AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jared
Mom can’t take Coop today, so I have to take him to work with me. My kid isn’t fazed by this. He loves hanging out at the garage. I have a little area set up for him if he wants to play, but the guys are great and keep him entertained (and out of harm’s way) too.
I grab three takeout coffees on the way in and head over to the garage. Coop talks at a hundred miles per hour, his excitement getting the better of him. I understand half of what he says, the other half gets lost in translation.
As I pull into the parking lot, my son lets out a whoop of excitement. He’s so enthusiastic I can’t help but wonder if he will follow in my footsteps one day and take over the garage or maybe go into the forces as a mechanic. I don’t care what he does, as long as he’s happy doing it, but would I love to teach my kid about something I love?
Sure.
I climb out of the car once I’ve cut the engine and head around to the back door to release Cooper from his seat. As soon as his feet touch the ground, he’s rushing off in the direction of the main bay door, where Slider is working on a car.
“Coop, careful,” I yell out, but I don’t need to worry. Slider is there.
He scoops my son up and out of any danger.
“What are you doing, little man?” he asks, tickling at his ribs. Coop squeals.
“Workin’.”
“Working, huh? What you working on?”
He shrugs. “Whatever you’re workin’ on.”
Slider laughs even as my eyes roll. This kid of mine.
“You got him?” I mouth at Slider, who nods and puts Coop to work with him.
Knowing my friend will take care of my son like he’s his own, I head into the office and check through the paperwork for today’s repairs.
Slider brings Coop to me after about thirty minutes.
“There’s been a three-car pile-up in town. I’m going to head out with the tow.”
I nod. Beanie’s day off is today, and usually on this kind of thing, I’d go with Slider, but I can’t leave Coop and taking him with us isn’t an option.
“You’ll be okay?”
He waves a hand. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
He gets down on his haunches in front of my son. “We’ll work some more when I get back, yeah?”
Cooper nods.
“See you in a bit, boss.”
I scowl at Slider’s retreating back. I hate being called ‘boss’, even if I technically am. Bean and Slider are like brothers to me. I’m closer to them than I am my own sister. I served for years beside both men, and they had my back more times than I can count—as I did theirs. They are bonds that cannot be broken, which is how both men ended up moving to Louisiana. After Robyn died, I needed them here—even if I didn’t realize I did—and they came. I’ll never forget that. They helped me with Coop over the years and they helped me get my head on straight enough to raise my son as a single parent.
I move over to the cabinet and pull out some colored pencils and a coloring book.
“Why don’t you do a picture while Daddy finishes this paperwork, kid?”
Coop sits his ass on the floor and starts to draw, leaving me to head back to the paperwork.
I work in silence, but Coop talks to himself as he colors. I’m used to him never being quiet, so I’m able to block him out to concentrate on my paperwork.
The bell from the reception area I can’t block out, though.
“Jingly,” Coop says, not looking up from his drawing.
