Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“That’s really good, Chuck. Keep me updated.”
He full-on smiles at that. “Yes, sir.”
I give a nod, then turn back to head to my ma’s. When I get to her door I give a double knock and reach for the door handle. It’s unlocked like always. I curse under my breath as I enter.
“Don’t even start, Cole,” my ma says before I even clear the doorway, the same fight we always have about the door being unlocked stopped before it can even start. I get that there is a guard on this place and it’s safe, but I still fucking hate when front doors are unlocked.
“It was locked when I was in bed, but I stepped out to grab the paper and didn’t lock it back.” She shrugs one shoulder. “Besides, someone might want to pop in for breakfast.”
The smell of warm biscuits swirls around me and makes my stomach rumble, reminding me I didn’t eat breakfast. I don’t often eat this early unless I stop at the diner or make toast at home. That’s about all I can cook without burning it.
“Fresh coffee.” My ma looks over her shoulder at me while standing at the stove, clearly cooking something. Probably a million somethings.
I walk into the kitchen and lean down to kiss her on the cheek. “Morning, Ma,” I tell her before making my way over to the coffee pot and pouring myself a cup. I place the tin of her favorite cookies in the cabinet, then lean up against the counter and watch her work. My mom was always in the kitchen growing up. It was her favorite place to be. It didn’t matter it was just her and me. She cooked like she was feeding an army, which works around here. I’m sure people will start making their way into her apartment soon to dig in.
“Wish you would have told me you were coming this morning.” My mom gives a little huff as she pulls the biscuits out of the oven.
I grab one off the hot sheet and take a bite, not wanting to respond. I didn’t tell her I was coming for a reason. Whenever the women around here know I’m coming their daughters and granddaughters crawl out of the woodwork and I feel like a piece of meat being fought over.
I grit my jaw thinking about it. It isn’t that I don’t want a woman in my life, just no one has ever caught my eye. Plus, this is a small town. I didn’t like the idea of running into someone I dated after it didn’t work out. Or worse, one day I do find a woman and make her my wife and she has to run into people I dated.
I know what is coming from my mom next. She’s been on me since I healed from my injury when I retired from being a Ranger.
“I really think you and Susie would make a cute couple. Even cuter babies.” She says it dreamily, turning to look at me. She pushes her short gray hair behind one ear, giving me soft eyes while she smiles. I shove more of the biscuit in my mouth. She rolls her eyes before turning back to the stove to pull off the eggs and dump them into a bowl, but not before giving another little huff.
“Collie, you haven’t even brought me a woman to meet.” Her shoulders drops a little as she places the bowl of eggs on the table.
I swallow the food in my mouth, feeling a little bad. “It’s not that I’m hiding women from you, Ma.” I’m not. I just haven’t dated since I left the army. I didn’t have a desire to, on top of the other things. That part of me felt like it died when I almost lost my own life. I have a whole county to look after right now anyway. I don’t have room on my plate to worry about anyone else.
She walks over to me, placing her hands on my chest. “I just want you to be happy.” She looks up at me.
I want to tell her I am happy, but I’m not sure if that’s true. I don’t feel unhappy. In truth, I don’t feel much of anything. Numb to my own life. When that bomb went off it felt like it took more than a chunk of my shoulder. Something else went missing and I can’t seem to find whatever it is.
“Ma, I’m good,” I tell her, trying to reassure her. She studies my face. “You don’t need to worry about me. Not anymore.” I add the last part because I know while I was enlisted all she did was worry. I probably took ten years off her life when she got the call that I was unconscious and in the hospital going into surgery. That’s part of why I didn’t fight to go back, and I took my retirement and came home.