Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Her brother grunts his agreement. “I guess so.” He places her down on her feet. “Go grab your stuff. We need to get home and find you a new babysitter before Monday.”
She groans but begrudgingly complies. “I wouldn’t need a babysitter if you’d just let me take the bus home,” she says, grabbing her jacket.
“We’ve been over this,” he replies sternly. “You’re nine years old. You’re not old enough to stay home alone.”
“But I’m not your typical nine-year-old,” she argues. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself for a few hours until you finish work.”
While I agree she is a lot more mature than most nine-year-olds I’ve ever met, I have to stand with Officer Grump on this one. She is much too young to be home alone.
“Besides,” she adds, zipping up her jacket. “I pretty much take care of myself anyway with the babysitters you hire and—”
“Drop it, Poppy! It’s not happening.” His tone is firm, warranting no further argument.
The disappointment crushing her face has me offering an alternative solution. “She’s welcome to come hang out here with me until you guys can find someone more permanent.”
Poppy gasps at the offer, every feature of her face lighting up. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all,” I assure with a smile.
“That would be great. I can help you work the store—free of charge, of course,” she adds, lifting her hand. “I can sweep floors, greet customers, and—”
“No!”
The sharp rejection sends my attention across the room, where I’m met with his perpetual scowl.
“Why not?” I ask, challenging that quick refusal.
“Yeah, why not?” Poppy echoes, her hands firmly planting on her hips as she mirrors my determination.
He ignores his sister, keeping that glare fixated solely on me. “We don’t need your charity.”
“It’s not charity,” I retort. “I enjoy her company and I could use her help around the store.”
“There you go,” Poppy interjects. “It’s the perfect solution for all of us.”
He shakes his head, refusing to budge. “Forget it. I’m not leaving you with someone I don’t even know.”
I scoff at the excuse. “Please. This has nothing to do with that and everything to do with this morning.”
His eyes narrow at the call out, a warning that I ignore.
“What happened this morning?” Poppy asks, her confused gaze shifting between us.
When he makes no move to respond, I jump in and clarify. “There was a minor fender bender involving my car and your brother’s squad vehicle,” I explain vaguely. “It was nothing serious.”
He grunts, clearly disagreeing with that statement.
“No way!” Poppy gapes, wide-eyed. “You rear-ended him?”
I nod, struggling to decipher her reaction.
Until a smile cracks her lips. “That’s amazing!” She bursts into laughter, finding the situation utterly hysterical.
It wasn’t funny at the time, but I guess I can see the humor in it now.
Officer Grump, however, finds none of it funny, his expression as hard as granite. “You’re wrong,” he counters. “Your lack of winter driving skills has nothing to do with my decision.”
He’s lying and we both know it, but I refuse to argue with him about it.
“Please, Mike?” Poppy cuts back in, her voice a soft plea. “Can’t I come here just until we find someone else?”
His stoned expression softens for the briefest moment, giving me a surge of hope but he dashes it seconds later with a shake of his head. “Sorry, but no.”
“But—”
“The answer is no.” He shuts her down, firmly. “Now say goodbye and let’s go.”
She backs down but she’s not happy about it. Turning to me, she wraps her small arms around my waist. “Thanks for everything, Hollis.”
I return her embrace, hating the disappointment in her voice. “You’re welcome. Feel free to come visit me anytime, okay?”
“Don’t worry, I will be.” She shoots her brother a defiant glare before storming past him to the door.
His gaze locks with mine, a hint of guilt shadowing his features. He opens his mouth as if he’s about to say something, maybe even change his mind, but then closes it, choosing instead to follow his sister into the storm without so much as a farewell.
“Bye to you too,” I mutter, feeling the sting of that rejection.
Annoyed, I move behind the counter and stash away the box of cookies. Just as I slide them under the register, the bell above the door chimes again, and in walks Ellie, the owner of the flower shop across the street.
“Hey, Ellie,” I greet, pleasantly surprised. So far, she’s the only person I’ve met who is close to my age, and she has been nothing but kind to me, even going as far as welcoming me with a stunning floral arrangement.
“Hey,” she returns my greeting with a smile, brushing her snowy hair away from her face. “Some crazy weather out there, isn’t it?”
I nod, my heart heavy as I think about the little girl who said almost those exact same words to me only an hour ago.