Page 7 of Wrecked By You

He waved a dismissive hand through the air. “I’m fine. It’s good for me. Don’t you know bodies in motion stay in motion, and bodies at rest stay at rest?”

My father was the king of sayings like that. I rolled my eyes.

“Damon’s right,” my mother said, glaring at him. “You take a break.”

My father took off his work gloves and put them on the table next to the door. “You got it, boss.” He strolled into the family room and picked up the newspaper.

My parents were the only people I knew who still got a newspaper.

I moved toward the kitchen. “Are you guys sure that you can handle these two today? I’m going to be later than normal.” Amillion years’ worth of paperwork on my desk had me reeling. “It seems like everyone needs vacation right now.”

Noah scoffed. “Of course we got these two. Come on, boys, let me show you where the hammers are.”

I was nervous about that. “I don’t want to go to the hospital today, bro.”

“They’re fine.” He held open the door, and the boys rushed on through it. “I’ll just take them to the hospital all by myself.”

I grunted, feeling a pang of anger, and then laughed. “I mean it. No hospital today.”

Noah pumped his eyebrows. “Bro, you’re just no fun anymore.”

He left, and I turned back to my mother. She was getting meat out of the freezer and putting it in the sink to soak and thaw. She’d always made dinner, as far back as I could remember.

“You sure you’re good, Mom?” She would be doing a lot of the work with the boys, too.

She nodded. “You bet. Spaghetti tonight. Don’t you worry; the boys will be fine. I’ll drive up and check on them in a little bit. Then I’ll bring them back and have them do my weeds before lunch.” She flashed me a smile.

I relaxed and moved around the kitchen counter to put my arms around my mom. “Thank you. I mean it.” I kissed the side of her head.

Her hand lightly touched my arm. “Of course.” I moved to leave, but she said, “You should take a vacation.”

I spun back as I got to the doorway. “Right. Where would I go?” The thought of a vacation was daunting. I had so much work to do. Plus, just trying to juggle the boys was insane.

She shrugged. “To the cabin. At the ridge.”

My family owned the cabin at the ridge. It was part of the more exclusive resort.

I shrugged. “Can’t pay for that.” It was complete with a chef and guides and horses.

She smirked. “You are a partner in that. Partners get a free vacation.”

“Yes.” My father snorted from the other room. “Take me to the ridge, too.”

I grinned at him. “You want to get out of here, old man?”

My father leaned back on the La-Z-Boy with the newspaper open. “No, but I would like McDonald’s.” He flashed a grin, making me laugh.

My mother grimaced and shook her head. “No, Damon, do not bring your father McDonald’s.”

A little past one, Hazel Friendly walked into my office. She was the dispatch operator who had retired two weeks ago. The problem was, we hadn’t been able to find a replacement. “Boss—or ex-boss—I have an interview for you.”

I was buried under a pile of paperwork and was frustrated as all get-out. “Can someone else do this interview?” I knew it had to do with dispatch, but I didn’t have time to do it. “In fact, I trust you. You do the interview.”

She sighed. “I have. We haven’t had a good candidate except the one who’s in here. I’m going to have her do the second interview with you right now. If you’re okay with that.”

I looked up at her. “I guess you’re not taking no for an answer?”

Her grin widened. “Let’s get this position filled. This gal can start tomorrow. And I could train her within a week or two. Then I could retire.”

---