Temporary Partner

PTE

You can ponder all you want, kiddo, but it ain't gonna ch

r game. A knowing smirk teased the corner of his mouth. He'd won, and he knew it. Either

It was embarrassing.

lieve me? Have at 'er." He started with a seated butt

ad dancing so I make a mistake. There has to be a way out." I squinted, scanning each p

ght, as alway

d complaining at the joints. "Always stubborn. Can't admit to lo

iliating. You're a cheat." I shoved the game board toward him with a p

d chess pieces as Dad fit them into the individual slots of an old wooden box. The wooden chess board sat on top. This particular set had once belonged to my grandfather, a tre

d yet to beat him. The day that happened, he'd probably n

a groan, clutching his thigh above his bum knee as he hobbled

ken breasts, roasted asparag

con?" "Not wra

long and he

y grilled chicken?" "Y

isn't

alt and sugar. It's

d sugar... and bacon," h

I'm doing you a favor." "How

N

having them baked in the oven

dge, setting them aside before searching the crisper for the a

with cheese. Eat it with those corn chips I l

tside. I'm not making chili

fire up the grill?" "That would be h

want. It has sun- dried tomato and garl

patio door. "You said that about t

t bad." "It wa

r's diet. When the doctors showed concern over his high blood pressure after a transient ischemic attack nin

ed fats from his diet as well, at least when he ate at my house. What he did on his own

n my

lock as my phone rang on the table behind me. My shoulders stiff

d I gritted my teeth while

Dad liked to state the o

pt ri

nna ans

rds had stated quite firmly that I was to take a day off. My first in over a month. So it was m

ai

t person I wan

e back porch as the phone kept

go to vo

axed, and I sagged, rearranging the spears of asparagus into

newborn demanding attention. It knew it was being ignor

ern. Annoyed. "It's probably your god

blasted pho

oday, and I'm not to go in under any circumstances.