I looked at Constance and widened my eyes.
Awkwardly, I patted Wendy’s back as Constance’s face went soft.
“We’ll get you some new ones,” I said. “But I need to check your mom’s foot. She’s been a constant drain on my resources lately.”
Constance scoffed.
“First puking in my bushes. Then getting bitten by a dog in front of me.”
“Coco is a handful.”
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing then.
Wendy reluctantly let go, and I was able to check out “Coco’s” foot.
“It looks okay.” I swept my thumb over some bruising. “No broken skin, thankfully.”
“Thank goodness Grandma made us put on clothes for the snow!” Wendy declared.
I helped her put her sock back on, and she put her own boot back on.
While she was doing that, I said, “I’ll run her over to the donut shop.”
Constance looked relieved as I caught Wendy’s hand and led her past the scattered remains of her original breakfast.
She looked at the cherry-iced donuts longingly as she said, “Those were the last ones.”
I squeezed her hand. “I think they might ice some more for us, don’t you think?”
Wendy looked hopeful as I led her into the shop.
The shopkeeper was the same woman who’d complained earlier about the dog and my “harshness.”
Great.
“Do you have any more cherry iced?” I asked.
“They got the last ones,” she apologized.
Even though she didn’t look very apologetic.
In fact, she looked like a bitch.
“Could you make some?” I asked.
“I…”
“We can.” Another woman came out of the back. “Is her mom okay?”
I nodded. “Just shaken. Luckily, she was wearing boots.”
“Thank goodness,” she replied, looking sad for a moment as she looked down at Wendy. “I’ll go run back here and make you some. You said cherry iced?”
Wendy nodded excitedly. “Yes!”
The simple joys in life.
I wish everything could be erased for me by some cherry-iced donuts.
