Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Why do you think they’re going to be pissed off?” Jacob says. “Dad won’t give a shit as long as you’ve not dug up his leeks or upset the dog. Mum…she’ll just worry about you, but that will be true whatever job you have. Why are you making this into a big deal?”
“You don’t get it,” Nathan says.
“It’s fine.” I put an arm on Nathan’s shoulder. “Let’s just—”
We all freeze as the door to the snug creaks open and Dad appears.
“What are you lot up to in here? If you do something to Dax that upsets your mother, I swear I’ll—”
“We’re not going to torture Dax,” I reassure him.
“We are going to try and make sure he doesn’t get drunk enough to agree to do something stupid though,” Jacob says.
“Good,” Dad says. “Maybe swipe his drink all the time. Or fill it up with watered-down something. You know how Vincent gets. He holds no prisoners. He’s a bloody nutcase—he’ll have Dax doing God-knows-what. And make sure no one involves Dog in anything.”
“Promise. It will be fine, Dad. When’s Beau getting here?” I ask, trying to distract him.
“God knows. He’s on shift, so probably sometime just before midnight.” The brutal schedule is one of the worst things about being a doctor. More proof that you really have to love your job.
“Jacob, can I show you something?” Nathan says. “Zach, you stay here with Dad.”
I roll my eyes, but I don’t need to say anything because Dad just follows them right out of the room.
“You okay?” Ellie asks as I get back to the kitchen. “Yeah, just my brothers being…them.”
“So you haven’t…”
“No. I want to pick a time when everything’s a bit...calmer.” That was wishful thinking in our house. It was never calm anywhere the Cove family gathered in numbers.
Mum was always the first one up, so I’d set the alarm for six.
I’d been consigned to Mum’s sewing room in the outbuilding on the pull-out sofa, but at least it means I haven’t woken Ellie. I open my phone and drop a message to Ellie telling her I missed having her sleep next to me, then plod into the bathroom.
I’m pretty sure no one will be up for hours, but given Vincent’s flight is delayed and we don’t know what time he’s getting in, I want to make sure I get some time with Mum.
After a quick shower, I pull on some clothes and head over to the main house. I must have had too much to drink last night because I didn’t wear a coat over here and it’s cold, even with my jumper on. It’s misty, the house surrounded by fog so thick it feels strange that I can move through it without being able to feel anything.
I toe off my boots when I get into the boot room and then head to the kitchen where Mum’s at the Aga.
“You’re an early bird,” she says. She must see something in my expression. “What is it?”
“Thought we could have a coffee and a chat together before everyone else gets up and things descend into chaos.”
She smiles. “I love the chaos. I miss you boys being home all the time.”
I flick the switch on the kettle, put the tea in the teapot, and take some mugs from the cupboard.
“Ellie’s lovely,” she says. She’s opening the conversation she thinks we’re about to have, but she’s barking up the wrong tree. “It’s been a while since I met one of your girlfriends.”
I don’t know if what I told Ellie was true, that I was really too busy at work to connect with someone. Maybe I just never met anyone I was serious about. But I can’t help but think I wasn’t open to anything when I was in a job I didn’t like, looking at a future I didn’t want.
“Yes, she really is. We haven’t been together long but…” I pour the boiled water into the teapot. “She’s great.”
Mum is trying hard to be relaxed, but I can tell she’s bracing herself.
“She’s really good for me. And I hope I’m good for her.” I take the teapot to the table and Mum brings over the mugs.
“I’m certain you are.” Her mouth is pulled into a forced smile—a sure sign she’s worrying.
“But it’s not Ellie I want to talk about.”
She snaps her head up.
“Maybe next trip.”
Her face breaks into a warm, genuine smile and I can’t help but chuckle.
“No marriage proposals. No grandchildren on the way.”
“So it’s work?” she asks and I nod.
I pour the tea and realize Mum has gotten the milk out of the fridge without me even realizing. She’s always been there, picking up the pieces and filling in the gaps when we don’t even realize the pieces are missing or the gaps have appeared.
“I don’t know if you remember when I was a kid, I used to like to write.” I’ve deliberately not rehearsed what I was going to say today. I’m not sure if any of it is going to make sense.