Page 17 of Broken Grump

From there, a full-on cat fight breaks out, and I want to sit on the ground and put my head between my legs.

“God speed,” Steven says while patting me on the shoulder.

Thanks.

After taking a breath and rolling her eyes, Addie’s attention focuses on me. “Remind me what the hell you’re doing here, by the way?”

“Uh . . .” I scratch at my facial scruff.

No matter which Flores woman I work with, I can see that I’m going to have my hands full.

Chapter six

Addie

“Mommy!” Luna yells beforerunning over to me near the baggage claim.

“Looney Tunes!” I crouch down and envelop her into my arms. I’m not sure if there are many better feelings than holding your own child. But I’m so glad she’s still young enough that this kind of public affection with me isn’t embarrassing. “I missed you so very much.”

She pulls away from me for a bit, and her deep green eyes peer up at me. “I missed you too. Look what I made!” She then holds up a cool friendship bracelet of some kind. “It’s for you!” I slip it on my wrist before she reveals one just like it under the sleeve of her generic Taylor Swiftt, yes with two t’s, sweatshirt.

“I love it. Thank you!”

She gleams. “You’re welcome.”

Next, I give Sam, my best friend, and Bernie, her partner, big hugs and thank them profusely for watching and keeping my mini-me alive while I was away.

“She was a delight,” Bernie replies while giving Luna a light noogie.

“Hey!” she exclaims before trying to calm her dark hair back down. “You’re lucky that you’re bald, otherwise I’d try to do that to you, too!”

I just giggle as I watch them tease each other.

“And you wouldn’t dare do it to me, right?” Sam asks while pushing her dark, princess-like hair behind her back.

“Of course not.” Then, Luna’s eyes shift back to me. “I got lots of braiding practice in on Sam.”

I nod. “I bet you did.” Her straight and silky black hair is perfect for just that.

We have to wait a few minutes before my luggage comes rolling down the conveyor belt.

“Is that it, Mom?” Luna asks with a point, recognizing the rainbow ribbon I tied on the handle for quick identification.

“You got it.”

When I go to get it, Bernie offers to pick it up for me instead.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

Sam leans over and practically whispers, “You see that? That’s what it feels like to have a man around.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”

Then, to prove that I am an independent woman, I refuse the help the next time. So I get my bigger and much heavier suitcase. And in all honesty, I heard something pop in my bag as I lifted it, but I don’t want Sam, or anybody else, to know that.

Nonetheless, I continue the façade as I struggle to roll both of them out the sliding doors.

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