Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Cool,” Alex says with a smile. “I even have my own shovel.”
“It’s cold out here,” I remind my son, but lean in and kiss his head, breathing in his clean scent. “And we have to get going soon. Did you finish your breakfast?”
“Yeah,” he says with a nod. “I’m ready to go.”
“We need to fix your boot situation, and you need a coat,” I inform him with a laugh. “Thanks again, Max. I’ll let you know when I hear from the garage.”
“No problem. See you later, Alex.”
“Bye!” Alex waves and hurries back inside, slamming the door behind him.
“See you, Wills,” Max says with a wink.
“Bye, Max.” I wave and follow my son into the house to find that while he did finish his breakfast, he also dumped his backpack on the floor. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just reorganizing things really quick.”
“Alex, we don’t have time for this. Get everything back into your bag and find your matching boot.”
“Which one?”
“Either one.” I take a deep breath and remind myself that I’ll look back on these moments one day and miss them.
Why are mornings always such a battle?
“You have four minutes,” I inform Alex as I tidy up the last of the breakfast mess, pull on my own boots, and fill my favorite travel mug with fresh coffee.
It says Girl Boss on the side and was a gift from Jenna, who has a thing for fun mugs.
“Can I have a drink on the way?” Alex asks, watching me put the lid on my mug.
“Sure,” I reply. “If you can get yourself together in two minutes.”
“I can!” He rushes off, and I pull a disposable cup out of the pantry, brew a cup of hot chocolate in the Keurig, and add some marshmallows to the top before securing the lid. I set it aside to let it cool.
“I do believe we’re on time for once,” I inform Alex with a smile as we walk out into the snow. I lock the door behind us, and we climb into Max’s fancy car.
“Wow, this is super rad,” Alex says with a grin. “Max has cool cars.”
“Yes, he does,” I mutter as I search for the ignition. Max mentioned it’s a push-button start, and I find the ignition switch by the steering wheel.
The car roars to life, and I smile back at my kiddo. “It has vroom.”
Alex is playing with his eyetooth.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s loose,” he says.
Good. That one has been stubborn. “Don’t mess with it too much. I don’t want it to fall out and have you bleed all over Max’s car.”
Alex giggles, and I reach over to adjust the mirrors, but the side ones are folded in.
“Hmm, how do I get the mirrors out?” I frown, but can’t find the button. It’s not in the place it should be. So, I abandon the mirrors and plan to just use the rear-view and be extra cautious.
But then I go to put the car in gear, and there is no gear shift.
None.
Nada.
“Well, crap.”
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
“I don’t know how to put the car in gear,” I mutter, getting frustrated. Maybe I should have had Max show me how to drive this damn thing, after all. I had no idea that newer cars were so high-tech. I’ve ridden in plenty of them, but I’ve never had to pay attention because I wasn’t the driver.
Besides, my car is only five years old. It’s not ancient.
“You’re going to be so late if I can’t figure this out,” I mutter as Alex whips his seatbelt off and leans forward, helping me search.
“Here are the letters,” he says, pointing to the console to my right. “Push on that circle.”
Sure enough, it pops up, and when I turn it to the right, it shifts into Drive.
I just had to have an eight-year-old show me how to drive a car.
Is it too early for wine?
“Thanks, Bubba. Get in your belt.”
He grins proudly and buckles up, and we’re off. The ride into town is interesting as the car beeps and pulls me away from the lines, trying to drive for me.
I’m definitely having my own car fixed. I’m not ready for this technology.
“My seat heats up,” Alex says with excitement. I have to admit, it is comfortable. And when it’s not beeping, it drives smoothly.
I suppose I could learn to drive it if I had to.
I pull up to Alex’s school, and he leans over to kiss my cheek before he jumps out of the car and runs toward the teacher at the door. She smiles and waves at me before I pull away and drive the short distance to my shop.
I climb out of the Range Rover and scowl at it as I gather my things and hurry inside. The snow has picked up again, falling in huge flakes the size of quarters.
It’s pretty, but it’ll be slick to drive in later.