Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
After flipping two small pancakes, I placed them onto a plate. Cutting a small pat of butter, I spread it over each one and then handed Hadley a few more strawberries to sprinkle onto each pancake.
“There, now it’s ready for syrup. Want me to pour it?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes, please.”
Hadley seemed very mature for her age, and I could tell Aiden had done a great job teaching her manners. Every now and then, she would pronounce her Rs and Ls like a W, and it was utterly adorable. I noticed Aiden would correct her most of the time, but not always.
With a bit of syrup poured onto each pancake, I let Hadley eat while I finished packing her lunch, and also one for Aiden, though I’d yet to see—
“Good morning, pumpkin.”
Aiden’s voice caused me to jump…and Hadley to laugh at my reaction.
“Morning, Daddy!”
I smiled as Aiden kissed his daughter on the forehead then glanced at her pancakes.
“Would you like me to make you some?” I asked.
He looked at me, confused. “How did you get her up so early?”
“I just woke her up when I was told to. Your mother sent me a text letting me know Hadley’s morning schedule and what time she needed to be at school.”
A look of guilt washed over his face. “I guess that should have been me telling you that last night. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“No worries. We got it sorted out,” I replied with another friendly smile and a one-shoulder shrug.
My smile faded when he frowned at me. What in the world was I doing wrong this time?
“Pancake?” I asked again, pointing to the batter.
He looked at it and frowned harder. “No, thank you. I need to get going.”
Hadley stood on the island stool and wrapped her arms around her father. “I love you to the moon and back, Daddy! Be careful.”
Oh dear…melt my heart, would you?
Aiden hugged her close, then kissed her on the cheek. “I love you to the moon and back too, pumpkin. You have a good day today, and I’ll see you when I get home from work.”
“Okay. Emma and I are going to make you a surprise dinner!”
He smiled at her warmly, his gaze flicking my way. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “Hadley got to pick the dinner for tonight.”
Aiden quickly looked away from me and back down to his daughter. “I can’t wait to find out what it is.”
Hadley giggled as he placed her back on the stool. “Eat up, pumpkin. Have a good day at school.”
“Bye, Daddy!”
Aiden grabbed his keys and turned to me, offering an awkward smile. “Have a good day, Emma.” Then he quickly made his way out the door.
I looked at the counter—and immediately spotted his lunch.
“Oh! He forgot his lunch. Be right back, Hadley.”
The little girl was shoving pancakes in her mouth and completely ignored me.
“Aiden! Wait! You forgot your lunch.”
Walking at a pace that bordered on running, Aiden jumped into his truck. He shut the door and started the vehicle. Before he could drive off, I knocked on the window and held up the lunch bag.
For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he was going to roll down the window, but he finally did.
“You forgot your lunch,” I said with a slight chuckle.
“My lunch?” he asked, his face contorted in confusion. My, oh, my, even looking bewildered, the man was cute as all get out.
Nodding, I replied, “Yeah. I packed you and Hadley both a lunch.”
He looked from the lunch to me, then back to the lunch. “A lunch? You packed me a lunch.”
Laughing, I pushed it into the truck. “You do eat lunch, right?”
Aiden’s eyes met mine, and he nodded. “You don’t have to make me a lunch, Emma.”
I shrugged. “I wanted to make you one. I was already making Hadley’s, so it was no problem. I also wondered if you had any errands you needed me to do today. You didn’t mention anything.”
Shaking his head, he replied, “No. Just…take care of anything that has to do with Hadley.”
My teeth dug into my lip as I nodded absently, wondering how I’d fill my days while Hadley was in school. “Okay. Um…a mom I met at the grocery store yesterday invited me to coffee after morning drop-off. Is that okay? I thought it might be important to get to know some of the other parents.”
He raked a hand through his hair in clear frustration. “Who?”
“Tammy Miller?”
A look of relief washed over his face. “Tammy is a great person. Her husband’s a biologist who works for the park.”
“Good. So it’s okay if I go? I won’t be there long.”
Aiden looked away from me and answered, “Sure. You should do whatever you want while Hadley’s in school.”
He put the truck in gear, and I reached in. When I touched his shoulder, he jerked away.