Evans Creek Book 2: In Good Hands

Chapter 05

"I don't know if I can take another week like last week." Dennis yawned. "I know I complain about how boring it gets around here, but after dealing with Basher twice in one week...hell, he damn near broke my nose!"

"I told you to duck."

"Yeah, well, it wasn't you with the bloodied nose and black eye."

"Because I ducked." Rowdy chuckled.  "Now that Bruce and his old lady have patched things up, he'll settled down again."

"Until the next time he does something stupid and gets his ass tossed out."

"Don't be so grumpy. That shiner is healing nicely, and besides, that green color looks good on you."

"Say that again and I'll break your nose."

Rowdy shrugged. "Tell you what, let's head out to Tri-County. I ran into Mac at Dale's. He said that people have been parking in the emergency vehicle lot and he had to leave the ambulance in the pull thru."

"Sounds boring." Dennis grinned. "Let's go."

---

Suzie found herself at odds. She worked double shifts and pulled extra hours for so long, she didn't know what to do with all the extra time she suddenly had after the regulars came back. She and Brody were going mad in this tiny space. 

She'd said No Brody so many times that the poor kid was going to think it was his name!

Desperate for something different, she packed up the diaper bag. As she set it by the door, she realized it would be lunch time soon. With a smile she decided they would go to the park. Brody loved the baby swing and they could go for a walk and have a picnic. Smiling, Suzie packed up a few PB & J sandwiches, filled her trusty sport bottle, and put Brody in the playpen.

Brody puckered up to cry. Suzie gave him a kiss and a crinkly toy. It went right to his mouth and she smiled. At least he wasn't crying.

"I'll be back in a minute, Brody. I'm going to carry this stuff down to the car, and then you and Mama are going to the park!"

"Park." Brody dropped the toy, and clapped his hands.

"That's right. We're going to the park." She said as she loaded up.

Being a single mom was a bit like being a pack mule, she thought. She found if she loaded things just right, she could manage quite a bit.

She dipped her head through the diaper bag strap, settling the strap across her chest and balancing the bag on her bum as she bent to do the same to her purse. Lunch bag had a shorter strap, so it hung over her arm at her elbow as she hoisted the folded-up stroller with her free hand.

Ta-Dah!

Brody laughed happily behind her, engrossed with trying to fit his while crinkle toy in his mouth. It was impossible, but he would try for several minutes before he gave up. Plenty of time for her to load up the car.

True to form, Brody was just getting bored with his crinkle toy when she returned.

"Park."

"Park." She agreed, lifting him from the playpen and frowning. "After we make a detour to get you changed!"

---

Suzie was enjoying the River Walk an hour later. It was such a nice day that she didn't even put the shade up. She liked being able to watch Brody.

He currently was fixated on pair of ducks swimming nearby. Suzie dug out the goldfish crackers and tossed a few to the ducks. Brody laughed when the ducks hurried to catch them. He cackled when one of the ducks bobbed his head under the water. Suzie couldn't remember when she enjoyed herself so much as this quiet moment with Brody.