Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
At the dinner table that night, he went on and on about how Palmer had signed up to be his partner in the art competition, and how today after school he’d helped her walk two dogs—and how she’d given him a dollar for helping out. He informed me that he’d put it in his piggy bank the second they’d gotten home.
“Palmer said I can help walk the dogs every day after school. We sat down and she helped me count how much I’d make in one week. Then in two weeks, and then for a whole month!”
“Is that right?” I asked before I took a bite of the eggplant parmesan that Palmer had made, even though I’d told her she didn’t need to cook. I had to admit, when I’d gotten home and she’d told me it was in the oven on warm, I’d wanted to kiss her. It had been a long day, and knowing I wasn’t going to have to cook meant I could spend more time with Charlie.
“Yep!” Charlie said as he shoved a forkful of salad into his mouth.
“And what was the total amount you came up with?” I asked.
He went to speak with food in his mouth, and I raised a brow in warning. After chewing and swallowing, he said, “If I walk the dogs with Ms. Palmer after school, I get a dollar each day. So, for four days, I get four dollars, Daddy! Four dollars! Then at the end of the month, I’ll have sixteen dollars!”
I had to fight not to laugh at his excitement. “Charlie, this is your first job!”
He paused for a moment, then gave me his toothless smile. “It is! I haves a job, Daddy!”
“You have a job.”
“I have a job!”
I smiled. “Do you like walking the dogs with Ms. Palmer?”
He nodded. “I do! I even got to pick up the poop when Rocky went. He pooped a lot, Daddy. I gagged a little, but I did it. Ms. Palmer said I didn’t have to, but I wanted to help her cause she picked up the poop from the other dogs. I wanted to be a good helper. She said she was super proud of me.”
Still trying not to laugh, I said, “Good job, buddy. What kind of dog is Rocky?”
Charlie looked up in thought. I could see it on his face the moment the word came to him. “He’s a boxer!”
“A boxer, huh? That’s a great name for him.”
Charlie nodded, clearly not getting the reference since he was only five.
“Do you want to see the painting that Ms. Palmer and I started?”
His question reminded me that the painting I’d bought at the art show was still sitting in my bedroom. “How about we clean up, then you go get the painting, and I’m going to get the one I bought at the art show so I can pack it up for the move.”
A sparkle of happiness shone in my son’s eyes, and I wanted to kiss Palmer for being the one to put it there.
Truth be told, it was one of the many reasons I wanted to kiss her.
A light knock on the back door drew my attention away from the eggs I was making for Charlie. I smiled when I saw it was Palmer.
I motioned for her to come in.
“Hey,” she said, “I wasn’t sure if you needed me to take Charlie to school this morning or not.”
It was a Wednesday, but I usually tried to take Charlie at least three times a week if my schedule at the office allowed me to. “I’m taking him today, but if you want to ride along, I can show you how drop-off works.”
She smiled. “That sounds good. You don’t mind dropping me back off here?”
“Nope, not at all. My first patient isn’t until after nine this morning.”
Palmer glanced around the kitchen, pausing when she saw the painting project that she and Charlie were working on.
“He’s so over the moon happy about this project.”
Smiling, Palmer looked at me. “His teacher told me that Charlie asked if I could be his partner. I have to say, it really warmed my heart.”
“He’s crazy about you. Has been from the first moment he met you at Seaside Grill.” Her cheeks turned pink, and I would have given anything to know what she was thinking.
“The feeling is mutual.”
I looked over my shoulder and called out, “Charlie! Breakfast is almost ready!”
“I can’t find my blue sock with the red on it!”
Palmer laughed. “Want me to go help?”
“If you don’t mind. Have you eaten breakfast? There’s plenty.”
“I had a smoothie, but thank you.”
She disappeared to go help search for the missing sock.
Right as I was setting the last plate of eggs, bacon, and toast on the table, Charlie came rushing in. “Daddy, something’s wrong with Palmer!”
My heart stopped. “What do you mean?”