Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Always, Stella.” His tone is serious. “I’ll see you soon.”
I don’t allow myself to obsess over every word of our conversation, and how lucky I am that he stopped to help me that day. Someone was watching over us, or maybe it’s just the universe’s way of telling me it’s time that I caught a small break with the shit life has thrown at me lately.
Two hours later, I’m pulling into the lot of Kincaid’s boutique. It took me longer than I thought. Ada woke up from her nap with a diaper explosion, screaming. Not that I blame her. If I had shit smeared up my back, I’d be screaming mad too. I had to give her a bath and change the sheets, tossing them all in the washer before we could leave.
The dark sky that’s been looming all afternoon opens up and unleashes huge drops of rain before I have a chance to get us both out of the car and into the building. “Really, universe?” I ask. “You couldn’t have given me five more minutes?”
I sit here for close to five minutes, and there’s not a break in the downpour. “Ada girl, looks like we’re going to have to get creative.” Pulling the keys from the ignition, I reach for my purse and phone that’s sitting in the cupholder, unbuckle my seat belt, and climb into the back seat.
Ada grins when she sees me, kicking her hands and feet. “We’ve got this, right?” I ask her. She babbles back, and I smile. This little girl is my entire heart. Unzipping the diaper bag, I shove my purse and phone inside and squeeze to get it zipped shut. The diaper bag is one of those backpack types that has a handle on top to carry it, or you can put it on your back. I’m thankful for that part right now. I slip it on my back and then work on getting Ada out of her seat. She’s on board for this, laughing and cooing. Hopefully, that good mood remains once we’re out in the pelting downpour of rain.
“Good thing Mommy likes to be prepared,” I tell my daughter. I have one of those roll up blankets that’s waterproof on the bottom, and soft on the top. I keep it in my car for days when we go to the park. It’s not an umbrella, but I actually think it might be better. I can hold it over both of us, and it will offer more protection than an umbrella, anyway.
I tap my pocket where my keys are, making sure that I have them. Adjusting the blanket, I prepare to thrust us out into this mess. “All right, let’s do this.” I keep a tight grip on Ada and push open the door. Rain hits the blanket, and Ada squirms. “Trust me, kid, I know how you feel.”
Slamming the car door shut, I take off running toward the front door. Flinging it open, I step inside the boutique. The wind slams the door behind me, causing Ada to cry out.
“Shh, it’s okay. It was the wind shutting the door.” I pull the soaked blanket off us and hold it out, but I'm not sure what to do with it.
“Goodness. Let me help you.” Jordyn comes rushing over and takes the blanket. She shakes it off and tosses it over a set of plastic chairs by the door. “Those are for the husbands.” She grins. “Mine likes to go where I go, but he hates shopping. I assumed there might be others, so I made a place for them to sit and wait,” she explains. She offers me her hand. “I’m Jordyn. Nice to meet you again. You too, Miss Ada,” she says, dropping my hand, taking my daughter’s, and wiggling it around, making her laugh and forget about the rain and the loud slam of the door as we walked inside.
“Thank you for letting me bring her. I know that’s not ideal for a job interview.”
Jordyn waves me off. “No worries. Family has to come first. Besides, you’re going to be my first and only employee. We have to stick together.” She offers me a kind smile, and I instantly feel more at ease.
“Wait. Going to be your only employee?” I ask.
She grins. “Yep. This is just a formality. I win in so many ways.” She holds up her hand to start counting. “One, I get an awesome employee. Two, my husband is happier. Three, I get to work fewer hours and not have all of this pressure on me. You’re welcome, by the way. Four, you get a job with an awesome boss and the perks of being able to bring your daughter to work with you. Five, and this is the best one. Maverick will be thrilled. He’s probably going to ask for a finder's fee.” She cackles as if that’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard, which makes Ada do the same. “Come here, cutie.” She holds her hands out, and Ada leans into her. “Do you mind if I hold her? I guess I should have asked first.”