Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
I went back to mine, trying not to feel the pain of knowing Dad and Deb were leaving soon, at the same time lamenting the fact I didn’t ask Luna, Scott, Louise, as well as Shirleen to this brunch.
I wanted my family to get to know each other.
That said, we still had a lot of catching up to do, so maybe when they came back for Thanksgiving (I was going with “when” rather than “if” to help with the fact they were leaving that day, though I had no idea how we’d manage a Thanksgiving feast in the courtyard, but if they came, by God, I’d find a way).
In the midst of eating, Luna sent a text that was a selfie of her wearing the necklace we gave her and a big ol’ smile with the message I love it! Thank you!!!!!! and she added about twenty double pink hearts after that.
I showed that photo to Deb too, and we shared a moment the likes of which I never thought I’d have again.
Mom and daughter who done good while shopping.
Sure, she was my stepmom, but it worked for me.
We were lingering over coffees, and I was trying to figure out what we should do next because we had some more time, but we should also give up our table so the crowd outside could be thinned out and the establishment could make more money.
I was leaning toward trying to talk Dad and Cap into hanging out in the shoe section of Nordstrom while Deb and I tried things on when Cap pulled out his phone.
He looked at it, his brows drew down, he murmured to the table, “Sorry, gotta take this. Work,” then he kissed the side of my head, got up and strolled out of the restaurant.
“Uh…” Dad began, and I looked from watching Cap outside (okay, he had his back to us, so I was staring at his ass) to my dad. “What work does he do that he has to do it on a Sunday?”
“He’s a private investigator,” I informed them.
They both looked shocked.
“At his age?” Dad asked.
“He was in the Army, and he kinda sorta grew up with the team at the firm where he now works. His mom, the Black lady at Lon’s?” I asked to confirm they remembered her.
They nodded.
Even in all that was going on, I figured Shirleen was hard to forget.
“She’s the receptionist at the firm.”
“Ah,” Deb said.
“His mom is Black?” Dad queried.
I wasn’t going to share Cap’s story, not unless he gave me permission.
So I said, “He’s adopted.”
“Oh,” Deb murmured, her gaze going soft and drifting to the windows to outside.
“I should have guessed he was in the service. He knows how to hold himself,” Dad remarked.
Oh, he knew how to do that all right.
I felt it before I saw it, so I turned my attention to the front of the restaurant to see Cap, with a carefully blank look on his face I obviously couldn’t read, I just knew I didn’t like it, coming back in.
He went right to our server, pulled out his wallet and handed her a credit card.
“Well, that was sneaky,” Deb said, sounding both annoyed and impressed.
Cap came to the table and sat down in a manner I knew he wanted to get back up.
Dad immediately shared something Cap had to know, since they’d had this conversation the day before (with Dad winning), “Deb and I wanted to pay for brunch.”
“I need to ask you to go somewhere with me,” Cap stated instead of responding to what Dad said.
“Well, we have a few hours before we have to get to the airport,” Dad replied cautiously. “So, sure.”
“No, sir, you mistake me. I can’t explain how right now, but I need you to trust me.”
Deb and Dad looked at each other.
After I saw them do that, I pinned my eyes to Cap.
I still couldn’t get a read on what was going on, and why he was being like this, and what he wanted with Dad and Deb.
The server brought the bill folder and Cap took it.
He stood after he was done signing and put his card back in his wallet.
Uncertainly, Dad, Deb and I stood too.
“If you’ll follow us in your car,” Cap requested with strange formality.
“Is everything okay?” Dad asked.
“Yes, everything is fine,” Cap told him, though his tone didn’t confirm that…exactly.
I just didn’t know how I knew everything was not fine…exactly.
Cap took my hand and guided us all out of the restaurant.
I waited until we were in the car to ask, “What’s going on?”
He reversed out of his spot, saying, “Need to ask you to trust me too, baby.”
“Cap, you’re kinda freaking me out.”
We were out of our spot, he was idling with his eyes to his rearview, waiting for Dad and Deb to come up behind us, but he looked to me, lifted a hand to cup my jaw and whispered, “Please, Raye, just trust me.”