“Well, that was my meal ticket, you know?”
“Meal ticket or no, maybe when we’re done with the house, we can start onyourmakeover?” Melissa asked, looking Sam up and down.
“Not fair,” Sam shot back. “I’m doing work here!”
“Whatever you say, sweetie.” Melissa grabbed the notepad and ripped out a page. “I’m going to start counting outlets and fixtures. Is there anything else you need before I go?”
“I’m taking Brad and Adam out to Easton’s tomorrow night to help thank them for everything. If you want to join us, we’ll be there after seven.”
Melissa paused in her counting and looked over at Sam. “You do realize that you’re paying me seven percent already, right?”
“I know, I know,” Sam answered. Just then, her phone pinged with a text.
Sophie made brownies. Can we bring some over?
Sam blew out a breath.
She looked up to find Melissa watching her with a knowing look. “Is Alex going to be there tomorrow?”
Sam felt her face going red. She looked down at the text. It was just a batch of brownies made by an eight-year-old. But somehow, just seeing Alex’s name on her screen had made her blush. “I haven’t asked her yet,” she finally admitted.
“Do that, and I’m in.” Melissa’s face displayed a huge Cheshire cat grin. “I gotta be there to see…” She waved her hand vaguely in the air. “whatever this is going to be.”
Sam shot her a glare.
“And,” Melissa continued, “maybe it’s time for that glow-up?”
“You’re almost as bad as Jordan.” Sam snatched the notepad back out of Melissa’s hands. “Don’t you have somewhere to be right now?”
Melissa laughed as she backed away, holding both hands up in surrender. “I’m going, I’m going.” She stopped at the doorway, stillgrinning from ear to ear. She gestured to the phone. “Looks like I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.”
And with that, she was gone.
Sam stood looking at the empty doorway for a moment after Melissa was gone. Tomorrow at Easton’s was going to be interesting.
Brownies sound great!!she typed out.Bring them on over!!She shook her head at all of her exclamation points. Even via text, sometimes she could be ridiculously awkward.
Okay. We’ll be by in about an hour.Alex’s response was almost immediate.
Great!!Sam groaned again at her exclamation points.The boys are here, working on the roof.
I’ll bring some for them. See you soon.;)
Sam shook her head and pocketed her phone. A winky emoji?
Alex’s SUV pulled into the driveway half an hour later, and the back door was thrown open immediately.
“Sam!” Sophie called as she struggled to climb out of her booster seat. “Mom!” Her tone was indignant. “I can’t get out of this stupid thing!”
Alex took her time getting out of the front, locking eyes with Sam and then rolling them as her daughter exaggerated her struggle in the back seat. She shut her door and leaned against the side of the car. “Sophie,” she called playfully. “If you need help, how do you ask me for real?”
Sam laughed as Sophie crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her lips out in a pout. Now,thatpose reminded her of Alex.
“Fine,” Sophie’s tone was petulant. “Please,” she ground out. “Will you please help me, Mom?”
“That’s better.” Alex reached in and unclipped the offending seat belt. Sophie shot out of the car and ran over to Sam. She stopped a few inches before her and looked at her with big blue eyes that perfectly matched her mother’s. Sam turned to face her, giving her full attention.
“My mom says you’re here because you don’t have a mommyanymore.” Surprisingly, Sophie’s eyes seemed filled with tears. “Is that true?” she asked, her lip quivering.
