“More like seventy-five. And you know Grandpa has taken good care of her.”
Matty sighs. “She probably has fewer miles on her than that car.”
I perk up. “So, yes?!”
“Fine. I’ll have Daddy take a look at her and make sure she’s in good shape.”
“Yes! Thank you.”
Shelby smirks.
“Wait until those fancy-pants folks see you roll up in that clunker.”
I cut my eyes at her. “There’s nothing wrong with driving a work truck. Who cares what they think?”
AJ lets out a tiny squeak.
Shelby looks down at him.
“Oh. I don’t know. Maybe the girl who was embarrassed about a blazer.”
Ugh. I hate that she’s right. I’m not the woman who cares about appearance or what other people think. I guess I just really wanted to make a good first impression.
Shelby shifts AJ slightly and then, with reluctance, finally holds him out toward me. “Here.”
My entire face lights up. “Finally.”
I scoop him into my arms. “Hi, handsome,” I whisper.
He blinks up at me, and his little face scrunches up, turning a deep red.
Shelby stretches her arms dramatically. “I was getting tired anyway.”
“She’s such a liar,” I tell him just before he lets out an angry screech.
Matty shakes her head as she reaches for the diaper bag on the credenza behind her.
Shelby heads for the door. She glances back over her shoulder. “Oh, before I forget.”
Matty raises a brow. “What?”
“Grandma sent me to ask if you were staying for dinner. Then I got distracted by baby snuggles.”
Matty checks the clock on the wall. “No. Caison’s supposed to pick us up in about half an hour. And Marcia will probably have supper ready when we get home.”
Shelby nods. “Gotcha. That sounds nice.”
I bounce AJ gently, trying to calm him while Matty gathers a few papers from her desk and sets them aside before spreading a clean baby blanket across the surface and reaching for AJ.
“It will be.”
I stay with Matty and AJ until Caison arrives. I carry the diaper bag out for them.
Caison takes the baby and secures him in the car seat while I walk Matty to the passenger side.
“I hope you get a good night’s sleep tonight.”
“Me too. And I hope your second day goes better,” she says, pulling me into a hug, then resting her forehead against mine. “Just be yourself. Harleigh Storm is a wildfire, remember? And she burns bright. Even in a stuffy blazer.”
