I leave Jake's office, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I'm still angry—furious, even—but there's a sense of relief too. We have a path forward now. It's not perfect, far from it, but it's something concrete to work with.
TEN
Cole
8:18 pm
I'm wiping down the counters and loading the dishwasher, grateful for the quiet that's settled over the house now that Madeline is finally asleep. My little firecracker had her bath, dinner, and bedtime routine earlier than usual tonight.
Two full days of preschool without a nap have really taken their toll on her. I can see it in the way her eyes drooped, and her usual chatter slowed to a mumble.
It's becoming clear that it's time to phase out her daily nap altogether. Although she doesn’t sleep during the day every afternoon anymore, this transition is still an adjustment for us both.
I find myself torn between relishing the extra time I get with her when she's awake and missing those quiet afternoon moments when I can catch my breath. But that's parenthood for you—constantly changing, always keeping you on your toes.
Just as I'm about to plop on the sofa and turn off my brain to scroll aimlessly through Netflix, a knock on the door startles me.
I open the door, and there stands Buster, his broad shoulders filling the doorframe. He's holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a business card in the other. My heart skips a beat, and I'm suddenly aware of how disheveled I must look after wrestling Maddie through her nighttime routine and then cleaning the kitchen.
He must think I’m always a chaotic mess.
"Hey," I manage, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's all this?"
Buster flashes that disarming smile of his. "I know you like a glass of wine, so I thought I'd bring this by with this,” he says as he holds out a white business card.
I catch a glimpse of the card in his hand. It says Alabama Department of Health & Human Services.
"Huh?" I ask, at first confused, and then connect the dots, remembering that I told him about my saga this morning. That's right, he offered to help, but I blew him off.
I hesitate for a moment, then step aside to let him in. The scent of his cologne wafts past me, and I'm hit with a flash of memory from our encounter the other day. I push it away, focusing on the present.
"Maddie just went down," I explain, leading him to the kitchen. "It's been a long day."
He nods, setting the wine on the counter. "I won't stay long. I just wanted to drop this off for you."
He hands me the business card. It's for a health inspector named Aric Hankel.
"My cousin," Buster explains. "He might be able to help with your cafe situation."
I stare at the card, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Gratitude, surprise, and a touch of embarrassment that he went out of his way for me.
"Buster, I can't believe you did this. You didn't have to go to this trouble, but I am so grateful,” I start, but he cuts me off before I can finish.
"No need to thank me. I know how much of a pain the whole process can be, the red tape, bureaucratic shitstorm. It always helps when you have someone that can walk you through everything. Sometimes, the inspectors are just checking boxes, so having a real person on the inside is nice."
Our eyes meet, and for a moment, I'm lost in the warmth of his gaze. I clear my throat, breaking the spell.
"Well, thank you, anyway. This will help me more than I can tell you."
He shrugs, a boyish grin playing on his lips. "A health inspection can almost be as painful as a tax audit."
"You're telling me. This has been a nightmare. My manager is helping as much as he can, but most of this falls on my shoulders. And it's stressing me the hell out. I won't bore you with the details, but it's a lot."
"You couldn't bore me. But I am going to let you relax. I just wanted to drop it off for you. I've already contacted him, and he pulled up your case, so he is expecting your call."
"Wow. Buster, thank you."
He holds up his hand. He sweetly seems shy about being showered with gratitude. Enchanting, for sure. I'm so grateful for the gesture and the connection. Hopefully, this will help me get through this whole nightmare as quickly as possible.