Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“I don’t think you qualify as having a love life, Harper. All you do is take care of other people’s kids. I worried about you being bright enough to care for Cinderella, but she’ll be in school before any lack of mental stimulation puts her behind other students.”
“Let me assure you, Miranda, that all the children in my care have a wide variety of experiences and interactions. I’ve done my research to make sure that everyone learns as much as possible during their time with me. It would help if you would support my efforts. Tomorrow, everyone is bringing something that starts with the letter D. Have a conversation with Cinderella about things that start with a D.”
When Miranda looked at her blankly, Harper continued, “You know; dog, doughnut, dime, dinosaur…”
With a hiss of exasperation, Miranda interrupted. “I know what starts with the letter D. I didn’t barely make it through high school.”
“High school was a long time ago, Miranda.”
“I know. That’s what brings me back to what I was trying to discuss with you when you rudely shut me down. I thought of someone who would love to take you to the reunion. His name is Rufus.”
The only person she knew named Rufus flashed into her mind as Harper stared at her in astonishment. Surely, this was a joke.
“Are you talking about the homeless guy you have living outside your building?”
“I’m only trying to help. He was very excited to escort you.”
“You’ve already asked him…” Harper stopped in the middle of that sentence to take a deep breath to control her anger in front of the children before addressing Miranda.
“While I’m sure you would be happy to have someone take him in from the street so you don’t have to worry about him discouraging clients from visiting your knickknack store…”
“Collectibles, Harper! Besides, it’s not like you have anyone wanting to date you—much less marry you. He might even have sex with you. Some men do like obese women.”
“Miranda, I’m going to ignore what you just said to me. Please, leave,” Harper said, stiffening her spine.
“Oh, come on. You’re the perpetual virgin. What are you saving yourself for? Colt? That weird relationship certainly fizzled when he left town.”
Pissed beyond thinking clearly, Harper blurted, “Colt and I are closer than ever now.” Miranda didn’t need to know that their private conversations over the years had always ended with Colt asking Harper to marry him. Of course, he’d been kidding each time.
“Really?” Miranda said, raising one eyebrow.
“Of course. Colt is very dear to me. Back to your date suggestion, I do not intend to date, sleep with, or anything else with Rufus, so you’ll have to find some other way to remove him from your sidewalk.”
“I don’t know why I even bother being nice to you. You just refuse to take good advice,” Miranda interrupted Harper with an exasperated expression. She turned, stalked to the doorway, and dug an envelope out of her pocket. “Oh, here’s your pay this month. There are only twenty weekdays in February, so I prorated the cost down.”
“Miranda, your bill I gave you last week has the correct amount. Also, you were late seven times this month in picking Cinderella up. There is a fee for that.” Harper chased her to the door, carrying the bag of soiled clothing Miranda had abandoned on the floor.
“You’re here anyway,” Miranda said with a sneer.
Taking a deep breath, Harper said the phrase she’d been practicing since last month. Now, thanks to Miranda’s attempts to further shortchange her by lowering the basic monthly rate, she’d have to address that. “There is no prorated amount for the month and if you are late, there is a penalty. I’m sorry your shop isn’t making enough money to pay the full daycare bill, but the policy is the same for all parents.”
“My shop is doing wonderfully,” Miranda gasped with affront. “I’ll bring you a check tomorrow.”
“With an item that starts with D,” Harper reminded her, trying to school her face not to smile as the unpleasant woman backed down like her mom had told her she would when they practiced the reference to her shop’s income.
“Fine.” Miranda reached out and snatched the bag from Harper’s extended hands.
“And Miranda? I already have a date for the reunion. Colt is taking me.”
“Colt Ziegler? He hasn’t been back for a reunion yet,” Miranda stated with a skeptical look at Harper.
“This year, he’ll be there. With me.” Harper crossed two more fingers behind her back.
“We’ll see.” Miranda let herself out the door.
Thank goodness the next mother walked in a few minutes later to distract her. The flurry of parents claiming their children occupied all her focus. When the center was empty, Harper cleaned and disinfected all the surfaces on automatic pilot as she forced herself to concentrate on what enrichment activities she’d offer the children tomorrow.