Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Hollis has your credit card in case you decide to do any shopping.
Enjoy your day out. I hope your work meeting goes well. Don’t forget that once your current commitments have been fulfilled, you’ll be halving your workload. Now that we have a baby on the way, you can reduce it even more if you want to. I’m sure there will be plenty popping up to keep you busy.
-Calvin
That last line seems strangely ominous, but I don’t think he meant it that way.
Sighing, I drop the envelope and force myself to sit up. I shift so I’m sitting cross legged on the mattress, then I haul the black Chanel bag over first. It’s a small bag, and inside I find a long, beautiful necklace with black and pearly white beads on a gold chain with gold Chanel Cs in two places. It’s fashionable and lovely, just my style.
I grab the Nordstrom bag next and pull out a cute skirt, black and white houndstooth check print. There’s a thin white top with it, long-sleeved and ribbed, but it doesn’t seem like it will be too hot. When I go to unfold the shirt so I can look at the whole thing, a note falls out.
You could wear this in Paris…
A smile claims my lips, but I shake my head.
He’s so crazy.
Since I have my phone today, I grab it and text him, “I’m not going to Paris with you.”
A moment passes before he sends back, “Why?”
I ignore his crazy question and grab the shoe box to see which shoes he picked out for me today. It’s a pair of black sandals with a strap over the toe and an ankle strap. There’s a heel, but it’s a low one.
My phone buzzes and I grab it, expecting it to be Calvin trying to sell me on Paris some more, but it’s Charity.
Forgetting for a moment all the crap we shouldn’t talk about, I text her back. I’m so proud of myself for being on top of it today. Since it crossed my mind yesterday, I ask her about having lunch after my meeting, and she agrees.
I gather all my new things and go in to take a shower and get ready for the day. I woke up before my alarm and forgot to turn it off, so it goes off while I’m in the shower.
As I’m doing my hair and makeup, I wonder if I should text Calvin. He knows when my meeting is and what time I wanted to be up, but I don’t know if he’s sending Hollis, or I have to call for him.
When I emerge from the bedroom, though, Hollis is waiting on the couch. “Ready to go?” he asks, sitting forward so he can stand.
“Yep,” I say, grabbing my purse and following him to the gallery.
___
The restaurant Charity wanted to meet at is an Italian place in Chelsea near her office. When I get there, she’s already seated at a table with a red and white checkered tablecloth. She’s sipping a martini and people watching, and I’m filled with a sense of just how much I’ve missed her.
“Hey, beautiful,” I say cheerfully, despite my life lacking in cheer at the moment.
She turns her head and beams at me, pushing back her chair and straightening her charcoal gray skirt suit on her way over to hug me. “Hey, you. God, I feel like it’s been a million years.” She’s frowning as she pulls back and grabs a handful of my necklace to inspect. “Is that a knock-off?”
“I highly doubt it.” I move away so she drops the necklace. I’m disappointed she immediately brought up something that’s going to lead us back to Calvin, so before she can ask about it, I ask her lightly, “How’s the divorce coming?”
She rolls her eyes as she takes a seat on her side of the table. “Oh, I decided to keep him.”
“That was generous of you.”
“Really was.” She looks up, her eyes brightening as a woman I assume is our server brings over a plate of delicious-looking, incredible-smelling food. “Ooh, good,” she says, lightly clapping her hands together in anticipation.
“Whoa, did you order for me, or what?”
She really is a little like Calvin.
I never noticed it until he pointed it out, but I can kind of see it now.
“Just the appetizer, but believe me, you’ll thank me later.”
I eye it up. “It looks delish, but what exactly is it?”
“Baked goat cheese with tomato sauce and then this gorgeously toasted baguette to scoop it up with.” She gives her fingers a chef’s kiss. “Amazing. Brian from work brought me here for drinks a few nights ago and I swear to God, I wanted to move here. Let’s get you one of these passion fruit martinis, too. They’re amazing.”
I cut her off as the waitress starts to jot that down. “No. No alcohol for me today, thanks. Do you have iced tea?”