Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Livy giggles through her tears. “Baby, let my dad hold her.”
Slade lifts his hand from Ryn’s back and gives Jackson the middle finger.
“Baby, I need something to eat.”
Slade sighs, slowly sitting up in the chair.
Jackson wastes no time reaching for the tiny baby. Slade stands with her, turning and giving Jackson the stink eye.
After a stare-off, Slade nods to the chair. “Sit down, old man. I don’t want you dropping my daughter.”
“Listen, fucker—”
“Language!” Livy scolds.
The men hold their tongues while the baby exchange is made. Jackson cradles her in his arms so he can inspect her precious face. “Ryn,” he whispers with tears stinging his eyes. His wife would have been so in love with her grandbabies. She would have been the best grandma. Always so kind and overflowing with love. Always the nurturer. Always the peacemaker in the room. Truly the glue that held everyone else together.
In the next breath, he thinks of Frankie.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
FRANCESCA
“Jack, she’s precious,” I gush, calling him after a long day at school. He sent me several dozen pictures. He's a proud grandpa, indeed.
“I can’t stop staring at her,” he confesses.
I laugh. “I don’t blame you. How’s Livy?”
“She’s amazing. They’re heading home in an hour. We had to wait two days to leave the hospital when she was born. Times have changed.”
“What’s Wylder think of his little sister?” I open my bakery bread and grab a plate for a sandwich.
“He’s already the protective brother. He wants to hug her to death, and he keeps chanting, ‘my baby.’”
“Oh …” I press my lips together and shake my head.
“You’re not crying, are you?”
“No.” I sniffle.
He chuckles.
“I’m so happy for you and your family.”
“Thank you. I was taken aback when they told me her name. It’s …”
“Perfect. Ryn is the perfect name. I’d be incredibly honored to have my imaginary grandchildren named after me.” I laugh.
“As fate would have it, Ryn’s middle name is Slade’s mom’s middle name.”
“Yeah, you didn’t tell me her middle name, how much she weighs, or any of the good details. And why are you calling it fate?” I smash avocado onto my sourdough bread.
“Her middle name is Adeline.”
I pause my spreading and stare at my phone on the counter. “That’s …”
“In your words … perfect.”
“I fucking love you,” I whisper.
“I fucking miss you already.”
“Don’t waste your time missing me when you have grandbabies.” I can’t help but sniffle again. “You have grandbabies.”
“Are you sure you’re not crying? We should FaceTime.”
“I’m a mess.” I wipe my eyes with my arm and continue constructing the perfect sandwich. “Go be with your family. I don’t want to keep you. And text me your address so I can send a gift.”
“You should hand-deliver it. Anything less is a little tacky.”
“I’m choosing to ignore your ridiculousness. Just let me know when you’re bringing Wylder to New York. I’ll plan something fun for us.”
“I’ll get to work on that.”
I cut my sandwich and bite back my grin as if I need to hide my excitement from someone. “I want daily pictures. Video too. And don’t forget to text me your address.”
“Got it. Just uh …” He mumbles something to someone in the background, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. “I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”
Just as I start to say, “I love you,” he says, “Bye,” and ends the call.
While I eat my sandwich, I look online for the perfect gift, but then I decide to buy something in person and send it with a handwritten note. That feels more personal, like what one should do if they enjoy giving the baby’s grandpa blowjobs.
Over the next four weeks, I either talk with Jack on the phone every day or FaceTime. I like the FaceTiming best, especially if I happen to catch him in a recliner with either Wylder jumping on him or Ryn sleeping all nestled in his neck. By now, I’ve virtually met Livy, Jessica, Luke, and two of their three kids.
Some days being a responsible adult sucks. I want to toss clothes in a bag and book a flight to Boise. And just when I think having a job is overrated, Jack texts me a picture of his plane ticket.
Jack: I’m stealing Wylder and flying to NY. He likes mangoes, grapes, and hummus. Stock up. Can’t wait to see you
Me: DYING with excitement!!!
I reread the text a half-dozen times on the way to my car, nearly getting backed over by another vehicle because I’m not focused on anything but Jack and Wylder. They’ll be here this weekend.
With an unstoppable grin and a bounce in my step, I fish my key fob from my bag and unlock my car. Then … I can’t breathe.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
JACKSON
Jackson picks up dinner for Livy and Slade and helps pack Wylder’s bag for their weekend trip. Then, he steals Ryn for some cuddle time.