Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Then I walked away before I said anything else.
I maintained a fake smile all the way to Littleburn. Josh asked a lot of questions, and Cherry kept up her information-gathering. She turned to high-five him when he told her he got a B+ in a pop quiz in math that week.
“Way to go!”
We stopped for breakfast, and as we waited for the pancakes, I slipped to the restroom and called Halton. I told him what happened, and for a moment, he was quiet.
“You didn’t say anything wrong, Dom. You spoke your mind, and you were calm. I’m glad you told me, though. If she complains, I’ll be able to defend it.”
“I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“I get it—sometimes it’s hard. I think it’ll be fine. Now, go enjoy the day with your boy.”
I hung up and looked in the mirror. I splashed some cold water on my face and decided he was right. I had been looking forward to this all week. I wasn’t going to let Roxanne and her petty demands ruin the day.
“Dom, what is that?”
I chuckled. “It’s a computer we use to develop concepts for artwork on cars.” I turned on the machine, showing Josh the program. “Stefano likes to draw by hand, then input it. Maxx likes the machine. I do a bit of both, but it’s a hobby to me. Those two are the real artists.”
He’d been full of questions from the moment we arrived. The guys all made sure to be here, and he’d talked to every one of them. He was in awe of Maxx’s size. Stefano’s talent pulling apart a car, Brett’s sculpting of new parts, and Chase’s leather work. He was fascinated by the Indian motorcycle in the corner, listening to the crew talk shop, and was thrilled when I had him help me with an engine we were rebuilding. Charly and Cherry came and went, and Gabby and Kelly stopped by to say hello. He was looking forward to when Rosa and Mack were coming, already in love with Rosa’s food, even though he’d never tasted it.
“Mom’s not much of a cook,” he confided. “We eat the same stuff all the time.”
I recalled her kitchen failures, and I was thrilled I could give him such a treat.
“You have so many people around,” he said, sounding wistful. “It’s awesome. Do they visit you too?”
“On occasion. And we do suppers and barbecues.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“Maybe you can join us. If you want,” I added.
“For sure.”
I had to turn so he didn’t see my expression. I wanted to shout in excitement over his easy acceptance. His desire to be around.
“I need to tighten this,” I said, indicating a part. “What do I need?”
“A socket.”
“Size?”
He looked at the part, then my tools. “This one.”
“Right.” I handed him the tool. “You want to try?”
He took the wrench from my hand and did it perfectly.
“Great job, son. You’re a natural.”
“Mom says I have to be a businessman.”
I shrugged. “I think you can make up your own mind when you’re older.”
“Are blue-collar workers really less important?”
I laughed, knowing where he’d gotten that idea. “Blue-collar workers are honest, hardworking people. And these days, they make as much, if not more, as some CEOs do. Make up your own mind about your future. Love what you do. That’s the best advice I can give you.”
“Do you love it?”
“Yeah, I do.”
He looked around. “I think I already know, but I’ll wait to tell Mom.”
“Good plan.”
Cherry strolled into the garage. “Lunch is ready.”
Josh grinned. “I’m starving.”
She ruffled his hair. “Good. Because between Rosa, Mary, Charly, and me, there’s a feast at the house. And Hannah just got here.”
“Your daughter? The cop?”
“That’s her.”
“Awesome!” He looked between us. “She’s like the closest thing I would have to a sister, you know?”
And he was gone.
“Wash your hands before you eat!” Cherry called, then laughed. “I don’t think he was listening. Too excited.”
I stared at Cherry, who smiled. “I think he is settling in pretty fast.”
“He is. Roxanne is gonna hate it.”
Cherry shrugged. “Too bad. Let’s go watch our kids bond.”
I followed her eagerly, looking forward to seeing that.
Josh stuck close to Cherry, like a shadow. It made me laugh since he was taller than her, and hiding behind her did nothing. But I did love that he relied on her already. He sat next to her, staring at Hannah.
“You’re a cop?”
“I am,” she said. “So behave, or I’ll cuff you.”
His eyes grew big. “Really?”
Chase leaned over, grinning. “She will.”
“Awesome.”
Hannah chuckled. “You’ve got a lot of food on that plate. You gonna eat it all?”
“I’ve never seen so much food,” he acknowledged. “I had to try it all. Dom talks about it all the time.”
I ruffled his hair. “Not all the time.”
Josh rolled his eyes. “When you’re not mooning over Cherry or talking about one of the guys or how cool the girls are, you do.”