More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“My mom would lose her mind if I reached fifty without a single grandchild for her to spoil rotten.”
I couldn't wait. And that would be the end of me. I could feel it in my bones.
Confession: I still struggle with my self-esteem.
I gaped at myself in the mirror, my eyes watering. I felt beautiful, and it had been so damn long since I'd seen myself that way.
“I wouldn’t have gotten my happily ever after without breaking a rule.”
“Henrietta. He left his plans on a Friday night because you sent him a text message. He threatened to kill a guy, and then kissed you on the forehead saying, and I quote, ‘the best is yet to come.’ I don't know what you could possibly be missing here.”
“Henrietta Jones. You are absolutely beautiful, but you don't have to see that for someone else to realize it.”
“There are hundreds of jobs out there. There's only one Tyler.”
“That’s what I heard,”
“And a little more.”
“They’ve been together thirty-six years. And I don’t think she’ll ever forgive the goat hoofprints on the top of her car.”
“I’ll just say it,” Cohen said as he shuffled the deck over and over again. “What are your intentions with Henrietta?”
“Maybe she hasn’t found the right match yet.”
“And you’re saying you could be that match?”
“I’m saying I’m all in,”
Confession: My ovaries have a mind of their own.
“Hi, baby!”
“I usually go by Tyler, but baby will do.”
“You are the cutest,”
“We heard all about your heroic rescue last week. I was quite impressed.”
“I was happy to help.”
my brothers stared him down, three wolves to Tyler’s sheep.
“Welcome to our home, Tyler. We’re happy to have you.”
“But I can’t blame you. He is gorgeous.”
“If it doesn’t affect your quality of work, what you do in your free time is none of her business. Especially when you don’t have anyone in town supervising you.”
“Tyler, why don’t you come help me with the grill?”
I could tell he was the kind of guy who would give you his trust until you broke it, and I wasn’t going to give him a reason not to trust me.
“No, she always says you can tell a lot about a person by the hose setting they use. She’d approve of your choice for cleaning.”
“Henrietta’s our only daughter, our baby girl.”
“She’s got three brothers who would drop anything to be there for her, but she’s independent as hell and has a stubborn streak to match. She’s fiercely loyal, unendingly kind, and if you take her to a baseball field, she’s got a swing that won’t quit.”
“If you hurt my daughter or plan to drop her for another girl the second you go home, I’d appreciate it if you just went back to being coworkers only.”
“Either you’re lying to me or yourself. Which one is it?”
“Sir, where I come from, we do things a little differently when we meet a girl, a woman, we really like. I wouldn’t dream of getting serious with your daughter unless I first asked your permission. If it’s alright with you, I’d like the chance to date your daughter.”
“You have my blessing.”
“But Hen’s opinion is the one that matters.”
“Son, there is one thing you need to know. When we cook here, we add the flavor.”
“Not at all, but Kenner’s never done well with strangers. Don’t let him hurt your feelings.”
“Keep it up, you two. That’s how this happened,”
“You did it all on your own, buddy.”
“He was just scared—had to get out of his own way.”
Now that I had her father’s permission... there was nothing holding me back. “Actually, speaking of being afraid—”
“Why don’t you let me hold A’yisha so you can get a plate?”
“Are you sure? You are the guest.”
“And you’re th...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
They launched into the story, and I held A’yisha in my lap, wondering if someday, Henrietta and I would be telling the same story with a child of our own.
“Is it bad if I say I wanted a few seconds longer?”
“Henrietta, I have a question to ask you.”
“Will you go on a date with me?” I asked. Never before had I been so nervous to ask, so anxious for the answer... so crushed when her features fell.
With the way Janessa came on to me at the build site, I knew it was a lie, no matter how earnestly Henrietta delivered it. She even seemed genuinely regretful to say no. But I should have known better than to plan an imaginary future with a girl I’d just met. No matter how beautiful and intriguing she was. I’d let myself get invested before I even knew her true feelings.
And arguing the point now would only disrespect her, disrespect her father in saying it was her choice, and her choice alone.
