Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
"I researched online that it should've been four hundred thousand dollars. I got a different payout of just a little over twelve thousand dollars."
Barrett slides a file closer, and I want to spit fire at seeing my name on the folder tab. I guess after my conversation with Mrs. Hyde earlier to schedule this appointment, I should've realized that Walker wouldn't keep his nose out of my business. The attorney has no questions because I'm certain Walker has answered them all.
I bristle as he opens the folder.
"I have some paperwork for you to complete. It will allow me to make calls and gather information on your behalf."
I take the paperwork he hands me and pull a pen from the cup holding many on his desk to complete it when he doesn't offer me one.
He doesn't tell me much else, just that he'll let me know what he finds out.
I feel about how I'd expect to feel any other day when I leave and head to Nora and Leo's house to pick up Larkin.
As always, I'm met on the porch by Nora, her body forming a blockade, preventing me from stepping inside if I ever let that idea cross my mind. Honestly, I prefer the porch pickup. It means I don't have to make awkward excuses to leave. I can spend as little time as possible interacting with her.
I frown as I climb the front porch steps and don't spot Larkin.
"When she's capable of telling time, she's going to know you're late picking her up."
I already caught this attitude from her earlier when I called to let her know I would be a little late this evening.
I'm not even as late as I normally would be on a Monday when the clinic is so busy with things that happen over the weekend.
"I had a little business to take care of," I repeat, using the same words I told her earlier.
"Is it the same business that kept you so late at the bar Saturday night?"
I can't help the way my jaw hangs open as I slow-blink at her. The nerve of this woman, but also the nerve of whoever might've seen my car outside The Hairy Frog and thought it was appropriate to speak to her about it. It feels invasive and intrusive.
I smile when Larkin appears around her grandmother, waiting to speak to her after she hugs the woman's leg and tells her she loves her.
"I'd like to urge you not to get involved with a man in a bar, Claire."
Little does she know that her son was also a man in a bar to me once.
"Are you ready?" I ask Larkin when she beams at me, unwilling to engage in that topic with Nora.
"It's mini corn dog day!" Larkin says, her eyes lighting up like our daily meal plan is the best thing ever.
"You had dinner," Nora says to her. "Remember? Since your mom was late?"
Larkin frowns, and although I'm not a violent woman, it doesn't keep intrusive thoughts about punching her inside her house and slamming the door in her face from infiltrating my head.
"That's okay. We can just have fewer mini corn dogs," I assure Larkin before speaking to Nora. "We'll see you in the morning."
Chapter 19
Walker
There isn't a single soul walking on this earth that could convince me that the paperwork involved in running a business isn't a punishment created by the devil himself.
I'm elbow-deep in sales tax forms, trying to figure out how the last quarter of the year is going to turn out for the bar. I have an accountant who handles a lot of the stuff from the bar, but I may have to start handing more off to them. It's honestly becoming a little too overwhelming for me, especially now that I can't seem to focus on a single thing.
If my liquor license hadn't just been renewed, I'd probably be pulling my hair out. As it is, I'm already annoyed by the score we got from the health department earlier this week. Combine that with Claire calling out, claiming to have a sick child, I'm in a mood I can't seem to pull myself out of.
"You're still mad?" Megan asks when she gets closer to me to grab a clean glass to fill an order. "I was going back to get it. It was one little towel."
"I'm not mad," I tell her, trying to give her a reassuring smile.
She pulls in a deep breath before going back to work.
The towel in the sink while the health inspector was here isn't that big of a deal, but it did deduct points. I've prided myself on keeping a perfect score every year since buying the bar and, let me tell you, it took a load of hard work and a lot of sweat to get it that way.