They ate in silence. When they’d finished, he said, “I have a surprise for you.”
Her face lit up.
“You’ve been invited to a sleepover at Uncle Lalla and Aunt Evangeline’s.”
She clapped her small hands together and squealed. “Hurray!” And then, she started to climb down. “Can we go now?”
“Let’s stop at the playground first. They’re expecting you a little later.”
Because his brother and sister-in-law had no children, Dakota filled a duffle with some of her dolls and toys, then packed her overnight bag.
As they were leaving, he grabbed a sippy cup from the cupboard. Feeling like he was forgetting something, he glanced around the kitchen. “Sammy, Daddy’s forgetting something.”
She shrugged. “I can’t know.”
He loaded the trunk, helped her into her car seat, started the car, and backed out.
“Where’s Blankie?” she asked.
He hit the brakes and turned to look at her. “We forgot your snuggle blanket.” After pulling back into the garage, he cut the engine, closed the garage door, took his keys, and unloaded her. Together, they hurried back inside for the blanket, which he found under her bed.I’m beat and the day hasn’t even started.
It was a brief ride to the playground. As Sammy ran to the slide, he spotted several parents he knew from the neighborhood.
“Hey, Dakota,” said one of them. “How ya doing?”
“Good to see you.” He watched Sammy slip down the slide and run over to the jungle gym.
“Aren’t you a realtor?” the dad asked.
“I’m a broker with a real estate company.”
The neighbor knitted his brows together. “I didn’t know there was a difference.”
“Are you guys moving?” Dakota asked, his eyes trained on Sammy.
“I want to, but the wife likes it here.” The neighbor droned on and on about the pros and cons of moving. Like Dakota had never heard them before…ever…from anyone.
In reality, Dakota had been a licensed realtor for twenty years and had heardeverything. When the guy finally stopped talking, Dakota handed him a card.
“Call my office if you decide to sell. Ask for my business partner, Juanita Goode. Her name is on the card. She can pair you with a realtor from our team.”
“I was hoping you could list our house.”
“I have over two hundred realtors who work for me,” Dakota explained. “I run the company and they work with our clients.”
“Thanks.” The neighbor shoved the card into his stuffed wallet. Dakota threw him a smile and walked toward the jungle gym. Never one to refuse business, he could spot a potential client from someone who would drag his feet for a year before deciding not to move after all.
Sammy ran over to him, breathing hard. “Can Noah come over for a playdate?”
Dakota glanced up to see a little boy talking to his mom. She shot him a friendly wave and the two headed in their direction. He’d seen the mom walking her dog, most times her son in tow. She was cute, but Dakota wasn’t looking to start anything, especially in the neighborhood.
“Looks like our kids are having fun together,” she said.
“Daddy, can Noah come over?”
“Not today, but maybe another day. Why don’t you guys go play before we have to head out?”
“Let’s play on the slide,” Noah blurted and ran off.