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He hadn’t expected Josie to say as much as she did and he was trying to hide the embarrassment. More so when Avery gave him a look about the dessert comment and why she might suspect he did what he had.
It wasn’t so he got dessert daily but rather something he knew the little girl liked.
“I didn’t know that,” his mother said. “I don’t go to Carter’s house that much to see those things.”
“I was so surprised when I saw it last week,” Josie said. “We went to his house and he cooked us dinner. He said that sometimes a man needs to do his part too. That means sharing the chores. Don’t you think that is nice?” Josie asked. “Avery does everything and I try to help, but she tells me no. She doesn’t always tell Carter no though.”
“Josie,” Avery said. “I think maybe you had a little bit too much sugar with breakfast this morning.”
There was laughter around the room. Avery was as embarrassed as him, but his parents were enjoying this.
“I had three pancakes with chocolate chips in them because Avery said it was a holiday and that was kind of like dessert, but it was still breakfast. Then I had strawberries and syrup on them. Lots of syrup. All the dogs got pancakes too, but not with chocolate chips because chocolate is bad for dogs.”
“How do we get her to stop talking?” he whispered to Avery.
“Welcome to my world,” she said quietly to him. “But it means she is comfortable.”
It was probably the best thing she could have said to him.
“Well,” his mother said, “if you’re hungry I’ve got snacks before dinner is ready. That will be a few hours. We’ll eat around two. Grayson and Natalie should be here any minute and then we can open gifts. I believe there are things under the tree with your name on it, Josie.”
“Really?” Josie said. “Thank you. You just met me though.”
Avery looked a little stunned by this, but Carter wasn’t. His mother had been waiting for a child to spoil.
“Why don’t I help you get those snacks,” Avery said to his mother. “Josie, can you stay out here with Carter and his father? Maybe draw a picture?”
Josie went running to her bag that she’d dropped by the door when they’d taken their jackets and boots off. She came dashing back in with a pad and a pencil, then sat down and got to work. That was one way for the little girl to be distracted and not expose anymore information he’d rather people not know.
Hours later they were back at Avery’s house. Josie was playing with some of her toys in the living room and the two of them were in her kitchen.
“Sorry I had to leave you for a bit.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I know you’re on call for things. Just like me. I’ve gotten calls and had to leave too.”
No one wants to get in an accident on Christmas day, but there was one and the car was too damaged to be driven away. He’d had to leave, hook it up to the truck and bring it back to his garage. He’d felt bad saying that the garage wasn’t open until Tuesday to look the car over, but the person hadn’t minded. Said they expected that anyway as it was a holiday.
He had to remind himself of that. People didn’t expect him to be open twenty-four-seven to do things other than in an emergency.
Most times Avery took calls over the phone and didn’t often have to go to the clinic, but she did last week with a dog that had broken its front leg jumping off the stairs. He’d been at the house and stayed with Josie rather than the little girl having to leave after dinner.
“I know,” he said. “I’m glad you understand.”
“I do. It’s a different life here. I’m the one that is always on call and I get that. I’ve got to figure out if I can find a vet to fill in for me so that I can have some time off. If not, then the practice will be closed and that does stink, but I’ve got to be able to not burn out too.”
“I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone to come over for a week or so. If you sweeten the pot for them, a hotel or rented house,” he said, laughing. He wasn’t joking though. It would probably take that and the cost of running a business on the island.
“I thought of it. All good suggestions,” she said. “And I’m sorry Josie was so gabby today. I didn’t expect that.”
“It’s fine. She was excited and that is what a kid should be like on Christmas Day.”
“I know,” she said. “I often wonder if I should reach out to Colleen’s mother and sister. I hate that there isn’t much family for Josie. Should she have that connection to Colleen’s side?”
“You need to decide that on your own,” he said. “You’d know what is best. You said Colleen wasn’t close with her family. Why?”
“Colleen’s parents divorced when she was young. I think we had that bond. The two of us. Her mother found another guy and married right away. The sister is actually a half sister. Colleen always felt like she was left out.”
“The redheaded stepchild syndrome?” he asked. “Though you’re the one with the red in your hair.”
