Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
He nodded, motioning to the wardrobe. I opened it and found a navy suit in a dry-cleaning bag. Good. Walking into the bathroom, I turned on the shower and then went to collect him from the bed. As I helped him into the bathroom, I paused on the threshold. “Derek,” I said, and he lifted his head to me. “You know I lost my mother recently?” He nodded. I exhaled a heavy breath. “It messed me up, too, and I was resorting to drowning my sorrows in drink. It was a disaster, so I started seeing a professional. Having someone to talk to, especially someone who understands depression and grief and all sorts of other mental health issues, has helped me immensely. Perhaps you should consider—”
“You think I’m depressed?” I shot him a pointed look, and he deflated a little. “Fine, maybe I’ve been a bit down, but Gigi is the one who needs help, not me.”
“Then you both should start seeing someone, whether it’s a counsellor or a psychologist, hell, even your GP could help. In fact, that’s usually the best place to start. Then they can refer you on to someone who best suits your needs.”
“Maybe it could be good,” he allowed.
“It will certainly be better than continuing as you are. And besides, if you want to be the best father to your daughter while she’s going through such a tough time, you need to be on top form. You can’t help her if you’re falling apart, too.”
Some kind of determination formed in his eyes. “You’re right.”
“I usually am. Now, let’s get you into the shower.”
While Derek washed, I texted Ada letting her know I’d been held up but would be back as soon as I could and that she should order whatever she liked from room service. Her response had me almost abandoning Derek, but I held firm. Just about.
Ada: That’s too bad. Me and this giant bed miss you. x
There was a photo attached, one that showed she’d found the gifts I’d brought her, a set of lingerie and matching silk robe. Jesus Fucking Christ. The picture only showed her top half, the robe open enough to reveal her tempting cleavage. I ground my jaw and gripped tightly to every last reserve of willpower.
About two hours later, Derek was showered and shaved, had a fresh haircut and was all tucked up in bed with a bottle of water on his nightstand. I had all the alcohol cleared out of his mini bar after a quick request I made down at the reception desk.
When at long last I arrived back at our suite, the lamps were dimmed, and Ada was asleep in bed, her breathing deep as I admired her profile in slumber. The covers only half obscured her body, and I had to bite my knuckles to keep from waking her because she still wore the silk robe and lingerie, only the robe had fallen open, revealing her lush body presented like a gift. All that was missing was a little bow.
Speaking of gifts, there was a small item wrapped in Christmas paper sitting on the nightstand next to the bed, my name scribbled across it in Ada’s messy handwriting. I had no idea how fond I’d become of her wild scrawl when I’d first seen it.
Quietly, I tore at the wrapping, finding a photo frame within. Inside the frame was a picture of Mam, and my lungs constricted. She was walking on the beach not too far from my childhood home, her blonde hair streaked with the grey that had multiplied over the years we’d been apart. Tears flooded my eyes as I stared at it, but they weren’t as grief stricken as the ones I’d shed in recent weeks. They were joyful tears tainted with only the barest hint of melancholy because Mam was smiling so beautifully in the photograph, and somehow, I knew Ada was the one who’d taken it. Mam’s feet were bare, her trousers folded up to mid-calf as though she’d been paddling in the water. The wind-swept strands of hair were up over her head, while the sky was clear and blue behind her.
It was a stunning picture, and my chest clenched with gratitude to Ada for gifting it to me. I held onto any tiny grain of Mam during our time apart so tightly, and I suspected Ada knew how much having the photo would mean to me.
Setting the frame back down on the nightstand, I undressed, turned off the remaining lamps and crawled into bed next to the bewitching woman who was entirely unaware she’d stolen my heart. She stirred, making a small noise and waking for a moment as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.
“Thank you,” I whispered into her hair. “For the gift. I’ll treasure it.”