Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Is Sandy still out sick?” Mom asks, and he gives her a look.
“You know she’s not sick. You’re the one who showed me the pictures of her out on the lake with her boy toy yesterday.”
“I didn’t actually mean sick.” Mom rolls her eyes. “I mean, did she call out again today?”
“She did but assured me that she would be back tomorrow.” Dad smiles, not looking even a little upset; then it clicks who they’re talking about.
“Wait,” I cut in with a frown. “Are you two talking about Miss Sandy, who started working for you a few months ago?” I ask, trying to remember details about her, but all that comes to mind is her long gray hair and tan wrinkly skin.
“We are,” Mom confirms.
“She has a boyfriend?”
“She does. A while back, she met a guy on the internet, and whenever he’s in town, she plays hooky from work to spend time with him.”
“How old is she?”
“Sixty-seven, I think,” Dad says, passing Sampson over to Mom.
“Wow. Well, good for her,” I reply, impressed.
“So can either of you come over to the office?” Dad looks between us. “I won’t be out long.”
“I don’t mind, unless you want to go.” I look to my mom, and she shakes her head immediately, which doesn’t surprise me.
My dad owns a small law office, which is located just down the block. When he first opened his practice, Mom tried working for him but learned quickly that it wasn’t a fit. I get it, because there is no way I could work for my dad either. It’s not that he’s a bad boss; it’s just that he has a way of doing things that doesn’t make much sense to anyone else.
“Are you good with Sampson, or do you want me to take him with me?”
“He can stay here with Grandma.” Mom kisses Sampson’s cheek.
“Cool, I just need to change and brush my hair.”
“You look fine, and what you have on is okay,” Dad says, and I look down at my baggy T-shirt and sweats that both have spots on them from Sampson’s breakfast this morning, along with drool and Lord knows what else.
“You think this is appropriate?” I hold the fabric away from my body and raise a brow at my father. Then I hear my mom sigh when he shrugs.
“You look all right to me.”
“Well, thank you, Dad, for your seal of approval, but I think I’m going to put on something that is not covered in drool.” I laugh, giving Sampson a kiss before I head upstairs.
Before becoming a mom, I never realized how much I took getting dressed for granted. It’s not that I don’t still get dressed every day, but most days, I don’t have a reason to wear anything besides sweats and baggy T-shirts, things that are comfortable for rolling around on the floor or chasing after Sampson. After deciding on a pair of dark jeans, I roll up the bottoms to show off my brown wedge boots, then grab my favorite thick sweater from my closet. The color is not quite peach and not quite pink. I tuck the front into the top of my jeans to make it look more formfitting and add a belt that matches my boots.
Now dressed, I go to the bathroom and run a brush through my long dark hair and decide to put on some makeup—another thing that is a rarity most days. When I’m done, I meet my dad downstairs, and after giving Sampson one more kiss, I grab my coat and hat, then head outside with my dad.
“Here’s the key.” Dad pulls the key from the front pocket of his jeans that are almost the same color as mine and places it in my hand.
“Is there anyone you’re expecting to stop by today?” I ask, trying to take my mind off the cold wind that’s beginning to make my cheeks burn.
“Not before I get back.” He glances up at the sky as snow starts to fall, then down the block. “Do you want me to drive you?”
“No, I could use the walk,” I tell him, and he nods.
“Call if you need me.”
“Will do.” I give him a salute that makes him smile, then start down the sidewalk when I hear him get into his car behind me. When we moved here my junior year of high school, I always thought it was so cool that we lived in town. Where other kids would have to convince their parents to drop them off to shop, go see a movie, or have dinner, I just had to walk out my front door and head down the street. Now that I’m older, I still feel the same way, and I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can put Sampson in his stroller and spend the day wandering around town with him.