Page 30 of Family Bonds: Carter & Avery

“It’s fine,” she said. “And thank you for being so patient with Josie.”

“Not a problem,” he said. “She’s taken with my dogs.”

“More than the dogs,” Avery said, smiling.

He wasn’t sure what that meant and always seemed to be so awkward around women that it was best to not ask.

When Avery opened the door, he knew the visit was done. She was busy anyway, just like he was and had to get back to the garage.

He walked out to pay. When he was standing there while he was being rung up, he heard, “Carter.” Josie ran toward him and said, “I did this for you last week.”

He reached out and took the piece of paper out of Josie’s hand. He knew she drew the dogs and expected a childlike drawing, not one that most adults couldn’t pull off that had been doing it for years.

“Damn,” he said. Shit, he shouldn’t swear in front of the little girl. “This is great. It looks just like Dopey.”

“I’m going to do one for Doc next. Maybe I can do one of them together sometime,” Josie said, then ran back to Avery’s office.

“She has a great talent,” Melody said. He could see Roseann had moved to the other part of the office and was doing something.

“She really does,” he said.

“It’s going to be fifty-five for today,” Melody said.

“That’s it?” he asked. He expected it to be more with the exam.

“Just for the shot,” Melody said. “You weren’t scheduled for an exam so Dr. Keegan won’t charge it. She wants to meet everyone she can.”

He pulled his credit card out and handed it over, got his receipt and left.

Doc jumped into the back of the SUV and they returned to the garage after stopping for a burger and fries.

His dog wasn’t thrilled that she couldn’t join him where the food was. He’d give her a fry for being a good girl. He’d have to since he’d give a few to Dopey too.

It was only fair in his eyes.

“How did she do?” his mother asked when he passed her office, walking Doc back to his office.

“She did well. Better than expected. Dr. Keegan has a nicer touch than Dr. Mullins.”

His mother hummed in her throat and went back to work.

He wasn’t sure what that was about.

10

Want Everything

“We are going to have so much fun,” Laine said to Josie the next day.

“Josie has been looking forward to this all week. You are sure that Thursdays are a good night for this?”

“Positive,” Laine said. “And it gives you time to go run some errands on your own.”

She’d gotten out of work thirty minutes ago, running late and hating that, but fed Josie a grilled cheese sandwich and some chips, then let Betty out quickly and put her in the crate to bring Josie to her first drawing lesson.

She figured she’d have to stay, but Laine had texted her earlier to tell her it’s better if it was only the two of them. Laine explained that kids tended to pay more attention and be open when their parents weren’t around.

She’d take Laine’s word for it and since she wouldn’t mind getting groceries on her own and having the time to relax with a cup of coffee before she had to return in two hours, she’d take it.

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