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I smear some butter on the toast before sprinkling the cinnamon-sugar on top. It isn’t the healthiest thing, but it will tide them over for the car ride.
“Are you guys ready?” I call out. Both kids are near the door, attempting to get their shoes on. Benji is five and Hope is four, so they sometimes have trouble, especially if they want to wear their tie shoes.
“All done, Mommy,” Benji states proudly as he stands up and shows off his fully dressed state.
“Looking sharp. Here’s some toast until you get to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s.” I hand him the slice. “Now, go get in the van, and I’ll be right behind you once I get Hope’s shoes on,” I tell him as I help my daughter slip her feet inside.
I get both kids into the car and buckled in. Thankfully, Sweet Valley isn’t that big of a town, so it takes me just under ten minutes to pull into my parents’ driveway. My mom is standing out on the wrap-around porch waiting on us. She comes down the steps and is at the passenger door by the time I shift into park.
“Grandma!” Hope greets her with cinnamon-sugar smeared all over her face.
“How’s my sweet girl this morning?” she asks her as she unbuckles her five-point harness.
“I’s ready to play,” she states.
“Well, that’s good because, after breakfast, we’re going to the park,” my mom tells her.
“Where’s Grandpa?” Benjamin asks her as he hops out.
“He’s out back cooking breakfast on the grill. Making some pancakes and bacon.”
“Yes!” Benjamin cheers as he takes off for the back of the house.
“Bye, Mommy loves you,” I call after his retreating back. I guess I’m chopped liver today.
“You’d better get out of here; don’t want you to be any later than you already are,” my mom reminds me.
“Oh, crap,” I say and look at the clock. “I’ll call you when I’m leaving the shop. I have no idea how late it will be since the install of the first oven is today.”
“No worries, I’ll plan on the three of you being here for dinner so you don’t have to stress over it tonight.”
“Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it,” I tell her before she walks back up the path to the porch, Hope’s hand in hers. I find myself watching them for another few seconds before I put the car in reverse and back out.
2
GARRETT
I grabthe work order in my box and look it over. A new commercial oven install in a bakery in a small town about forty-five miles away.
I go in search of the oven so I can find the install instructions. I need to make sure I have all the required tools and accessories, especially since I won’t be near the shop.
“Need help getting this loaded up?” Paul, one of the warehouse managers, asks.
“That’d be great. I’ll go back my truck up to the loading dock, now,” I tell him as I jog out of the warehouse to do just that.
As soon as I drop the tailgate and back into place, he slides up with the oven on a pallet lift and sets it in the back like a well-oiled machine. I toss the additional materials in the back before we add some tie-down straps around the unit to secure it for the drive.
“Do you know if we have anyone extra around today I can take with me for this install?”
“I can come with you,” he offers.
“If you’re sure. I just know getting this thing into place will be much easier with a second set of hands.”
“Absolutely, let me just go let the office know I’ll be gone, and then we can hit the road.”
While I wait on Paul to come back, I get the GPS set up with the bakery’s address.
“I’m all yours for today,” he states as he hops in the truck.
