Page 68

"Exactly. The soup," Ernie confirmed.

I stared at them. "You decided this after I left to get lunch."

"It came on very sudden," Ernie confirmed.

I shook my head at their antics. James looked at the greasy white bags with an expression that could only be described as yearning.

Adam coughed. "Zoe, we don't want to interrupt your lunch. James, come on, we'll find somewhere⁠—"

"Oh, but it's already here," Leslie said, warmly and with great innocence. "And you two. I mean the three of you can just eat in the breakroom in the warehouse area. Ernie and I will cover the floor." She patted the counter like she was settling something. "It's no trouble."

"James, do you like bacon cheeseburgers?" Ernie asked.

James inhaled. "Yes."

"Then it’s settled.” Ernie grinned.

The breakroom had three tables and seven plastic chairs. There were only ever six employees at the most, but Ernie said one of us might have a guest. At the time, he’d been planning on a man for Leslie.

I pulled out some of the old plates that I think Trenda had given me at some point, and plated the food. James took my bacon cheeseburger with both hands and stared at it like it was as cool as a dinosaur. Adam didn’t seem to care what he had, at least not so that I could discern, so I took the pineapple burger that I wanted and left him with the Greek salad. I was giving up my bacon cheeseburger, after all. I did notice him steal half the onion rings off James’ plate, however.

"Things got a little hectic this morning, so when I had a chance for a break, I took it," Adam said, by way of explanation for why James was here at this hour and not in pre-school.

"Hectic how?"

He paused just a half-beat. "Jobsite stuff.” He glanced at James, who was deeply focused on his burger. "I missed talking to you. So, I figured, since I was already in town⁠—"

"You pulled your kid out of school."

"I did." He forked a bite of salad and took a bite, then swallowed. "I missed seeing you.”

Well.

Okay, then.

James looked up after eating a third of a burger, in record time. “Why does that guy have green hair?” He looked toward the front of the store.

“You’ll have to ask him.” I answered.

“Okay.”

“Does it hurt where his ears have holes in ’em?”

“You’re going to have to ask him,” I laughed.

“If it did hurt, why did he do it?”

“Why don’t you finish your burger, then you can spend some time with Ernie and ask him all those questions,” Adam suggested.

“Okey-doke.” James took another huge bite of his burger and sucked down a big sip of sweet tea. He was as serious about his meal as he was with his questions.

When we were done, Adam started gathering wrappers, and James looked up at me with that solemn expression I was beginning to adore. "Can I see the store?"

"Do you want to?"

He nodded. "I want to see all the things."

As soon as we came out from the back, Ernie and Leslie waved at us and headed to the front door.