Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Matthew’s wife was pretty and had made her feel comfortable when they first met. She had the same friendly attitude Ginny had shown her.
Alanna caught her staring at her. “Feeling overwhelmed?”
“No,” she admitted. “I was just thinking how kind everyone has been to me. I would have left Treepoint if not for your family. I’m very grateful to all of you.”
Alanna gave her a sweet smile. “I haven’t done anything.”
Sophie shook her head. “You babysat Ginny’s children so she could help me at the restaurant. The good news is my parents should be here tomorrow, and you all can get back to your normal lives.” Seeing the way Ginny looked at her, she added, “At least not so often. Ginny is determined to keep working full-time.”
“At least until she gets pregnant again. Then she won’t be able to. She gets terrible morning sickness,” Fynn said matter-of-factly as he buttered his roll.
Sophie looked at Ginny questioningly.
“Don’t worry; that won’t be happening anytime soon.”
“October.”
Sophie turned her eyes back to Fynn, catching the warning glances his family was giving him.
“Am I missing something?” she came out and asked, getting a weird feeling.
“No, Fynn is a budding astrologer,” Silas explained, cutting the tension in the room. “It’s a hobby of his.”
“That’s interesting. What brought about your interest in astrology?” she asked, taking another bite of the beef.
“Our father had a deep interest in astrology and passed it along to all of us,” Silas answered for Fynn.
“Is that why you all believe in soul mates?”
Despite Jody telling her that she was his soul mate, she still believed it was a bunch of malarky.
“Yes.” Silas placed his fork down on his plate. “I take it you don’t?”
“No.”
“I understand. Most people don’t.”
Alanna gave her a smile. “I didn’t believe it at first, either.”
“You do now?”
“Oh, yes. I can’t imagine my life without Matthew, and I won’t have to. It’s very comforting to me that our souls are linked.”
“Let’s see if you can say the same thing when you’ve been married forty years.” Isaac laughed. “You’ll be searching for a chainsaw to cut the link between you guys by then.”
The table broke out in laughter. Alanna laughed along with the others at the dirty look Matthew was giving Isaac.
After dinner, they sat in the living room while the children played. Sophie couldn’t help but notice the teenager Ginny had brought with her. Lennon was sitting on the floor, playing with the children. The girl appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, was very pretty, and she hadn’t spoken a word when Ginny introduced her. While Lennon was helping set the table, Ginny had explained she was a friend of the girl’s foster mother, and Lennon stayed at Ginny’s house during school breaks.
Gavin seemed tolerant of the girl and didn’t seem upset she stayed close to Ginny’s side.
While she enjoyed listening to the banter going back and forth between the siblings, she continued watching the kids play.
Alanna sat Alex down on the floor. The adorable baby, who was a miniature version of his father, was shoving one fist in his mouth while attempting to maintain his balance. Ginny’s daughter, who was playing with blocks, handed one to Alex, which he promptly dropped. Leah reached out to pick the block up, and as she did so, Alex reached out to grab Leah’s hair. The little girl giggled, reached out to take the baby’s hand, and then Sophie jumped when Leah started howling in pain, holding her hand.
Ginny, Reaper, and Silas simultaneously went for Leah. Gavin reached her first.
“Give her to me.”
Sophie was shocked at the way Silas ordered Gavin to give his own daughter to him.
Ginny was trying to grab Leah’s hand, which she was holding close to her chest, which made Leah cry louder.
Ginny looked away from Leah to Silas, who had his hands out with a curious expression on his face.
“Give her to him, Gavin.”
Hearing the urgency in his wife’s voice, Gavin reluctantly handed Leah over. Gently taking Leah into his arms, Silas started crooning to the upset child, turning around to walk into the dining room. Everyone anxiously watched the two.
Glancing down at the children on the floor, Sophie saw Alex was crying, frightened by Leah’s cry. Big fat tears were rolling down his cheeks.
Seeing everyone’s attention centered on Leah, Sophie leaned forward to pick the baby up. Her movement caught Alanna’s eye.
“No! Don’t touch him.”
Matthew hurried over to scoop the crying child into his arms.
“I’m sorry, I just—”
Alanna shook her head. “There’s no need to apologize. I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s just …” Alanna seemed to be at a loss of words to explain her outburst.
“Alex doesn’t know you well, and being touched by a stranger could have set him off crying louder than Leah,” Matthew explained, patting his son on his back.
Sophie glanced back over at the other child, seeing Silas handing her back over to Gavin. Leah had stopped crying and was snuggling into Gavin’s chest. Gavin had a fearsome appearance, yet the sight of him gently rocking his daughter brought a lump to her throat