Chapter Seventeen
One Month Later
Larissa buried her mother on a Friday morning, after getting to know her for one month.It was one of the worst moments of her life, yet it was also one of the best months.
She knew George was supposed to keep this a secret from her.Her father had been visiting her mother in secret, in a hospice that dealt with end-of-life care.Her mother wasn’t going to get better, and she used the last of her money to put herself in a place that would take care of her, then she reached out to Jonah.
Larissa never had any idea that she and her mother shared the same name.Her mother never remarried, and never changed her name.She stayed as Larissa Adams.
On the headstone, she had made the changes to include that Larissa Adams was a loving mother placed on the headstone.
Larissa was so angry with her father, yet so grateful to George for letting her have a month.
Her father got half a year with her mother, where they talked about their regrets.Her mother told her that her biggest regret was walking away and thinking she was missing a life that only ever caused her pain.It was heartbreaking and therapeutic at the same time.
Ava had given her some time off, and as she made her way downstairs on the morning after the funeral, she stepped into the kitchen to find George already there.George was not wearing a shirt.In fact, he rarely wore any shirt or apron while he cooked.
“Bacon and eggs are nearly done.I’ve got fluffy pancakes in the oven.”He winked toward her.“All you have to do is make yourself a drink.No coffee either.I have made sure if I want some, I will drink it outside the house, and I even brush my teeth before I come inside.”
“You do?”
“Yep, I have seen how the scent of coffee makes you feel.I am being completely caring and considerate.”He smiled toward her.“How are you feeling today?”
Yesterday, the day her mother passed, she cried.Today, she felt ...sad but also happy.
“I don’t know how I feel right now.I think I am happy because she is no longer in pain, and at least I got to know her.”
George nodded.“I’m glad.”
She didn’t know what happened between her father and George.They both were sporting black eyes.In the strangest twist of fate, she found herself on George’s side, and it had been the first time since finding out he made a bet about sleeping with her, that she referred to him as Big Dick.In her mind, his name kept changing between Big Dick and George.
“I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to get to know her if it wasn’t for you,” she said.
“Yeah, well, don’t worry, I more than made up for it.Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
