Page 7 of Scrape the Barrel
“Sage?” Lennon interrupted my thoughts.
I gave him a tight-lipped smile. “I’ll bring her by when I can.”
He dipped his chin in a nod, pleased with my answer. Even though Lennon didn’t have kids of his own, he could see howdraining it was to be at the top of my game every day. He wanted to give me the break he so desperately saw that I needed.
That’s what happened when you had a kid. While your feelings still mattered, you’d do anything to never let your kid see the storm, and that meant no days off.
“I most likely won’t be there, but one of my brothers will. Just let them know I sent you,” he said.
“Does it matter what day?” I didn’t want to be rude and stop by without an appointment or anything, but with the cafe and Avery, my schedule was never set in stone. It was hard to plan much of anything.
“Nope. Cal’s almost always there.”
“Cal?” I’d never heard that brother's name before. I knew Lettie, Reed, and Beckham Bronson, but I assumed that was it. I’d lived here for three years, so I figured I’d met all the Bronsons.
“Callan. He’s about a year older than you, teaches lessons at our parents’ ranch, looks most like me than my other brothers…” He listed the traits like a little light bulb would go off over my head at any minute.
I shook my head, absentmindedly running my fingers through Avery’s hair as she added flowers to her drawing. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
As if on cue, the cowbell rang above the door as Gemma walked in.
I glanced at the clock out of habit, seeing that she was ten minutes late. She always was, but I’d learned my lesson the last time when she bit my head off for even opening my mouthabout a schedule. I’d been late to pick up Avery from school that day, and I blamed myself for it, even though it was nowhere near my fault.
“You’re here,” I said with what had to be my hundredth forced smile of the day.
“I’m here,” she repeated dryly, coming around the counter to head through the back door.
I patted Avery’s shoulder, looking down at her. “Why don’t you grab your stuff and we can head home?”
“Okay, Mama.” She finished off her flower on the paper, leaving the drawing behind as she went to grab her backpack. Though it was summer, she still brought it with her so she had snacks, various toys, and extra drawing supplies to keep her busy throughout my shift.
“Well, just look for the guy that’s the complete opposite of Reed, and you’ll find him,” Lennon said, going back to the Callan topic.
“I’ll be sure to tell Reed you said that,” I teased with a smile. “Did you want anything before I leave?”
He shook his head. “Just wanted to check in, see how things were going. You’ve seemed…”
“Stressed?” I filled in.
His face fell. “Stressed.”
“I’m a single mom to a five-year-old with no babysitter and a full-time job. What’s not to be stressed about?” I didn’t mean it literally, yet it was literal in every sense of the word, and I hatedthe way his eyes changed, sympathy for my situation apparent in them. “I’m okay, Len. Really. Thank you for checking in.”
“Oakley would have my ass if I didn’t,” he said, and he was right, she would. We’d grown to be great friends since she moved into town months ago. “Do you need the address?”
“I honestly don’t remember where I put the paper you wrote it on, so that’d be great.” I never lost so many things until I had Avery, then mom-brain kicked in and I was overly forgetful.
I slid him the notepad and pen from beside Avery’s drawing and he wrote the address down.
“Tell Oakley I said hi and that I’ll text her once I get a free moment.” Would I ever have a free moment, though?
“I will.” He set the pen on the pad, tapped the counter twice, then headed for the door. “See you later, Sage.”
“See you,” I replied as he disappeared out the door.
“Ready,” Avery said as she came to my side with her backpack slung over her shoulders.
“Let me just tell Gemma we’re leaving."
