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While I wait, I drink my coffee and catch up on emails, check beef prices, and contact vendors.I actually get a lot of office work done from the driver’s seat in the pickup line at school.
And today, I munch on a Danish while I do it.
Before long, I hear the bell ring, and kids almost immediately come rushing out the doors of the small elementary school.Mykids rush to the car, hand in hand, with smiles on their little faces.
God, I fucking love them.
“Hey, Dad,” Johnny says as he jumps into the back seat and scoots over to make room for his sister.
“Hi, Daddy,” Holly echoes.
“Hi, guys.Did you have a good day?”
“Yeah, but I have a project due tomorrow.I forgot to tell you,” Johnny says as I pass them cookies from the café.“Yay, chocolate chip!”
“What kind of project?”I ask as I wait my turn to pull out into traffic.
“I have to make a poster all about me,” he continues, licking chocolate off his fingers.“You know, just use some pictures and stuff.It’ll be easy.”
“Sure, except we don’t have any of the supplies at home,” I mutter and pull away from the school, headed for the nearest craft supply store.“You really need to tell me about these things, buddy.”
“You got an email from Mrs.Holt,” he says with a shrug, and I mentally sigh.I likely did but didn’t pay attention to it.
Jesus, I’m tired.
By the time we choose materials for Johnny’s project and get back out to the ranch, it’s dinnertime.Thankfully, my mom has a pot of stew on the stove, waiting for us when we walk in.
“There’s bread cooling on a rack, as well,” she says and kisses my cheek.“I have to go.I have a book club meeting in just a little bit.”
“Thanks for making dinner,” I reply.“Really.It’s a big help.”
“You’re welcome.We have to keep our babies fed.”
She kisses each of the kids, and then she’s off for the evening, and I get to work, serving dinner and getting the kids bathed so they can enjoy some TV or reading time before bed.
“I want to go to the barn,” Holly announces.“To see the new baby horses.”
“Me, too,” Johnny agrees.
“Sorry, we have to do your project.”I shake my head as they both frown.“That’s what happens when you wait until the last minute.Come on, let’s dig in.You can see the horses tomorrow.”
“I didn’t wait until the last minute,” Holly grumbles.“That’s stupid that I can’t go.”
“You’re not going by yourself,” I inform her.“So, you can help us, or you can grab a book to read or watch something on TV.”
“She can’t help us,” Johnny argues, and I sigh as my kids start to fight.
“Enough.”My voice is deep and sharp, which makes them stop swiping at each other.“Holly, go find something to do while we work on this.”
She stomps out of the room, and I turn to my son, who’s scowling.“This isn’t your sister’s fault.”
“She’s a busybody.”
“Where did you hear that phrase?”
“From Grandma.”
It’s late when I finally get the kids into bed and sit down to eat some stew myself.I’m hungrier than I realized and go back for seconds before sealing up the leftovers and popping them into the fridge.
