Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Leisurely, I went for the pot. Tongue in cheek, I held back a grin to match his when I returned and poured a fresh cup for him.
“You disappeared on me last night,” he said, his voice as smooth as satin.
“It was for the best,” I said, and moved to wipe down a different booth.
“You are so bad for my ego,” he said with a hand to his heart.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure someone else will blow it up.”
“Is that a good thing or bad?” he asked.
“Up to your interpretation,” I said before heading to the back.
“Is that guy still here?” Smiley asked when I walked in. I nodded. “We don’t get many like him, so don’t piss him off.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I know that.”
When I went back, his booth was empty, but once again, the businessman had left a generous tip. My feelings were mixed. I’d kind of enjoyed our back-and-forth exchanges.
He was there every day the following few weeks, but he said little more to me than asking for coffee. I shouldn’t have been disappointed. I’d been the one to shoot him down. Still, he’d given in so easily. That could only mean that he hadn’t really been interested in me at all.
Friday morning came and Zoe woke up sick. Smiley wasn’t happy I had to call out, and neither was my wallet. But my girl was burning with fever. Tylenol wasn’t doing its job. I had to give her a tepid bath to try to bring her temperature down. When she wouldn’t eat and barely drank, I decided that I’d have to take her to the doctor, even though my budget had no room for the expense.
“Mommy,” Zoe whimpered, breaking my heart into a million pieces.
I brushed the hair from her brow when a knock sounded at my door.
“Just a minute,” I called out. To Zoe, I said, “I’m going to take you to the doctor, okay?”
She nodded. My poor baby, I thought as I went to see who could possibly be at my door.
“Hello,” I said and then stopped.
“Hi,” the businessman from the door said. “I’m Agan. I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Why are you here… Agan?”
“I missed you this morning and Smiley said you called out sick.”
“And what, you’ve been stalking me? How did you know where I live?”
He flashed me a dazzling smile. “Smiley told me.”
I was so going to kill my boss.
“Mommy,” Zoe called and tried to get up.
“Wait,” I said.
“Oh, I thought she’d be in school.”
Next thing I knew, Zoe was throwing up. While I held my daughter, Agan was suddenly there with paper towels, working on cleaning up.
When I had Zoe settled, I said, “Thanks for everything, but I’ve got to get Zoe to the clinic, and it’s going to be a drive.”
Agan narrowed his eyes. “There’s not a doctor in town?”
I scoffed. “We don’t have a full-time doctor here. The county clinic or the hospital are the best options we have.”
“What about the doctor in Mason Creek? Isn’t that closer?”
I glanced away. “I can’t afford it.”
Agan went over to the sofa and scooped up Zoe in his arms. “Come with me.”
If Zoe hadn’t been sick or in the same room, I might have told him to piss off. But for my daughter, I could swallow my pride. I’d figure out how to pay the doctor in Mason Creek.
His car was as fancy as he was, a luxury sedan with all the bells and whistles. I recognized the brand as Mercedes, but I didn’t know what model it was. The leather was soft as I slid into the back seat so I could hold Zoe while she lay across the seat.
“I’m cold, Mommy.”
“I know you are,” I said. She was really warm. Her fever was spiking.
Twenty minutes later, Agan was there helping us out of the car after he parked the car illegally in front of the doctor’s office. He opened the door to the doctor and held Zoe while I filled out some forms. Then I was ushered into the back, and he said he’d wait for us.
It turned out Zoe had strep and was a little dehydrated. She was brave when they ran a line to get some fluids in her. Before we left, the doctor gave me the antibiotics she needed to take daily for the next several days.
“How much is all of this?” I asked, holding my breath.
He smiled. “It’s been taken care of.”
I said nothing until after Agan had driven us back home. Zoe had fallen asleep. So I took her to her room and laid her down. After making sure she was settled, I went back into the living room where Agan stood. I waved him outside, and he followed me back to his car.
“Thanks for everything. If you could tell me how much that cost, I could write you a check.” I’d figure out how to pay my rent on another day.