Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Dropping my hands to my lap, I slowly shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Lilith, you’re one-hundred-percent right. My father is a piece of shit. There’s a reason I’m estranged from my parents. So, to be clear now, I won’t have any family members at the wedding, and I’m okay with that.”
Nellie reached over and took my hand in hers. “You will have family there. You’ll have all of us.”
I blinked back tears. “Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome in your family.”
She winked, then dropped my hand. “Okay, time to clean up. We have to be up early for our Christmas breakfast, then last-minute preparations for another River Falls Wilde Christmas Morning!”
Ladd frowned. “When did you change the name of the event? Actually, when did you give it a name?”
Lilith and Nellie both smiled, with Nellie bobbing her head at me. “It was Vivianne’s idea to put the family name in it. She said if we’re organizing and hosting, it should have the family name. We agreed.”
Ladd took my hand and drew me to him. He kissed me softly on the lips. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
With a giggle, I held up my free hand, which happened to be the left. “You certainly have!”
My alarm woke me up the next morning, which was Christmas Day. I drew in a deep breath through my nose and let out a low moan. It smelled like heaven. Bacon, cinnamon, coffee…a mixture of so many different things, all of them delicious, and I couldn’t wait to get downstairs to help with the preparations. I had helped Lilith and Nellie yesterday with some of the food, but they’d insisted they had most of it taken care of.
I’d set my alarm and still hadn’t gotten up early enough to help with everything judging from the smell and sounds of things. I could hear voices filtering up from downstairs through the half-opened bedroom door.
Lifting my hands over my head, I stretched before I swung my legs over the bed and stood. Nellie had told me to dress casual for breakfast and the event. I pulled out a pair of jeans and my favorite sweater. It was cream colored with a Christmas tree on it. Simple but still festive.
I slipped on my brown ankle boots and put my hair up in a ponytail, put a little bit of mascara on, but left the rest of my face natural. With another look in the mirror, I headed toward Ladd’s room. After knocking lightly and not hearing him, I opened the door, only to find his room empty. Frowning, I walked in and called out his name. He wasn’t in the bathroom, either.
As I walked back into the hall, I muttered, “Wow, am I the only one who slept in?”
Quickly making my way downstairs, I could hear more chatter coming from the kitchen, as well as the family room. A lot of chatter.
Jason and Mike were in the family room playing a video game they’d gotten the night before, with four other kids their age. One was a young girl. David sat on the sofa with an older man who looked to be in his sixties, and a younger guy who was about my age. The young girl sitting across from them seemed around my age, as well, maybe a few years older. Nellie had mentioned they always had a few friends over to celebrate, and I was guessing these were those friends.
David glanced up and smiled when he saw me.
“Good morning, and Merry Christmas,” I said as I made my way into the room.
Standing, David walked over and gave me a quick hug. “Hey, Merry Christmas to you too!” He stepped back and turned to the others.
“Vivianne, this is Ralph Mitchell and his son, Charles, and his daughter, LouAnne. They own the ranch next to ours.”
Ralph and Charles both stood and shook my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vivianne.” Ralph smiled.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
LouAnne also stood and shook my hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you from David.”
Turning to David, I winked. “I hope it was all good.”
She laughed. “Oh yes. He said you make Ladd very happy.”
“Well, he makes me equally happy.”
David cleared his throat. “Speaking of Ladd, he’s in the kitchen.”
“Thanks. It was nice to meet you all,” I said as I turned and walked that way. The smell of tasty foods only intensified as I got closer.
“Wow! It smells so good,” I enthused as I walked in and went straight to Ladd. I reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. “Merry Christmas.”
He smiled at me. “Merry Christmas.”
I glanced around at the people in the kitchen. Everyone was moving about, busy doing something. “I’m so sorry I overslept. I had my alarm set, but I see I was way off the mark!”