Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 658(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 658(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
I can practically sense him holding back what he really wants to say.
“Go ahead. Tell me.” I rest my shoulders against the edge of the sliding door, folding my arms.
“What?”
“You obviously have something brewing. So say it.”
He snorts, but he relaxes again. “Kit won’t like hearing it’s an open-ended commitment. When I’d travel with your grandfather, he was rarely away for more than a week. This is longer than anything she’s used to.”
I wait as he pauses, chewing his lip, piecing together what he wants to say.
Yes, we’ve changed, opened up a bit, but not everything. There’s still plenty about his home life he hasn’t mentioned.
Kit’s a huge part of that, I know, and with an active little mind beyond her years buzzing away, I wonder what other trouble she gets into.
“Can’t say I love leaving her with my parents for too long,” he says finally. He runs his fingers over his short beard before he looks at me again. “Look, Clee. I have a big ask. I wouldn’t bother if this wasn’t an extended job, but—”
“You want her to stay with us?”
He meets my gaze hesitantly.
“If it works for you. Even if it’s just for a little while to give my folks a break.”
I don’t remember deciding to throw my arms around his neck before I’m plastered against him again.
After a shocked second, his hands find my waist.
I draw back, grinning up at him. “Bring her. She can stay as long as she likes. As long as it takes, really.”
His gaze flicks over my face like a soft caress as he searches my eyes for doubt. He’s not holding my waist anymore, but I can still feel the hot pressure of his palms.
“Thank you,” he says.
I beam at him, trying to hide the pounding of my heart as I take another step back.
Sweet distance.
Distance is good, even if every part of me screams closer.
“You’re welcome, Holden. I’ll help you keep her entertained. It’s the least I can do to pay you back for… well, everything.”
Kit doesn’t arrive until later that evening, and when she shows up, she’s wearing the biggest smile.
“This place is so cool,” she gushes.
“You’ve been here before, plenty of times.” Holden rolls his eyes, but I see him smile. The only way a father can who’s grateful to see his little girl.
“Just once recently,” she says. “Then you guys took me down to your secret lair with the Hera Egg.” She’s almost bouncing on her heels when she says it.
Heartwarming.
Also, I get it. This place was pure wonder when I was her age, and now she’s hooked on the secrets in the walls of this old house.
“I can’t believe you didn’t bring her around more often when Gramps was alive,” I say, one hand on my hip as I look at Holden. “He must’ve loved her energy. Seems kind of mean to keep her away.”
“Yeah, Dad,” she says. “Mr. Blackthorn was cool. Remember that time he gave us a nice copy of The Odyssey? That thing was a collectible. I had to talk you down from throwing it up on eBay.”
He grins sheepishly.
“Yeah, and you remember I don’t like mixing business and my personal life. It’s unprofessional.” He raises both hands while she glares at him and sighs.
“Did Gramps ever give you a tour?”
She shakes her head.
“Long overdue. Come on,” I offer. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, too.”
“Oh my God, yes! Are there secret passages? I bet there are!”
“I’ve never found any, sad to say.” I lead her through the front door into the hallway. “The library’s pretty sweet, though. It’s my favorite room of the house, actually.”
“Hmm.” Her mouth twists to one side as she thinks, and her ponytail swings behind her as she takes everything in. “A secret wing?”
“Not that I know of. But hey, maybe we’ll find one.” I lead her to the sprawling staircase. “What do you think?”
“Amazing, amazing. It even smells old in here. Reminds me of the castle in Beauty and the Beast.”
“Pretty close.” I tilt my head, trying to see PopPop’s world through young eyes again. It’s not quite a real castle, but that iconic scene where Belle floats down the stairs in her yellow dress?
I can totally see it here.
“So is this your house now?”
“I wish. Some other folks in the family will be selling it off sooner or later. We’re just staying here for a little while to take care of some business.” I really shouldn’t say too much about the true reason we’re here, as tempting as it is.
She’s only ten. Kids like to talk, no matter how mature they seem, and grown-ups love to listen. The last thing we need are rumors about a rare lost Blackthorn treasure flying around Portland.
“And Dad too?”
“He is. We’re hanging out until we find a good home for the mother of all Easter eggs.” I decide to treat her like an adult as much as I can, the way I would’ve wanted to be treated when I was her age. “It’s a tough decision, with a lot of research and interviews involved.”