Ayla came running around the corner, throwing her backpack on the floor, dropping her hat and mittens on it. She skidded to a stop in the doorway. "Where's the carpet?"
"I had to remove it," Hudson said.
Ayla nodded sympathetically. "It was stinky."
"Unsightly too," he added.
Ayla giggled at his characterization.
"Do you have homework?"
"A little." Then she rolled her eyes. "Math."
"Why don't you get started, and then we'll grab dinner?" She struggled with math.
"But I want to go to the bakery," she whined.
"Homework. Then dinner." It was no fun being the sole parent sometimes. I had to enforce my rules while Gus refused to enforce any.
"Ugh. Fine. But then we can go to the light trail." She moved down the hall, opening the zipper to her bag.
I frowned. "Oh, I don't think so. I don't want to be out late on a school night."
"How would we be out late? It's right there." She pointed toward the front of the building.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, looking at Hudson to see if he knew.
"Eve created a light display for the season with the fire department. I think it opens at dusk."
Ayla folded her hands under her chin. "Can we go? Please, Mom?"
I didn't want to spend much money with the shop being closed down, but I could afford dinner and a light trail. I hadn't wanted to drive anywhere, but if there was one here, that was convenient. "Okay."
Ayla turned to Hudson. "You should come with us."
He looked startled, placing a hand on his chest. "Me?"
She laughed. "Yes. You."
"Ayla, be polite," I chided her.
She rolled her eyes. "You should come to the diner with us, and then we can see the lights. Aren't you hungry?"
"I didn't eat lunch," he said, almost to himself.
Ayla grinned. "You have to eat."
"We're just going to Merry's Diner across the street." I wasn't a fan of going there, but she didn't criticize me much in front of Ayla. I knew she didn't like my store either. She was just as cranky as Bill.
"I suppose I could come."
"Yes!" Ayla said as she pulled out her homework folder and sat at the break room table that Hudson had moved into the hallway so he could remove the carpet.
I stepped into the room so she wouldn't hear us. "You don't have to come with us."
He raised a brow. "You don't want me there?"
"What? No. That's not what I meant. I just didn't want you to feel pressured to go with us. You're single. I'm sure you have other things to do than hang out with a mother and her daughter."
