Chapter 8
PUT ON THE SPOT
“We appreciate you helping us this year, Alana.”
“No problem,” she said. “I’m happy to do it.”
“It doesn’t hurt that you’re part of the Bond family. That carries some weight.”
She looked at Diane, the executive director of a local agency she was auditing this year.
They had a lot of services for the underprivileged in the community.
“I’ve spread the news,” she said. “But the fire department does that too.”
She didn’t want any credit to be put on her shoulders for this. The only thing she did was get the staff at work to donate a few things.
Oh, and Brennan told her he’d be dropping off toys with Becca today.
She wouldn’t hold him to it, but he’d been talking to her much more than normal this week.
Not just like coworkers, but more as friends.
She had been asking about Becca a lot. And he shared funny stories about the little girl.
She was looking forward to seeing Becca as much as Brennan.
Not dressed for work, but more casual in jeans. He sure was smoking in casual wear.
When he was on a date with another woman.
She had to remind herself of that.
“That’s right,” Diane said. “They’ve already collected a lot that was brought over earlier this week. But we’ve got the newspaper coming to get a picture today around noon. Hopefully, we’ve got plenty here then for the shot.”
“I’m sure you will.”
It was almost eleven now and her bet was people would come over while running errands, but she could already see cars parking in the street and people getting out.
“Might as well collect them now,” Diane said. “We’ll just continue to sort them the way the Fire Department is doing.”
“Which is?” she asked. She saw three piles of toys and none of them looked like they were by gender.
“Two and under over here. Three to ten here, and ten and up over there. Once we get closer to matching the toys with the families, it will be easier.”
“How is that done?” she asked. “I’d love to help.”
“On the nineteenth we are going to gather at the office and just start going off the list one by one. Nothing is wrapped, just items set aside in bags with names on it.”
“Got it,” she said. It’s not like she had plans on a Friday night. “I’d love to help with that as well.”
“Perfect,” Diane said. “It’s hard to get people there that time of year or on a Friday. I have my staff start in the afternoon so there isn’t as much to do after five. We might not need you at all. On Saturday families come to pick everything up between nine and noon.”
“Let me know if you need me then too.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” Diane said, rubbing her hand on Alana’s arm.
She’d been hearing that a lot.
For an hour people came in with gifts and she directed them toward the appropriate pile where they could drop them off, answered questions, and took cash and gift card donations.
She heard her name yelled and turned to see Becca take off and run toward her before Brennan could pull his daughter back.
She broke away from the massive pile of toys that kept building and squatted down for a hug.
Becca hit her full force and almost knocked her back, having to reach for the ground to balance.
“I should have warned you she’s strong,” Brennan said, jogging after Becca. “Honey, you can’t butt in line.”
“I wanted to hug Alana.”
“It’s okay.” She stood up with the little girl in her arms. “Why don’t you get in line? Becca can help me direct traffic.”
“Yes. Go, Daddy.” Becca pointed her finger at her father to get lost. The chagrined look on his face was pretty comical. Guess he wasn’t used to his daughter telling him to scram.
“Hi,” Alana said to the woman coming in with a bag of toys. “We are sorting them by age group.” She pointed to the pile next to her and the ones to the right with the tags on the tables so they knew. That was her idea in case one volunteer was pulled away.
“We brought three toys,” Becca said. “I wanted to play with them first, but Daddy said I couldn’t. I just wanted to make sure that they worked.”
Another woman dropping off toys laughed over that statement.
“Aren’t you just a cutie? I’m here with the paper to get some pictures. I’d love to get it with you and your daughter.”
“Oh, she’s not my daughter.”
“We are friends,” Becca said, hugging her neck. “That’s my Daddy.”
Becca shouted it and waved toward Brennan. He shook his head and rolled his eyes, but stayed in line.
“I’m Olivia and I’ll be right back.”
She watched the woman leave the toy she had with her on the ground by the table, then move toward Brennan to talk.
She couldn’t hear what was being said but had no problem assuming.
When Brennan got to her table, Becca said, “Hi, Daddy. I’m helping.”
“So I see,” he said.
“Our toys go right here,” Becca said. “Because that is what Alana said when I told her what we got.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s the age group.”
He pulled them out of the box he carried in. “It looks it. And Becca is going to get her picture taken handing it to Alana.”
“Yes,” Becca said, wiggling to get down. “I wish Daddy did more with my hair this morning.”
Alana put her hand in front of her mouth to stifle the laughter. Many around heard and the poor guy was flushing.
“Your hair looks very cute.” It was combed and flowing past Becca’s shoulders with a floral headband in it keeping it from her face.
Brennan leaned close to her. “She told me she wanted it down hoping that you’d put it up. I said that you’d be busy.”
“That’s so sweet.”
“It’s sweet now, but I got dissed for not having it up in front of everyone else.”
“She’s a character,” she said.
“You’ve only seen a tiny part of it.”
“Becca,” Olivia said. “Why don’t you pick one toy you and your father brought and hand it to Alana? I’ll take a few shots of it. I’ll make sure I’ve got Dad in the background so no one thinks she was unchaperoned.”
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t want to say no.”
“It’s fine,” Alana said. “Anything to get the word out.”
“Pick out the one you want, Becca.”
Becca reached in and was taking her time. She saw where this might go. Just like when they were playing the other night. “How about Bluey? I bet a lot of kids want to see that.”
“Okay,” Becca said, pulling out the blue stuffed dog and handing it to Alana. They both smiled for the camera, then held the pose for a few more shots.
Olivia was looking at her camera while Becca handed over the paints and the books.
“Looks great,” Olivia said. “Want to see it?”
She and Brennan both looked the picture over, then signed a release for their pictures to appear in the news article.
“Do you like tacos?” Becca asked her.
“I love tacos. I bet you do too.” She pointed to another line for the next person while keeping her attention on Brennan and Becca.
“Daddy and I are going to the store to get tacos.”
“The makings of tacos,” he corrected. “She wanted them last night, but we didn’t have it in the house.”
“Once you get a taco craving it’s hard to lose it until you have them in your belly.”
Becca jammed her finger into her father’s leg. “See, Daddy. You should have put them in my belly last night.”
He winked at her. “You ate two bowls of spaghetti and meatballs. I filled your belly with that.”
“Can Alana have tacos with us cuz she loves them too?”
Becca had her hands together in front of her face pleading.
Talk about being put on the spot.
“Alana might have plans tonight.”
“Do you, Alana?” Becca asked.
Brennan didn’t seem to stop this and she wouldn’t object. She didn’t have plans and wouldn’t mind spending some time with them both. She had a lot of fun with Becca the other night.
“Not when I’m done here,” she said.
“When’s that?” he asked.
“Two.”
“Perfect,” he said. “Why don’t you come around three? No pressure.”
Becca was jumping up and down in place. “Yeah, no pressure,” she said.
She was laughing when she said it, Brennan grinning at her, his eyes almost sparkling some.
Not that she understood what any of that meant, but it looked as if it’d be one less night she’d be channel surfing alone.