“No. Mondays are the worst.” I grasped the edge of the blankets and swiped them off her in one quick motion.
“Mom,” she moaned, pawing at the air like an annoyed kitten.
“We’ve got twenty minutes. Move it, lady,” I said, heading for the door.
Maggie had gotten the coffee maker going and had found the cereal, so that was a start.
I filled my mug and burned my tongue twice, though I counted it was a win, hoping it meant I could drink half of this cup before it got cold.
Somehow, through sheer force of will and mild bribery, I got all three kids fed and out the door with two minutes to spare. Yes, Maggie had one shoe on and the other in her hand, and I’d had to use Ellie’s full name twice before she put her damn binder in her backpack, but it was progress.
We spilled into the driveway in a blur of backpacks and complaints as I took a sip of now tepid coffee.
As the kids were scrambling toward the van, a dark blur caught my eye. Just past the rear door, Wayne sat.
Julian saw him a second later, darting for him and burying his hand in his fur, the two of them staring at one another with deep mutual devotion.
“Wayne likes mornings,” he’s said. “He’s an early owl like me. Not like Ellie. She’s a night owl.”
“I’m sure he does.” Inhaling deeply, I scanned the property for Wayne’s owner.
We’d managed to politely avoid each other for the past few days, and it had been blissful. It turned out living on this farm was lovely when one never had to see the grumpy farmer.
“Tell him goodbye,” I said firmly. “Wayne would not want you to be late for school.”
Wayne’s tail thumped happily against the gravel drive.
Maggie hopped out of the van’s sliding door and threw her arms around him. “You might not be a horse,” she said into his fur, “but I still love you.”
“Guys,” I barked. “Car. Now.”
Julian gave Wayne a forlorn look, then climbed in.
Rather than trotting off, Wayne stayed perfectly still, watching our vehicle. Unwilling to move an inch.
Sighing, I pulled out my phone and navigated to Josh’s contact info.
Celine
Come get your wolf dog, he’s blocking my car and we’ll be late for school.
The reply came faster than I expected.
Josh
Just go around him.
I stared at the response that came in unreasonably quickly. This fucking guy.
Celine
I’m not playing chicken with a 150 pound dog.
Josh
He only weighs 130 pounds. Please don’t give him a complex. He’s lovable at any size.
Huffing, I rolled my eyes.