Page 65 of A Little Luck

She hesitates. “I don’t understand. You know what day it is.”

“She thinksquesadillais Spanish for ‘What day is it.’” Piper drops into her chair, and I rub my hand over my mouth to hide my laughter. “I had to warn you. I know bad grammar is one of your pet peas.”

I didn’t think her eyes could get any narrower and still be open. “Petpea?”

“Forewarned is forearmed, and I mean, if you think about it, apet peais cuter than apet peeve.”

“You think she’s cute?” Again, that edge is in her voice, and I’m not sure…Is it possible Piper’s jealous?

“She has her moments.”

Rolling her eyes, she types on her computer. “What are they teaching kids in school these days, anyway…”

“Do you think Jemima graduated high school?” I glance out the glass door into the newsroom where she’s typing quickly.

“Is it four-thirty? I’ve got to call Stew and see if he’ll give me more time. I am literally drowning.”

The panic in her voice triggers my protective urges. Placing both hands on the desk, I lean closer, looking at the papers spread all around.

“How can I help? Caption writing? Do you need something proofed? Headlines?”

“No more headlines!”

“Mom! Mom!” Ryan yells from outside the door, and her back straightens.

I meet her pretty green eyes and smile. “That’swhat I can do.”

“No, it’s okay.” She stands, rounding the desk and placing her hand on my bicep. “I want to talk to him. We’ve been so separated since the toilet fell through the roof.”

Another thing I can take off her plate.

“Hey, honey!” She bends down to hug him as he dashes into the room, giving her a rough squeeze in return. “How was your day today?”

“Fudge followed me to school this morning, and I thought he was going to leave while I was there, but when I got out for recess, he was still sitting by the fence waiting so I played with him some more…” He pauses to gasp a breath. “And then, when we went to lunch, he wasstill there, and when we got out of school, he was waiting for me!” Ryan’s voice goes loud. “He waited for me all day!”

“You’re kidding!” Piper’s voice rises as she rakes her fingers through his bangs, pushing them off his forehead. “I’ve never heard of a cat doing something like that before.”

“That means wehaveto keep him now, doesn’t it, Mom?”

Her lips press into a smile, and she slides a thumb across his cheek. “I guess we have to if he’s waiting for you to get out of school every day.”

“I don’t know if he’ll do it every day, but he did it today!” Turning to me, he slides a small hand into mine. “What do you think, Uncle Adam?”

I think I love everything about what’s happening right now, except the part where he calls meuncle. It started when he was little, because it’s what Owen and Pinky call me… since I’m their actual uncle.

Only, when it comes to Piper and Ryan, I want way more than that.

“I think he’s a great cat, and if he’s waiting for you at school, I like him even more.” Taking his hand, I meet her eyes. “What if I take this guy to grab a slushie at the Pack-n-Save then walk over to Aiden’s?”

“That would be great.” The gratitude in her eyes is all I need, although I don’t want her to thank me for taking care of Ryan. “I’ll stop by and tell you goodnight when I’m done here, okay?”

“Okay! Love you, Mom!” He takes off into the newsroom and out the door, where I assume the black cat is waiting.

Piper blinks up at me, and the warmth in her gaze is enough. She’ll be sleeping with me tonight.

* * *

Ryan’s lipsare blue from his slushie, and Fudge is over his shoulder. We’re walking in the direction of the courthouse where my brother is most likely finishing up his day alongside Britt. Owen is probably there with them, and Edward the dog is likely there as well.

---