Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
I woke up AJ and ran him a bath. I washed his hair, and he talked nonstop the whole time about his day. He loved it when I wasn’t working and we could spend time together. I had to admit, I loved it as well, but it only happened over the holidays and my once-a-year vacation, unless he got sick and I stayed home with him.
My phone rang, and I answered, happy to see Asher’s number.
“Hey, you,” I said, trying not to laugh at the soap monsters AJ was making in the tub.
“How are you, Rosie?”
“A little wet. AJ is having his bath.”
“Hi, Asher!” AJ called out, excited.
“Put him on,” Asher said good-naturedly.
I did as he asked and handed AJ the phone on speaker. “Don’t drop it.”
I headed to the kitchen and took a couple of Tylenol. My shoulder still hurt. I could hear AJ telling Asher how fast the hill was with his new sled and how many kids there were.
“My face got really cold,” he said.
“You need an extra scarf. Tie it over your forehead and nose. You won’t get so cold again.”
“I’ll tell Momma!”
“Good man. You taking care of your momma?”
“She fell off the sled and hurt her arm.”
“What?” Asher said, his voice now worried. “She’s hurt?”
I took the phone. “As we discussed before, I’m old, is what I am. And the frozen ground was hard. I’m a little sore. Nothing to worry about.”
“Did you hit your head?”
“Barely. Just my arm and shoulder. I’ll be fine.”
“Barely?” he repeated. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“I can send my doctor to see you.”
Those words stopped me. He had a private doctor? That was a thing?
I left AJ playing for a few moments and sat on a chair in the hall where I could keep an eye on him. “Asher, I smacked my arm on some hard ice. It’ll be fine. No need to call a doctor.”
He huffed. “All right.”
“How is everything there?” I asked to change the subject.
“Great. Lonely without you.”
I laughed. “I am sure your sister and niece are keeping you busy.”
“Bonnie is. We had another tea party this afternoon. All the stuffed animals were invited, so I had a lot of voices to do. James and I split them up and drank a lot of pretend tea. Luckily, the cookies were real. Suzy went and had a manicure.”
“Nice.”
“I am sending them out for New Year’s, and Bonnie and I will do our own thing. They’re going with friends for dinner at the club. I thought they’d enjoy a night out.”
“I thought you were at a cabin.”
He laughed. “I am. In a private resort surrounded by many other cabins and a huge clubhouse with lots of amenities. This is my sister’s idea of roughing it.”
I chuckled, not even able to imagine it.
“I have a cabin in the Niagara region,” he murmured. “I bought it from a business tycoon. It’s private and woodsy. No one else around. That’s my idea of getting away.” He paused. “It’s a great spot. I’ll take you there.”
“Oh. That would be nice.”
“What are you two doing tomorrow?”
“We’re going to make homemade pizza and watch TV. He’ll be out by nine, and I might work a little. Surprisingly, New Year’s Eve is very busy on the customer service line. So, nothing exciting.”
“I’d make it exciting for you if I were there.”
Before I could respond, AJ called out.
“Momma!”
Asher chuckled. “Go see your boy. I’ll call you later, Rosie.” There was a moment of silence. “I miss you,” he added before he disconnected the call.
I got AJ ready for bed and read to him for a while. He was chatty and happy, but he soon drifted off.
I settled on the sofa, putting an ice bag on my sore shoulder. My head was aching, and I was tired. It had been a long day. I chuckled thinking ice had caused the problem and was now the thing I needed to use for relief. My phone buzzed with a video call, and I answered with a smile at Asher’s handsome face. “Hi.”
“AJ asleep?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not working, are you?” Asher asked with a frown.
“No. Taking the night off.”
“Good. You work too hard.”
“I work because I have to, Asher. And I’m fine. You worry far too much.” I winced a little as I moved.
“You need someone to worry about you.”
His words made me warm, but he frowned. “You keep grimacing.”
“My shoulder is sore. I’m icing it.”
“Let me see.”
“There is nothing to see.”
“Rosie. Let me see.”
With a sigh, I turned to the light, pulling my sweater off my shoulder, holding up the phone.
“Nice sofa,” Asher said dryly. “Go to the mirror.”
“My God, you are bossy,” I muttered. Tamping down my impatience, I went to the bathroom and showed him my shoulder in the mirror. I was surprised how bruised it was, the dark stain coming out already on my skin.