Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Morning.” I smile back, feeling my eyes begin to slide closed.
“Sleep, baby,” he chuckles, kissing me as he pulls out. Then the bed dips and I hear the shower turn on as I fall back asleep.
“I’m heading out.”
“Love you.” I snuggle deeper under the covers, feeling him kiss me once more.
“Love you, baby. See you in forty-eight hours.” That thought makes me pout. His laugh hits my ears and I open my eyes to glare at him. “I’ll be home before you know it.” Settling my hand on his beard covered cheek, his head turns and he kisses my palm then pulls his fist out of the bed, muttering, “Be good.”
“You, too,” I say as I watch him walk to the bedroom door, closing it behind him as he leaves.
Getting out of bed a few hours later, I make my way down to the kitchen and turn on the radio while I make myself a cup of coffee. Bending double over the counter, I sip my coffee and make a list of things I need to get done today. I need to get the water and electricity turned on at my office, then stop at the grocery store to pick up the basics for the house, and to see if any of the shops in town have any canisters for the kitchen, because Austin doesn’t have any. Knowing now that this is going to be my home too, I want to put my touch on it.
I also needed to get stools for the island, but I have a feeling we’re going to have to make a trip to Anchorage for those. Lifting my head, I look at the open living room and smile as I see the almost blank canvas of the house. I can’t wait to make this our home.
Taking my coffee with me, I head back upstairs and shower. Once out I tie my hair up on top of my head, not bothering with blowing it out or makeup. Going to the closet I find a pair of jeans and a plain red t-shirt and put them on before taking my cup with me back downstairs, setting the cup in the sink, and slipping on my boots by the door. Looking out the window noticing large black clouds I grab my raincoat then pick up my bag and car keys and head to my car.
Pulling into the parking lot of the grocery store, I look up through my windshield and watch as the storm clouds turn the sky even darker as they roll in.
I had been at the electric company when the girl who was turning on the power at my office told me the coastguard had made an announcement. There is a storm coming in and they predict gale-force winds, and waves fifteen-to-twenty feet high.
Opening the door, the wind whips inside, making me shiver. I tuck my bag under my arm, and get out quickly running across the parking lot, using my raincoat as a shield against the wind as I make it into the store.
“Hey, Lea,” Dan, the manager of the store, says as I set my items on the conveyer belt.
“Hi, Dan, how are you? How’s Jane?”
“Good.” He smiles gently. Dan and his wife were the first to stop by after my passed away, to bring me food.
“Good,” I repeat, sliding my card through the card reader.
“Is Austin heading into port?” he asks, looking out the window. I follow his eyes and see the sky has gotten impossibly darker since I came inside the store.
“He should be. I guess the coastguard sent out a warning,” I tell him as a niggle of worry begins to run through me.
“Tell him we say hi.”
“I will, and when you and Jane get time, we should have dinner.”
“Jane would like that,” he says softly, handing me my bags. “Get home safe.”
“I will.” I smile leaving the store and running back across the parking lot.
Rain starts pouring down in sheets as I turn on my car, making it hard to see, even with the wipers on full-blast. I drive slowly home, being extra cautious, which turns a fifteen-minute drive into a thirty-minute one. When I reach the house, I’m surprised that Austin’s truck isn’t parked under the deck in his usual spot. I figured with the warning out he would have been home by now. Trying not to think about it, I head inside to put groceries away.
“What the hell?” I look at the clock, realizing it’s been two hours since I arrived home. Picking up the house phone off the counter, I dial the number for Austin’s satellite phone and listen as it rings over and over again. “He’s probably docking, Lea. Get a grip,” I tell myself, setting the phone down and turning on the TV. Nervousness begins to settle deep inside of me as I watch the Weather Channel.