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“You said poop,” Jasper said.
Meanwhile, Jess was hung up on Jasper’s request. She didn’t realize until that moment how much her son missed his baths. Since losing their apartment, she’d worked very hard to make them as small as possible in the homes where they’d crashed, staying out until just before bedtime and not imposing by asking to use the shower. As such, they’d been forced to clean themselves by taking sponge baths, and sneaking quick showers at the motel on the weekends.
“Of course you can take a bath,” Rhys replied.
Jasper hopped off the bed. “Can I get my toys?”
“Toys?” he asked.
“He has a few bath toys. They’re in the trunk of the car.” Jess enjoyed Jasper’s enthusiasm, the boy practically dancing next to the bed. “I’ll run down and grab them,” she promised her son. “We need some clean clothes for you too. And I should probably repack our car tent cocoon.”
Tony bent down and picked up Jasper’s shoes from the floor, quietly bidding the boy to sit on the floor so he could help him put them on. Jess watched the simple, almost-fatherly act, overwhelmed by amazement and longing.
“Why don’t we run down for your toys and clothes, Jasper, and your mom can get a hot shower in before you take over the bathroom?” Tony said, helping her son to his feet once his shoes were back on.
A hot shower? All to herself?
Jess was starting to wonder if she’d died and gone to heaven.
“You need anything from the car, Jess?” Tony asked.
“I should probably go down. Since everything is a mess.”
“I’ll take care of it. You don’t need to go back out in the cold today.”
Jess tried to remember a single time in her life when someone took care of her. Her mother, a cold woman, had never pretended Jess was anything more than a burden. So she hadn’t been shocked when her mother had kicked her out after discovering Jess was pregnant, telling her she’d made her bed and she’d have to lie in it.
“Um…maybe just a clean shirt and some jeans?” Then she looked at Jasper. “Grab some of the library books too, buddy. For bedtime.”
Jasper ran to the bedroom door, his expression matching the way she felt.
They’d both won the lottery.
Even if it was just for one night.
