Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“I will, but once she sees me, you know she’s going to run. Might as well start looking for her replacement now.”
“You don’t know that,” Tina protests. “This one could be different.”
“She won’t be. Not at all.”
6
Summer
“I still don’t know why Beast couldn’t come with us.” I stop what I’m doing at the stove to look over to where Colby has been pouting since we got down to the kitchen. He’s not looking at me; his attention is focused on the paper he’s been working on for a while now.
“You picked a name?”
He shrugs. I put a lid on the sauce I started. The pantry came stocked with basic stuff, and I found things that I could put together to make spaghetti. I also found a fresh loaf of bread I can toast to go with it. Spaghetti is Colby’s favorite.
I figured it would comfort him if I made something he liked. I also had the thought that maybe the smell would lure my new boss out of hiding. I knew it was a shot in the dark, but I know food can get me moving often enough. It’s worth a try. Maybe if he meets us—which I know is against that list of crazy rules—he’ll warm up to us. No one could be mean to Colby after meeting him.
I rest my hip on the island, watching him. When we stumbled across the kitten in the driveway I wasn't sure what to do with it. She’d looked so small that I knew I couldn’t just walk past her. I was thinking maybe she belonged to someone, but there wasn’t anyone around.
There is no way that cute bundle of fur belongs to the man lurking these halls. The other option I had was to take her into town for someone to find her a home. My initial thoughts were that I couldn’t possibly adopt a kitten because I’m barely keeping my own head above water.
That plan was shot to hell as I watched Colby and the kitten play this afternoon as I was unpacking some of the boxes. At one point I saw him cradling the kitten like a baby. I watched him kiss her little head. At that moment I knew there was no way I could take that kitten from him. Too many things have been taken from Colby already for someone his age. I won’t add to that list.
“I wish Beast could have come too.” I wonder if he’s given the kitten the name to make it seem tough. Colby looks up at me. “We talked about all the rules here. I know there wasn't anything specifically about kittens on it, but I’m guessing if they find out we have one the list will be updated rather quickly.”
He drops his head. “We have to get rid of her?” His voice is so soft I barely make out what he says. I quickly make my way around the island, coming to his side. My fingers go to his hair. It’s a habit of mine he doesn't like me to do when others are around. It’s hard not to. It's how I used to get him to sleep when he was a little younger.
“I never said that.” He jerks his head back up at me and I see hope there. “I’m just saying she’s our secret. We can take her out sometimes, but she stays mostly in our living area.”
“Okay,” he agrees quickly. The small knot that I didn't know had formed in my stomach loosens when I see he's relaxed again.
“How are you feeling? Is the dust bothering you?” I keep my voice light.
“It’s fine.” He tries to shake off my question.
“I’m going to get to work on it after dinner.” This is a lot of house, but I already hit the areas I know Colby might be more often first. I try not to let it overwhelm me.
“I’m fine,” he says again, annoyed with my mothering. He is fine until he’s not. I tap my finger on his inhaler in my dress pocket to make myself feel better.
“What is this?” I look down at the paper he’s been working on. I get one of his it's no big deal shrugs.
“Making you a map so you don’t get lost around here. So you can find your way back to… ” He pauses. “To our room.” I think he made it so that I’ll always find my way back to him, but I let it be.
“You worried about me?” I ruffle his hair.
“Stop.” He wiggles out from under my hand, but I see him smiling. The oven dings, letting me know the garlic bread is done. “There anything you want me to do?”
“Just wrap up what you’re doing. I don’t want you to get spaghetti sauce on my map.” I tell him to pull the bread out before finishing up dinner.