"Yes. Way too many meetings. So many I didn't even get an afternoon break and barely had time to go to the bathroom!" I lift my sandwich and dive into the messy meal. "You?"
"Charlie rubbing in the space movie. He mentioned it all day long. It was annoying."
"You're not jealous, are you?"
"No way! But I am kinda mad that he got to see it first."
"There's no prize for seeing it first, you know."
"I know. Ok, Josie, your turn."
I guess we're done with that conversation.
"My daughter had to postpone her visit again. I won't be able to see her until after her baby is born."
"You can hang out with me more if you want to, Josie."
"Oh, thank you, sweetheart. I'll definitely keep that in mind."
"Sorry to hear that, Josie. Everything ok?"
"Oh, yes, I'm so proud of her for following her dreams. I just wish they weren't halfway across the country and the ranch where she works did not control her schedule. A few mama cows will deliver over the next two weeks, and shewants to be there to make sure everything goes ok. By then, she'll be too far along in her own pregnancy to fly safely."
"Missy is going to help the cows have babies!"
"It sounds pretty exciting, but I can imagine how much you miss her. I can't imagine what my heart will feel like when Hazel follows her passion." Bursting and broken for sure.
"You cannot follow me to space, Dad. You have to be an astronaut."
The idea of Hazel in space makes me panic a little, but at the rate our world is changing, we may all be living up there by the time she's ready to visit.
"Yeah, Yeah. Josie, what's your win for the day?"
"Talking to Missy! Today, she FaceTimed to share the news, and I admit, it helped ease the disappointment!"
Hazel jumps off her chair and runs toward the house, yelling, "I'll be right back!"
She returns with a piece of paper and shoves it into my chest before climbing back into her seat.
"That's my win. I painted us hiking, and my teacher said I have natural abilities."
I can't hold back the smile as I look at her masterpiece. "I'll add it to my collection! I think this is going to be my win for the day."
"That's cheating, Dad. It has to be from your workday."
"Ok, then."
My mind drifts for a moment as I remember sitting next to Sophia at the table read, how my leg would brush against hers every time she moved to make notes.
"My win was getting to visit one of our sets today. You remember Miss Sophia?"
"The lady that looked like Cinderella at the red carpets?
I nod. "Today was the first day of production, and I was a guest speaker."
"Awesome. Is her movie about space?"
I laugh. "No, it's actually about a girl who has to move home to take care of her mom."
