Page 19 of Against the Clock

Roman: Are you going to be able to make it to pick her up?

Me: No.I’m going to call my mom and see if she can help me again.

Roman: I can pick her up if you want.Just call the school and let them know.I’ll be sure to check in at the front desk when I get there.

I felt my heart flutter at the offer.How he even knew the procedures were beyond me, but I didn’t have time to stop and question it.

Me: Are you sure?I don’t want you to have to miss work.

Roman: I’ll just take a late lunch.It’s no big deal.

Me: Okay, if you’re sure?

Roman: Quinn- stop.I got it.

Me: What about work?

Roman: I can just bring her back here if that’s okay?Then I can take her home when you get off.

Me: Okay, but let me know if she starts to be any trouble.

Roman: She’s five.How much trouble can she be?

I tipped my head back and laughed.

Ten

Roman

9 Days Ago

“Are you sure you don’twant anything else?”I asked Rosie as we stood in line with a handful of random snacks.I had no idea what to feed her and didn’t want her to go hungry until I dropped her off when Quinn got home from work, so we made a quick stop for reinforcements.Some for her, some for me.I didn’t have siblings, so it wasn’t like I was used to having kids around me, and to be honest, I was a little nervous being responsible for Rosie for a few hours.

The school didn’t give me any problems picking her up, and while I wanted to think that it was because Quinn had already called and informed them, I had a sneaking suspicion that it was because the women in the front office couldn’t figure out how to put their tongues back in their mouth long enough to give me any trouble over it.While that was reassuring on some level, it was more irritating given that we were worried someone was watching her, and I hated to think that it would be equally as easy for them to walk in and take her without any questions asked.

“No, thank you.”She set her stuff on the counter and smiled at the older woman who started ringing us up.

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