Page 3 of Always Be Mine
She was smiling again.
Craig glanced at the clock on the wall. They were going to be late. There wasn’t even time to stop at the Bean Bag to buy muffins. He knew he wasn’t going to win any Father of the Year awards, but out of options, Craig dug through the pantry and unearthed three boxes of nut-free granola bars. It would have to do.
“Come on, Meri.” Craig poured his mostly cold coffee into a travel mug, balanced it on top of the stack of granola boxes and scooped it up, along with his portfolio of papers and forms for the shop, and headed for the front door. “We’re going to be—oh.”
“I’m right here.”
He couldn’t help but laugh to see her, backpack on, ready to go, holding the front door open. “Thanks, kiddo. Lock it behind you.”
It had snowed again overnight, but there was no time to shovel. Even if he’d wanted to. Which he didn’t. It was the end of April, and he was over it. The ski hill still had snow, which was good for the tourists and the diehard skiers who weren’t quite ready to put away their winter gear. But as far as he was concerned, he was ready to officially welcome spring.
Even after all the snow had melted in town, it wasn’t unusual to get a few random storms well into April or May. That was thefunof living in the mountains. With any luck, the spring sun would melt it all away before he had to deal with it. Just in case it didn’t, he made a mental note to pick up some more sand. He’d used up the last bit after the last time he’d forgotten to shovel. He made another note on his already very long mental list to pick some up.
It wasn’t that he forgot; he’d just had an irrational hope that now that since they were approaching the ski hill’s official closing day, the snow, too would disappear.
He deposited his pile into the front seat of his Jeep and slipped in behind the wheel. “All buckled?” he asked Mari’s reflection in the rearview mirror.
“You know it.”
Craig’s heart swelled at his sweet little girl. Yes, she could be a terror on occasion—mostly in the mornings—but she was his entire life. Being a father was, without a doubt, the hardest thing he’d ever done. But it was also the best thing. Ever.
There wasn’t a single day that went by that Craig wasn’t thankful for the choices he made that brought him Meri. It wasn’t at all how he’d seen his life turning out. But he wouldn’t trade their dynamic duo for anything.
It only took a few minutes to drive to the elementary school, but Craig heard all about how Jeremy’s mom made carrot cake cupcakes with little icing carrots on them for his snack day and just how delicious they were. Craig snuck a glance at the boxes on the passenger seat. She wasn’t going to be happy. But he’d make up for it next snack day.
When they arrived at the school, the second bell was already ringing. “You better hurry,” he told her as he held her car door open for her. Meri tugged her backpack on, and Craig handed her the stack of granola bar boxes with what he hoped was a bright smile.
“Dad.” She dragged out his name. “No way.” Meri crossed her arms over her little chest. “I can’t take those. Not again.”
“They’re yogurt-dipped.”
She rolled her eyes, knowing she’d been beat.
“Sorry, kiddo. Really, I am. Next time we’ll make cupcakes, okay?”
“Promise?”
“You know when I make a promise, I keep it. Especially when it comes to you.”
He knew she wouldn’t be able to argue with that. No matter how crazy things got, Meri came first. Always.
“Thanks, Dad.”
He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Have a?—”
The ringing of his cell phone through the car’s Bluetooth speakers cut him off. “Go,” he said to Meri. “You’re going to be late. Tell Miss Schafer it’s my fault you’re late.”
Meri giggled and turned to skip into the school, but not before adding, “I always do.”
The smile fell from Craig’s face. He really needed to figure out a way to get a little bit more organized. Juggling the responsibilities of owning and running a business, along with being a single dad to a very busy little girl, was a lot. A real lot. But he could handle it. He had no other choice.
His phone was still ringing through the car speakers when he got back behind the wheel. Without looking at the caller, he pressed the button to accept the call.
“I almost gave up on you.”
“Hi, Charli.” He smiled at the sound of his big sister’s voice. “I was just dropping Meri off at school. What’s up?”
“I just heard from William Evans. It’s time for another family meeting.”
