JOEY
“Here’s your lunch. I made your favorite cookies for you.”
“Really?” Max’s eyes shine bright.
“Yes,” I say. “Now, I want you to listen to your teacher and do what she says.”
Max wraps his arms around me. “I love you, Mommy.”
I press a kiss to his soft hair, breathing him in. “I love you too. I want you to have the best day ever, okay? I’ll pick you up after school.”
He nods before heading into the classroom and finding a seat on the rug with the other kids.
My vision blurs as I give him one last wave before he starts talking to the boy next to him.
I hope the day comes when I won’t be such a mess on his first day of school. I don’t think I had this hard of a time leaving him with my parents when I returned to work.
Maybe that was because I called every ten minutes, it seemed, to check on him.
Worry floods my veins as I head back out to my vehicle. Will he like the other kids? Will they be nice to him? What if he doesn’t like either of his teachers?
I spend the entire drive to the ranch thinking about it. I’m in a haze as I park and make my way to the lobby. Guests are lingering, animatedly discussing what they’re doing today. I give polite smiles as I do my best to distract myself.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I pull it out.
Sam
Any chance you could bring breakfast out to the barn today?
Joey
Breakfast? Why?
We did a sunrise ride this morning, so Rex made breakfast for everyone
Pretty sure it’s Reenie’s turn
I’m sure you won’t mind volunteering
Why, is there something in it for me?
You’ll have to come and find out
Such a tease
For you?
Always
“You doing okay?”Reenie asks.
I startle, dropping my phone onto the desk. “What? Sorry, yeah.”
“Suuuure you are.”
“Ugh. Am I that easy to read?” I ask.
She nods. “Only because I was the same way with each kid I dropped off at school.”
