Page 62 of Knot What I Expected

Do you know what that means when the jerk leaves a hundred-dollar bill?

Ninety-three dollars and twenty-five cents.

As a tip.

For opening a tap.

It’s ridiculous.

I can’t keep taking his money. Except apparently I can, because I have.

But only because I earned it.

Sort of.

I mean, I’m not forcing him to leave it.

I’ve tried giving it back.

He growled at me.

Literally.

So technically, I’m just respecting cultural differences.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Besides, the extra money has made a difference. A huge one.

I paid Nando for last month. And this month.

Already.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m ahead.

Which means today? Today I get to do something normal. Something a regular mother does with her regular little boy.

I’m taking Matteo shopping for new sneakers. And my baby is so excited you’d think I told him we were going to Disney World.

Treats like this have been few and far between for my little guy.

Usually, new sneakers happen because his toes are pushing against the ends of the old ones, and I spend three days calculating whether I can move money from groceries or put off the electric bill until my next paycheck.

Not today.

Today, my kid gets to choose.

Any sneakers he wants.

Well, within reason.

I’m still not made of freaking money.

I walk outside Mrs. Donnelly’s place toward my ancient car and immediately grimace at the sky.

It’s October, but somebody apparently forgot to tell Montana. The air is thick and muggy today, pressing against my skin with the weird heaviness that usually means a storm is brewing somewhere over the mountains.

My supernatural senses don’t particularly like it either.