Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“Yeah, why don’t we all go check out the playground? Though it’s gonna be cold. If you’re not careful, you two might get stuck to it.” Ease returned to Theo’s tone, but I could still see the rigidness lining his bones.
Laughter erupted from Finn. “I not get stuck, Feo!”
“Guess we’re going to have to find out.”
Lucy let go of the tiniest giggle, and Theo took their hands and guided them over to the playground, their boots disappearing into the five-inch-deep snow as they went.
Both children tottered along at his side, Finn jumping every couple steps, his little stuttered words indistinguishable in the distance, though I could feel the absolute glee radiating from his spirit.
I squeezed my arms over my chest.
He’d never had this.
A chance to connect with other children.
“He’s adorable.” The reserved voice hit from behind and off to the side, the woman’s nerves scattering on the cold breeze that sent the branches waving on the trees.
I swallowed around the idiotic reaction that had taken me hostage and forced myself to turn and look at her. I hoped with everything that the smile I coerced onto my face didn’t come out as unfriendly. “Thank you. So is your daughter.”
Her jaw ticked as she let her attention glide out to her child who was currently climbing the ladder to the slide.
Fear and adoration arced from her being.
Apprehension filled her when she returned her focus to me.
She was beautiful. Tall and willowy. Though there was something about her that appeared downtrodden. Her shoulders hunched as if her wounds were too heavy for her to carry.
“I’m Piper,” I finally said.
A smile barely edged one side of her mouth, and she seemed reticent before she finally spoke. “I’m Alicia.”
“Are you on vacation here?” I asked, hoping to ease some of the awkwardness that ricocheted between us.
She let go of the weightiest exhale. It might have been a laugh if there wasn’t so much pain behind it. “Yeah.”
A frown carved my brow. There was something so strange about her response that it sent a bolt of agitation running through my body.
A turbulence that rocked the atmosphere.
Like maybe she was as afraid as I was to get comfortable.
“It’s really beautiful here.” There was my pathetic attempt at small talk.
Her gaze moved around the area, and both distress and hope poured out of her. “I think it might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.”
Her response didn’t carry a tone of insignificance.
It was as if standing there in that spot was the greatest gift she’d ever received.
Her daughter’s shock of laughter caught our attention, and we both swiveled that way.
It appeared Finn had come flying down the slide, and in Theo’s attempt to catch him, Theo had been knocked onto his butt.
Now Finn was splayed over the top of him.
I was pretty sure with the way Theo enthused, “You’re so big and fast, you totally knocked me down,” there was a whole lot of acting going on.
“I knock you down!” Finn shouted as he wiggled around in his ridiculous outfit, rolling off to the side and onto his stomach before he could finally climb to his feet, using his mittened hands to push himself to standing.
Then he and Lucy both took one of Theo’s hands, the two children struggling with all their might to help him up.
“I go again, Feo.” Finn bobbed his sweet head emphatically.
“What, you just want to knock me over again?” Theo asked as he hopped onto his feet. He ran a tender hand over the top of Finn’s cap as he gazed down at my son.
My chest tightened, emotion clotting the air.
“No, I go wif Wucy.”
“Ah, now that sounds like a good plan.”
“Finn doesn’t get to play with other children very often,” I mused, more of that joy threatening as I watched him having the most fun he’d had in as long as I remembered.
Maybe in ever.
He always seemed content. Happy, even. The life we lived was the only life he knew.
But it was times like these when it became clear what we were missing.
“Neither does Lucy,” Alicia whispered as she anxiously tugged at the zipper of her coat.
“How long are you staying here?” I asked.
Alicia wavered, her silence stirring that turbulence again. “We’re more of a long-term rental. You?” She hurried the last.
Uncertainty rolled out of me on a huff. “At least three weeks.” I couldn’t bring myself to utter aloud what Nelly had suggested. “We got into a small accident, so we’re stuck here until my car is repaired. Theo found us, which is how we ended up at The Sanctuary.”
I peeked at her when I said it. A total masochist for trying to gauge her reaction when I mentioned his name. What the hell was wrong with me?
A puff of vapor curled from her mouth as she exhaled. “You never expect your savior to look like that, do you?”