AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How big?”
I purse my lips and look around as if I’m thinking. “How about... big enough for you to ride in?”
He gapes at me adorably like a little fish. “No way.”
“Yes way. If you’re going to drive the real thing as an adult, you should practice now, right?”
“When?”
I think again. “What about... Sunday?”
He nods giddily in agreement. “Zoe!” he squeals as Zoe pops out from the back with her purse tucked under her arm while putting her coat on. “Zoe! Cole’s going to build a truck with me tomorrow!”
She looks from him to me wide-eyed as she helps him into his coat.
“If you’ll allow it,” I say quickly.
“Build a truck?” She asks in confusion.
Zander thrusts the toy so far under her nose she goes cross-eyed. “Just like this one, right Cole?”
“Didn’t I tell you to call him Mr. Cole?” she frowns.
“Mr. Cole is my father,” I say with a smile. “Just Cole is fine.”
“Just like this one. But bigger!” Zander says, ignoring us both while playing with his toy truck. “One I can drive in.”
“Drive in?” She gazes at me incredulously, but there’s something else in her eyes. Fear. “That would take a lot of lumber and parts.”
Money.
“All of which I have lying around my shop, and it’s only going to waste,” I assure her. “It’ll be a more fun way to recycle the parts. I wasn’t sure what to do with them before.”
Zoe relaxes her shoulders at this.
“Can I, Zoe? Can I go with Cole to his workshop tomorrow?”
“I don’t know...” Zoe’s worried eyes glance from the jumping six-year-old to me again.
I can see the concern clouding her, and I don’t blame her one bit. I couldn’t say I’d trust anyone with my kid either. But I want to help, and Zander’s driving them both—and the customers—insane by being cooped up in here all day. Plus, this way Zoe won’t have to stress over trying to keep an eye on Zander while running around the diner all day.
“You know our office is right across the street.” I tap the window and she follows my gaze. There’s a massive window at the front. A window she could clearly see out of while she’s working the floor and serving customers. “I can set up a workbench directly behind that window. Cole and I will stay glued there where you can trace our every move until your shift ends. I promise you won’t lose sight of him.”
“Pleaseeeee.” Zander whines, his little hands clasped together as if he were praying.
“Fine,” she relents and wraps her arms around him as he jumps up to give her a bear hug.
“Now, say goodbye to Cole. We have to get going.”
“Will you give me a piggyback ride?” Zander asks. “I don’t want to walk.”
That reminds me. “What happened to your truck?” I ask. “Zander said you don’t have it anymore.”
“I sold it,” she says nonchalantly as if it isn’t a big deal.
“Why?”
She shrugs. “Zander’s school is just up the road, and our apartment is just down the road with the diner right in between. It’s a small town so we can walk anywhere we need to go. I don’t really need it.”
