I’m too tired to work it out now.
“It’s fine. I’ll settle him. I’ll?—”
“Done!” Nick slams into the back of my legs, nearly knocking me fully into the kitchen, so I grab the frame for support. As much as irritation rises, when I turn to look at his toothy, grinning smile, it all melts away.
“Good job!” Holding out my palm, he slaps it lightly, then I scoop him up into my arms. “So, you want to see the grown-up bells, huh?”
“Yes!” Nick clings to my shoulder, absent his cape which is now discarded in the bathroom.
“And then you’ll go to bed?”
“Promise!
“Okay, come on, then.” I carry Nick to my room and we cuddle up on my bed with my iPad against my knees. We’re just in time for the countdown and together, at the top of his lungs, of course, we count down the New Year together.
“Ten!”
I have to keep this job.
“Nine!”
Or find a new one.
“Eight!”
But in this market? My skills are limited.
“Seven!”
Jewelry and websites are niches these days, especially with the surge in small businesses.
“Six!”
I have no credentials that would justify setting up my own business.
“Five!”
So I need to work with what I have. I have to make Angelic Jewels vital.
“Four!”
While helping Mom stay afloat.
“Three!”
And Nick happy and healthy.
“Two!”
And food on the table.
“One! Happy New Year, Mommy!” Nick surges up and plants a wet, excited kiss on my cheek.
“Happy New Year, baby. Happy New Year!”
“It’s gonna be the best ever, you wanna know why?” He slips back down and tucks under my arm, yawning widely.
“I do want to know why,” I reply while tucking my blankets over him.
