Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Gliding inside, she spotted the two suitcases on the top shelf. Honey grabbed a handful of the clothes hanging on the top rack and used her grip on the material to steady herself as she rose onto the tiptoes of her good leg.
“Oh!” The scooter bucked underneath her as she overbalanced. Quickly, she stabilized herself by grabbing the handlebars and breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. That was a close one. She didn’t need to sprain her other ankle.
Manhandling a suitcase wouldn’t work. She turned the scooter around in an elaborate dance of forward and reverse motions in the narrow closet and escaped. So much for taking the clothes in the closet. She’d live without her casual clothes until she could retrieve them.
Back in the bedroom, Honey stripped off the pillowcase and stuffed it full of her panties, bra, and socks from the dresser. She added her nightgown and collected her cosmetics from the bathroom. Flinging the pillowcase over her shoulder, she headed for the kitchen door. A blow from the pillowcase on the keyholder by the entrance to the garage knocked all the keys off. Honey scooped up her car fob before staring at the door.
There was no way for her to get the scooter over the raised threshold. She’d have to leave it here. Abandoning it was best anyway. It had to be expensive. Another MC member or their family might need the rolling device in the future.
“Beatrice!” she remembered as she gathered her courage to stand and walk on her foot. Instantly horrified she’d forgotten her, Honey diverted again and returned to the living room to collect her precious bee stuffie.
“I’m so sorry, Beatrice,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. “I’m not thinking clearly. You should have been the first thing I grabbed.”
Beatrice studied her with reproachful big black eyes. Honey hugged her close to reassure her longtime friend. “You’re right. That was awful of me. I’ll do better,” she promised. She looked at the blanket and forced herself to leave it. Her heart breaking, Honey swallowed hard, trying not to sob as she turned around.
Scooting back to the door, she carefully tucked Beatrice in with her clothes before pushing the wheeled support away. It rolled to the far side of the kitchen and toppled over. She squared her shoulders and stepped onto her ankle. Instantly, her ankle ached but not so bad that she had to crawl to her car. That was her last resort.
Despite her slow, cautious movements, by the time she reached the vehicle, Honey gritted her teeth from the discomfort. She slid into the seat and tugged the stuffed pillowcase inside. After starting the car, she glanced in her rearview mirror at the closed garage door behind her. Before she could panic, Honey spotted the garage door opener Razor had attached upon her arrival to her visor.
“Thank you, Razor.” He took such good care of her. The ache in her heart multiplied at the simple proof of his thoughtfulness and support.
Honey blinked tears away and pushed the button. As the barrier behind her rose, she opened the car door and leaned over to place the remote on the garage floor. She wouldn’t need it anymore. Better for it to stay here.
She backed up and pulled in front of Razor’s cabin to say her goodbyes to the dream of finding her Daddy. Grief welled up inside her as physically as a lump in her throat. She forced herself to shift into drive and move. A few minutes later, she reached the guard shack.
Searching her brain to remember his name, Honey plastered a fake smile on her face to greet the tattooed hunk who walked out. “Hi! Menace, right? I’m going to run some errands.”
“Aren’t you supposed to rest your hurt ankle?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m so much better. Razor is such a great doctor. He worked his magic on me.”
“How about if we call him?”
“Oh, no. He’s busy at the clinic. You don’t want to disturb him. He won’t be happy.”
“You’re sure he’s aware you’re leaving?” Menace asked.
“Of course. I wouldn’t sneak out. That would be a bad idea.”
He studied her closely and agreed, “Exactly.”
“Nice to meet you, Menace. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.” Smiling, Honey held her breath as he debated. What would she do if he refused to raise the gate? Could she ram it? She struggled to control her growing panic. I have to get out of here!
Finally, he stepped back inside and hit the button to lift the gate. “Be careful, Honey.”
“Of course. Thanks, Menace.”
Without looking back, Honey drove under the lifted gate and onto the wooded road. As soon as the guard disappeared from her view, Honey’s breath gushed from her lungs. She pressed a hand to her chest to reassure her thudding heart. Everything’s okay. The panic ebbed, but sadness flooded her mind in its place. She’d never be the same without Razor.