from this man.
But this isn’t any man, it’s Linc.
And that was what had my throat closing until I was afraid even an attempt to croak would be impossible, but that didn’t keep me from smiling or from giving him a literal thumbs up.