Chapter 19

As soon as I press send, I sit back in my chair and exhale a sigh of relief. A manuscript that should have taken me three months to complete turned into five months. But it's finally finished and is currently traveling through cyberspace on its way to my agent for approval. If Darren comes back with big changes, I'm going to use the papers he printed my words on and give him a thousand papercuts. Make no mistake, I love my characters, but this book was a beast to write and was emotionally draining. I'm done looking at it.

I plan to take a month off from writing, but I tell myself that every time I finish a book. It never pans out. I'm lucky if I go two weeks before the need to start my next story drives me crazy, and I'm back behind my desk with a fresh Word document pulled up. I can already hear the voices clamoring in my head, begging for freedom.

The doorbell rings, and I pull up the camera app on my phone. Ginger waves at me, knowing I always check before I come to the door. Her two adorable boys follow suit.

Swiveling in my chair, I grab my coffee cup and drop it off at the bar on my way to the front door. I quickly disengage the alarm and yank the door open. Aiden and Josh immediately barrel their way inside and attach themselves to my legs.

Ginger sighs, walking inside at a slower pace. "I swear they love you more than me. I never get that reaction when I pick them up from kindergarten."

As I gaze down at the boys, I place my hands lovingly atop their heads. "It's just because they see you every day. I'm the shiny toy they only get to see every so often."

"Same ole, same ole mom, huh, stinker one and stinker two?" Ginger says, making them giggle. "Sorry to disappoint you, but you only get one, so get used to it."

Ginger closes the door, I re-engage the alarm, the security system beeping to let me know it's set.

"What brings you by today?" I ask, turning to Ginger.

"Ice cream!" Aiden shouts and Josh bobs his head up and down dramatically.

With a grin, I bop the ends of their noses with my finger. "Ice cream, huh? Is that all I'm good for?"

With an amused eye roll, Ginger remarks with mock authority, "We did not come to see your aunt for ice cream." She looks at me. "We were in town for their five-year check-up, and I figured we'd stop by and see what you were up to."

"But, Mom," Aiden says before I can reply. He lets my leg go to hold up his arm, showing off a Spiderman Band-Aid on his skinny bicep. "We got shots today. You said we would get ice cream if we were good. We didn't cry. Not even a little bit."

I laugh at his pleading look. His brother matches the look, even though he keeps quiet.

"Sorry, Ginger, but I can't say no to that. Especially if it's a promise." I ruffle both boys' heads. "And it just so happens, I have an almost full carton of ice cream in my freezer."

"Yah!" Aiden turns his beseeching eyes to his mom. "Can we, Mom?"

She tries to pull off an irritated look, but she can't hide the twitch of her lips. "Fine. A small bowl for each."

They run, hellbent on getting to the kitchen. We laugh and shake our heads as we follow them down the hallway. We find them already sitting at the kitchen table, their legs swinging joyfully and their eyes filled with anticipation as they gaze at the freezer.

As I grab the carton of ice cream and two bowls and spoons from the cabinet, I can't help but laugh. The minute the bowls are placed before them, they snatch up the spoons and shovel cold bits into their mouths.

"From the looks of them, you'd think they never get the stuff," Ginger says dryly, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.

"You know getting ice cream from someone else's house is so much better than what you get at home." Ginger lets out a short laugh before she tips the mouth of the bottle to her lips. "Or that's the logic for kids, at least."

"Nope." She recaps the water. "I've just got spoiled kids. I blame it all on Mason."

"Whatever. Those boys are adorable, and you know it," I tell her.

"Oh, I know it all right, and they're already taking after their father and using their cuteness to get what they want." Her amused eyes slide to me. "Them at your table eating your favorite ice cream is proof of that."

I lift a shoulder. "What can I say? They're my favorite nephews."

"They're your only nephews."

"Eh. You got me there." Smiling at our banter, I put the ice cream back in the freezer and pull out a package of steaks to grill later.

Ginger and I grew up as close as two sisters could be. We were each other's best friends before we started to make friends of our own. I still consider her my best friend, she's just not my only best friend anymore.

"Have you talked to Mom today?" She takes a seat on one of the stools at the bar.

I pull out the one next to her and sit. "No. She called earlier, but I was in the middle of finishing up my manuscript. I haven't had time to call her back."

"Her and Dad are talking about buying a yacht and living on it part of the year. They want to sail up and down the east coast."

"Wow, really?" This news surprises me. My parents have never expressed an interest in living on a boat. "That's out of the blue. What made them come up with that idea?"

"Not sure how she met her, but I guess she's been talking to this woman online for a while. She and her husband have been living on a boat full time for the last ten years. I guess all the stories she's told Mom have piqued their interest. Her and Dad are planning a trip down to Florida this summer to meet the couple in person. They're going to stay with them on the boat for a week."

My brows jump up. "Wait. Are you serious? How well does Mom really know these people? They could be serial killers who lure people out on their boat and they're never seen again."

Ginger laughs as she picks at the label on her water bottle. "You really ought to lay off the thrillers for a while, Cat. Your imagination is a bit scary at times."

"Oh come on," I huff, turning in my seat to face Ginger. "You can't tell me you're really okay with this. What does Max think about it?"

Her eyes come to me and her lips twist. "He has the same concerns as you. But neither of you are giving our parents credit. They aren't stupid, you know. Dad is an excellent judge of character, and you know he won't risk Mom's safety if he felt an inkling of doubt. He's already having the couple checked out."

"Well, that makes me feel somewhat better," I grumble, still not totally appeased.

Ginger's hand lands on mine, squeezing my fingers. "Don't worry. They'll be safe."

I nod and decide to change the subject. I'll talk to Mom later and hear from her what precautions she and Dad are taking.

"Did Mason make partner?"

Ginger grins, letting my hand go to continue picking at the label. "He did," she answers happily. "In two weeks, the name Hart will be alongside Spencer, Mullens, and Thatcher."

"Oh my God! That's wonderful!" I reach over and hug Ginger. "I'm so excited for you both!"

Mason started at the bottom of Spencer, Mullens, and Thatcher, one of the top corporate law firms in the country. He's been with the firm for five years. Although it's not common, it's not unheard of to become a partner after only five years. Mason has worked his ass off and is a damn competent lawyer.

"Let me know if you want Hunter and me to watch the kids so you can go out and celebrate," I offer.

"I may take you up on that. Our lives are going to be hectic for a while. He's expected to put in some hellacious hours, not that he hasn't already."

"Well, we're here when you need us," I say.

"Thanks, sis."

Ginger and the boys hang out for a while longer before she takes her crew and heads out. I make a mental note to order a bottle of wine this week and have it delivered to my sister and Mason.

After locking and setting the alarm after they leave, I return to the kitchen and grab the bottle of pain pills from the cabinet above the stove. I've been getting migraines for years, and I feel one coming on. I want to head it off before the worst of it comes. The sooner I take the prescribed medicine, the less it will cripple me.

After swallowing the pill with some water, I go upstairs and wet a rag with cold water. Besides taking the medicine, the best thing I can do during a migraine is to lay down and sleep.

After crawling between the cool sheets, I lay the rag over my forehead and eyes.