Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I watched as Mom leaned her head against my father’s chest as he held her. He had his eyes closed, and when the song was about to end, he dipped her, and they both laughed. The next song started, “Edge of Seventeen,” and Dad spun my mom and let her go.
I cleared my throat, and they both looked over at me.
“Caden!” Mom said, making her way to me. She pulled me into a hug.
I kissed her softly on the cheek when she drew back. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“What have I always told you kids?”
I smiled as I gazed down at my stunning mother. I’d always thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and she still was. Even with age, she was growing more and more beautiful.
An image of Lilibeth popped into my mind, and I quickly pushed it aside.
“You always told us we could never be a bother.”
She patted me on the chest. “That still stands.” Then her brows drew down slowly as she looked into my eyes. “What’s wrong?” Taking a step back, she grabbed my hand and drew me farther into the kitchen. “Ladd, turn down that pot, will you? Turn off the music, too.”
My father quickly did as Mom asked, then made his way to the table, where she had me sit.
“How in the world do you know something’s wrong?” I asked.
Mom rolled her eyes as my father grinned. “I carried you in my body for nine months. You’re my firstborn and my most sensitive child. I know you better than you know yourself.”
“Most sensitive?” I echoed, with a gruff laugh, thinking about the irony of her talking about being pregnant with me.
Leaning back in her chair, she glanced at my father, then back to me. “You were around five, I think, when you begged your father and Uncle Mike to go round up the cattle one morning before a pretty big storm was about to move in. Your father told you no, that you had to stay back with me. I turned my back for one minute and you slipped out the door. Your grandfather found you in the stable, attempting to saddle a horse to ride out to meet your dad and uncle. You were so worried about the cattle and the thought of them being in the storm. You told your grandpa that your dad and uncle needed your expertise.”
Grinning, I said, “I remember that! Granddad finished helping me saddle the horse, then we rode out together. It was the first time I ever helped with the cattle.”
“Do you remember the time Sugar was having puppies, and you insisted on sleeping in the barn with her, even though your father told you that she had weeks left? You slept in that barn for two weeks before you finally gave up and moved back into your bedroom. Even then, you went and checked on her every few hours.”
I laughed. “Yep, I remember that, too.”
Dad smiled fondly before he tilted his head and regarded me. “What’s going on? You look like something heavy’s weighing on your mind.”
“I don’t want to keep you both from dinner.”
“You’re not. We’re having beef stew. Are you hungry?”
There was one thing I would never turn down, and that was my mother’s cooking. “I’d love some.”
“Stay,” my father said to my mother, as he stood. Kissing her on the head, he added, “I’ll dish us up some bowls.”
Reaching for my hand, Mom squeezed it tightly. “So?”
I drew in a deep breath and let it all out.
“That was a heavy sigh,” my father said.
An ache instantly formed at the back of my neck. I reached up and rubbed at it. “I’m not really sure how to tell you this bit of news.”
Mom instantly looked worried. “Are you okay?”
Realizing what she was thinking, I quickly said, “I’m fine. No one’s hurt or sick or anything like that.”
She leaned back and instantly looked relieved. “Thank goodness.”
Dad walked over and set a bowl down in front of my mother, then in front of me. I waited for him to come back with his own bowl and sit down.
I took a bite and raised my brows. “Delicious.”
“Stop stalling, Caden Wilde.”
Setting my spoon down, I wiped the corners of my mouth before closing my eyes briefly. “The last thing I ever want to do is disappoint either of you. Or Granddad or Grams. I hope you know that.”
“Of course, we know that,” Mom replied.
My father added, “And I highly doubt you ever could, son.”
I cleared my throat and just blurted it out. “Lilibeth is pregnant and I’m the father.”
My mother’s eyes widened as Dad’s brows drew down for a brief moment, then shot up.
Dad wore a confused expression. “I thought you two weren’t dating.”
Glancing at my father, my mother laughed. “Are you serious right now, Ladd Wilde? Anyone with two eyes can tell they like each other. Was it Christmas night?”