Page 138 of Renewal After Dark

McKenzie laughed.

“That’s what happens when you work with your husband and brother-in-law. There’s often bickering involved.” She gestured for McKenzie to take a seat.

She released Jax from the stroller and gathered him into her arms.

“If he wants to play with George, he’s welcome to join him on the mat.” Half the office was devoted to George and his toys.

“He’d love to.” McKenzie settled Jax on the mat, close enough to George that they could see each other, but not so close that they could pull hair or pinch each other.

“George loves other kids, but he hasn’t quite worked out how to play with them yet. His older cousin, Ethan, has been great with him, but he’s a work in progress.”

“I read about a thing called parallel play, where they like to know another child is there, but they don’t want to play with them. They want to playnearthem.”

“Yes, we’re in that stage now.”

“Jax is about sitting up and throwing things.”

“Ah, yes, I remember that. While they’re calm, let me show you what I’ve done in QuickBooks, and you can tell me everything I’ve done wrong.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

“I’m sure it’s worse than you think.”

Over the next hour, McKenzie reviewed the balance sheet and income statement, the credit card statements for the last six months and took a look at the payroll account.

“How bad is it?” Jenny asked when she returned from waiting on a customer.

“You’ve made a great start. Way better than most.”

“May I quote you on that when I brag to Alex about how smart I am?”

“Absolutely.”

“Here comes one of them now. You can tell by the clomp of boots on the concrete floor.”

“Good to know what the bosses sound like.”

“Don’t let on to them, but I’m the real boss around here.”

McKenzie was still laughing when Alex came into the office, his entire countenance softening at the sight of Jenny and George.

“Hi, family.”

“Hi, Daddy.”

George let out a happy cry at the sight of his dad. “Da!”

Alex leaned down to pick up George from the floor and swung him over his head, to the delight of his son. “What goes on around here?”

“You remember McKenzie Martin and her son, Jax, from the marina the other night. She just said that I’m way better at bookkeeping than most people are.”

“How much did she pay you to say that?” Alex asked. “Oh, and it’s nice to see you again.”

“Nice to see you, too, and I told her that for free because it’s true.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t need you,” Jenny said. “I’d like very much to turn the bookkeeping over to someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”

“Bookkeeping makes my beloved grumpy,” Alex added, “so I’m all for getting some help.”

---