Page 26 of Single Dad's Second Chance

I lowered, holding my arms open to catch him. We both giggled and laughed. Because he lifted my spirits, I spun him an extra round.

“What’s up, kiddo?” I asked him.

“I’ve got to run out and pick up something really quick,” Laura said as she glanced around the office. She was clearly seeking Henry, because when she didn’t spot him, she winced. “I thought he’d be here. I was bringing Jason for his lunch hour.” Peeking at her watch, she winced deeper. “Shoot. I can’t wait long.”

“I’ll help Mia while I wait for Daddy,” Jason said, taking my hand as I lowered him to stand. He swung our arms back andforth, too close to a plant on a stand, and I hurried to catch it before it fell.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” I nodded at Laura. “Go on and get your script. Is it helping yet?”

She groaned. “No. Not yet. I hope this different med helps. I am so impatient to get back into the classes I like at the gym.”

I held up my crossed fingers. “Hopefully soon.”

Jason darted off, running to look at the fish in the long tank set against the wall, and I just caught a glimpse of him dashing off to get a peppermint from the dish near the copier room I used the most. Each time he ran around, Laura shook her head and I smiled.

“Oh, to have that kind of energy,” she teased. “You sure he’ll be okay with you?”

I huffed a little laugh. “Of course.” I’d kept Jason with me at the office many times, but still, Laura would always check. Even though Henry was a busy businessman, he would never want Jason to feel like he wasn’t welcome here. Laura, his gym-rat of a neighbor cursed with arthritis, was simply conscious of how energized and wild Jason could be. Like he was today.

“Okay.” She frowned at his doing a hopscotch sort of jump pattern on the tile squares of the floor.

I waved her off. “It’s fine. He can hang out with me until Henry’s out of his meetings.”

As soon as she left, I held out my hand for Jason to take it. He’d behave in my small office. “Come on, kiddo.”

He ran toward me, bumping into Ann again.

“MyGod!” she snapped, scowling again as she righted her purse. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing!” he replied. “You’re just standing in the middle of the way.”

I pressed my lips together tightly, fighting a laugh. Even he could notice how she didn’t belong here.

“Well, you’re just running around like a terrible child.” She sneered as he skidded to a stop in front of me, messing up the rug and almost falling. “A nuisance.” Setting a hand on her hip, she tipped her nose up even more, as if she wasn’t haughty enough. “You belong in a boarding school. And just go away from here.” A nasty huff ended her tirade.

My jaw dropped. Jason’s small hand found mine and clutched tightly.

Ann hadn’t shown any kindness to Jason. They hadn’t crossed paths much, but she’d seen him in and out of here while summer break kept him out of school during the day. Each time she saw him, she went out of her way to dismiss him or view him as a distraction. Not a person.

Anger burned hot within me. I narrowed my eyes, seething and loathing this awful woman’s presence in our lives at all.

“Howdareyou!”

Jason sniffled, turning to burrow his face against me as he began to cry. “I don’t want to go to a boarding school!”

“You’re not,” I told him, hugging him close as I stared down Ann. “And you are far out of line to ever suggest that.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are!” I glowered at her, ready to retaliate harder if she argued that point.

“Youhave no right to tellmewhat to do.” She pointed at me then herself for emphasis. “You just work here.”

“That does not matter. You have absolutely no right to speak to him like that. To suggest he get shipped off to a boarding school, of all places!”

“He should be.” She smirked as Jason cried louder.

Jen raised her brows as she stepped into the open part of the office. She’d overheard the commotion, as did a few others who watched the drama.

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