Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Let Amy decide. I doubt she’ll want to block the view.”
“Can we get it done by Saturday?”
She grinned. “I’ll have it done tomorrow. I saw a chair the other day at Wilson’s antique store. Overstuffed, big, comfy. Recently reupholstered. I had nowhere to put it, but it would be perfect here.” She looked giddy and threw her arms around me. “Amy will be so excited. No one has ever done anything so thoughtful for her. Her ex—” She stopped and shook her head. “I disliked him. He wasn’t good enough for her.”
“And I am?”
“You are perfect. You and Mia are exactly what she needs. She glows when she talks about you. And I know how much this will mean to her.”
I drew in a deep breath. “It won’t be too much? I don’t want to push her, but I miss her. Mia misses her. She thought if Amy had a place she could work here, just knowing she was close would be a good thing.”
“It’s not too much. It’s a lovely gesture.”
She reached for her phone. “I’m calling Mr. Wilson to make sure that chair is still there. Then I need a cup of coffee and your laptop.”
I grinned. “On it.”
Friday afternoon, I picked up Mia and waited patiently until Amy was done with her students. I didn’t hesitate as the last one left with their mother to walk over, and I bent to kiss Amy’s cheek.
“Hello, Chippy.”
She smiled at me, but I saw how tired she looked.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. Long week.”
Mia ran over to one of her classmates, talking excitedly to her. I smiled indulgently, thrilled how quickly she had found friends and settled here.
I met Amy’s eyes, keeping my voice low. “Any chance I can convince you to come tonight for the weekend instead of the morning?”
Her smile was bright. “Really?”
I kissed the end of her nose in affection. “Really.”
“Would I look too eager if I told you I already packed a bag in case?” she asked, looking worried.
“Would I look too eager if I threw you over my shoulder and carried you to the car?” I replied ardently.
“Um, maybe.”
“Fine.” I kissed her sweet mouth, not caring if we were being watched. “Get your stuff from the classroom and follow us home. Mia will be so excited.”
“And her daddy?”
I kissed her again. “He’ll show you how excited as soon as Mia is asleep. Probably twice. Maybe three times,” I mumbled against her lips.
“I look forward to it.”
Mia rushed back over, waving a colorful piece of paper. “Daddy, I got invited to a birthday party next weekend. It’s a sleepover.”
I took the invitation, looking at it. I knew the girl and had met her parents. They had another daughter Angela’s age, and they knew Holly and Evan. The mother, Trudy, came over with a smile. “Angela is coming as well. That way, Cindy has a playmate at the party.”
I felt better knowing Angela would be there. Mia had never spent the night away at someone else’s house besides Evan’s, so this was new territory for both of us.
“We’re doing a movie and pizza night,” Trudy went on to explain. “The girls will ‘camp out’ on the family room floor. There’ll be cake and presents and probably little sleep for anyone.”
I laughed with her, knowing she was probably right.
“Holly is going to come help if that makes you feel better. And there are only six girls.”
“Oh, great.” I looked at Mia. “You want to do a sleepover with your friends, Sweet Pea?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes!”
“Okay then, thanks. I’ll call you this week.”
Trudy smiled and waved, and I tucked the invite into Mia’s knapsack. Amy smiled, rubbing my arm. “They’re a nice family.”
“I know. I met them at a few of Holly and Evan’s barbecues.” I grinned at her. “Now, go get your stuff. We’re going to pick up some Chinese food. Mia’s been begging for egg rolls for days.” I kissed her cheek. “We’ll meet you at the house.”
“Okay.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
SIMON
Mia could hardly sit still during dinner. Even her favorite egg rolls couldn’t keep her attention. Amy laughed at her, wiping her chin after the plum sauce dripped from her mouth while talking.
“What is going on with you, Sweet Pea?” she asked. “You’re so excited.”
Mia stopped, blinking. “You called me Sweet Pea. Only Daddy has ever called me that.”
Amy grimaced. “Sorry. I hear your daddy say it all the time, and I guess it stuck and slipped out.”
Mia shook her head. “No, I like it. You and Daddy can call me that. Like a special name.”
“It is special, because you are special,” Amy assured her, tapping her nose.
Mia grinned and finished her egg roll. I pushed away my plate, full from the noodles and honey garlic chicken I’d polished off along with my own egg rolls and wontons. Amy finished hers, reaching for her napkin to wipe her mouth. The kitchen was tidied fast, the leftovers put in the refrigerator, and the dishes loaded into the dishwasher.