Page 8 of Single All the Way

What had I gotten myself into by moving in here for the next six weeks?

ChapterThree

Emerson

Ifelt like I’d only been asleep for a few minutes when I was jolted awake by an awful noise. It sounded like a shrill, coarse woman’s laughter outside in the distance.

Skyler rolled into my side and ducked her head under the covers. “Mommy, whatisthat?” she asked in a high, small voice.

The sound came again. “The rooster,” I realized. “That’s awful.”

Skyler didn’t stir from being glued to me.

“He’s outside, sweetie. Just doing his wakeup call.”From hell, I added in my head.

“I don’t like him.”

I wasn’t sure I did either. Was that how we were going to wake up every day for the next month and a half? God, save my sanity.

I kissed my daughter on the head, then rolled out of bed, my eyes burning from lack of sleep. The air was chilly outside of the blankets. I went to the small dormer window and peered outside.

The sun wasn’t up yet. I could see the chicken house beyond the garage, and the birds were still locked up for the night. Wasn’t a rooster supposed to wait for sunrise to do his cock-a-doodle-death sounds?

I went back to the nightstand and picked up my phone. The time was ten after five.

“I’m going to the bathroom, Sky. Be back in a few.”

When I entered the hall, I was met with way too much activity for this time of day. I nearly ran into Ben, leaning against the doorjamb of Ruby and Xavier’s room.

“Oh,” I said, startled, though I shouldn’t be. He’d warned me they started early around here in order to fit in the morning chores.

“Good morning.” He was dressed in jeans and a thick hoodie, looking wide awake as he smiled down at me.

“Morning,” I mumbled. “Need the restr— Ah. After Evelyn.” His daughter went in before I could.

“Hi, Mom!” Xavier, my blond cutie, bounced into my sight beyond Ben, fully dressed as well, excitement lighting up his eyes.

“Hey, kiddo. How’d you sleep?”

“Good! I’m gonna help Dr. Ben and Ruby with the animals.”

I glanced at Ben to check his reaction. He nodded and smiled. “It’s what we do around here.”

“I don’t want him to be more work for you.”

“He won’t be at all. He can help Ruby with the horses today.”

“Should I— Can Skyler and I do something to help?” If it was what they did around here, we should probably all contribute.

With a chuckle, he shook his head and said, “No. It’s dirty work, and we’ve got it covered.”

Today I wasn’t going to argue, but maybe there was something Sky and I could handle in the future to earn our keep, so to speak. “If you’re sure…”

“I’m surprised you’re up. You had a long day yesterday.”

“So did you,” I said, recalling the tale of the horse emergency.

“Used to it, but I’m betting you’re not.”

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