Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“Only the best. She really looks up to you and your work ethic.”
“She’s one of the most talented and compassionate individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of not only working with, but knowing.”
“That’s not hard to believe,” I said, staring over to Kierra who was giggling with Ava as they cut the cake. “She’s quite extraordinary.”
“‘Extraordinary,’” he repeated as he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose before placing them back on. “Yes. That’s the perfect word to describe her.”
Before I could reply, Henry played a few keys on the piano, grabbing the attention of the room. He then stood on top of the piano bench with a glass of wine in his hand. “Sorry to interrupt, but I think we can all agree that my wife’s speech was a little lackluster,” he said with that smug smile that seemed to be always plastered on his face. “And if you have ever been to one of our dinner parties, then you understand I love a good toast. So, I figured I’d take a moment to make a toast to the most splendid woman I’ve ever had the grace of knowing.” He held his glass up in the air. “You know, when I met Kierra, I was a single father trying to figure out life. She came in like a rocket and made my life brighter. Made our lives brighter,” he said as he gestured toward Ava. “So, tonight we toast to my beautiful, gifted, caring wife, Kierra. The woman who puts everyone else before herself. Cheers!”
Everyone cheered and drank their wine. Joseph stood beside me, shaking his head in disapproval. “‘The woman who puts everyone else before herself,’” Joseph said, echoing Henry’s words. “It’s funny. That’s supposed to be seen as a compliment, but really, it’s a curse.”
“How do you mean?”
“It’s self-harm—loving others more than you love yourself. Kierra is nicer to others than she is herself. I’ve never met such an extraordinary woman who was so unkind to herself.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“I have a million professional reasons that I could come up with. Thousands of different ways to study her. Yet, from a friend’s viewpoint, it’s easy. Something in her past made her feel as if she didn’t deserve a certain level of love, so she overpours into others as a way to make up for her past.”
“She’s carrying guilt of some kind?”
“Yes, maybe.” He slightly shook her head. “Or maybe it’s just a heartbreak that never healed completely. Either way, her way of living will be to her own detriment. Maybe not today, but it adds up—giving so much without receiving a thing. Henry knows this and abuses that role in her life. He knows she’ll do anything for Ava, which means he can get away with anything if Kierra fears losing her daughter.”
“He controls her through her love for Ava.”
“Precisely. Which makes him the scariest kind of person. I mean, what kind of man would use his own daughter as leverage to get his way?”
A monster. A monster would do that.
Joseph nodded once. “But who knows? Maybe I’ve had one too many beers.” He held a hand out toward me. “It was nice to meet you, Gabriel.”
I shook his hand. “You too, Joseph.”
“In a perfect dream world, I’d have you build me a new home, too.”
“Just call me whenever you’re ready.”
“I doubt I could afford you,” he joked.
“I’ll give you the friends and family discount.”
Joseph laughed. “I’ll hold you to that. Cheers, brother,” he said, tapping his beer bottle against mine. Before he left, he said one more thing that stayed with me. “You know the difference? Between you and Henry?”
“What’s that?”
“He only speaks kind things of Kierra when they are in crowds. He’s loud about it around other people. You speak so kindly of her quietly, sincerely. And if I’m good at reading people, which I believe I am, I bet you speak that kindly of her within your thoughts, too.”
***
As the party continued, people grew more and more intoxicated. I still hadn’t had a chance to speak to Henry, but as more time moved by, I figured Kierra’s birthday party wasn’t the best opportunity to have it out.
Every time I looked over at Kierra, her smile was stretched wide, and she seemed surrounded by the people she loved most. It was a very different crowd than Henry’s dinner party. Everyone seemed genuinely more friendly and welcoming. There was a warmth about the whole situation, and I was glad she was able to have that level of joy. I was happy to see that the attention was only on her.
She found her way back over to me at one point. She was a little tipsy and had a goofy smile of delight on her face. “Guess what,” she said, swaying to the jazz music filling the room.