Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“All while heading into the playoffs.” He shook his head.
“Don’t remind me.”
“I heard a rumor this morning,” Jerome said. “I didn’t want to bring it up at school since the walls have ears.”
I chuckled. Rumors spread in town like wildfire, and most of them started at the school because the teachers were gossips.
“What did I do this time?”
“Had breakfast with a very pretty woman who’s been staying in town, helping her friend.”
I huffed as Antonia’s face popped into my mind. “Guilty.”
“No way!”
“What?” I asked as I looked around, scanning to see what or who had gotten Jerome’s attention.
“You like her, don’t you?”
I sighed and slumped in my seat. “‘Like’ is the understatement of the year. I’m infatuated, but she has a boyfriend, so I’m just an admirer from afar.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Jerome said.
“Yes, she does.”
He shook his head and took another sip. “Not anymore, according to Samira, and she knows everything.”
I let Jerome’s statement settle over me and thanked the bartender when he placed my plate of nachos in front of me. If Antonia didn’t have a boyfriend, that could be a game changer for me. Although I’d never come out and ask her, nor would I pursue anything with her, given the state of Miriam’s health.
It seemed I was no better off than I was when I’d sat down, before knowing that the woman of my thoughts, dreams, and desires was now single.
I picked at my nachos, determined to put her out of mind, at least until I got home and I could stare at my ceiling all night and wonder what she was up to.
Chapter 22
Antonia
Navigating work when all I wanted to do was spend all my time with Miri was the bane of my reality. Luckily, the hospital had a small conference room I could use for my virtual meetings, and thanks to all the modern technology out there, I could keep in constant contact with my admin.
The person I didn’t want to talk to was Brendan, but that was unavoidable. He hadn’t called since he’d had the nerve to ask if I was choosing the kids over him. Even replaying the conversation in my mind caused my blood pressure to rise. Who in the hell did he think he was? We weren’t married, and after being with him for four years, I sensed no advancement toward a proposal.
Still, he was my boss. Well, one of them. His father was the one I reported to and who signed my checks, and I’d made sure to email him and let him know Brendan and I were no longer a couple. I thought it was important to put that out there before Brendan said something to his parents and jeopardized my job. I didn’t trust Brendan after he’d made another bullshit comment.
I rolled my eyes as I shut my laptop. Miri snickered, and I glared at her. When I’d told her about Brendan and me breaking up, I’d said it was a long time coming. The last thing I needed her to think was that her children were a burden to me. They weren’t.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I told her as I motioned for her to scoot over so I could lie with her. She did and tried not to wince. “What hurts?”
She shook her head and held her breath.
“Breathe,” I reminded her as I looked at the bag of Dilaudid hanging from the IV pole and wondered when the machine would administer the next dose. “Do you want me to get the nurse?”
Miri shook her head. “The pain is subsiding.”
Instead of climbing in bed with her, I stood there for a moment, holding her hand and stroking her hair. “Better?”
Miri nodded.
A knock sounded, and the lawyer I’d hired, Lydia Hurst, came in. She was local and had come highly recommended by Miri’s doctor.
“I’m Antonia,” I said, shaking her hand as she entered. “This is Miriam.” I smiled at my friend and took in her frail body. Day by day, she was growing weaker, despite her doctor saying things were on track. I didn’t believe him. Not when her cheeks looked sunken in and her under-eyes looked bruised.
“Hello, ladies.” Lydia set her briefcase down and pulled out a tablet. “I know we have a lot to cover, so let’s get started.”
Miri cleared her throat. “Everything goes to Antonia,” she said hoarsely. She’d complained that the medicines she was on made her throat feel raw, and at times it hurt to speak.
“No,” I said firmly as I looked at Lydia. “The house needs to go into a trust, with me as executor until Cutter turns eighteen, and then we’ll share the responsibility. Once Nova is of age, they’ll share.”
Lydia nodded and typed on her tablet.
“And you’re taking custody?”
“I am,” I said confidently as I looked at Miri and nodded.
“Okay, so what I’ll do here is write the will, appointing you as the guardian of the minor children. We’ll need a backup.”