New Animal by Ella Baxter (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

responsibilities. You wouldn’t want to have maybe something trending about how my mom goes out of her way to do her work. She gets nothing but grief from an elected official who can’t use some of his influence to make sure my mom can keep the people of the communities safe.” Brittany shook her head. “Just a dumb teenager, what do I know?”

Duane managed to escape the direct verbal assault by shuffling further away from Brittany. He tucked the manila folder under his arm to slip on his boots by the door.

Brittany grinned at him.

“You have a healthy, happy, and safe holiday, Mr. Mayor,” she said as he opened the door. “Oh, by the way, I’m considering coming up here next summer. So, if you want me to work part-time at the city hall, I’ll be available.”

Duane closed the door behind him. Brittany returned to the kitchen to finish her coffee. She stared at her mother.

“You think that was too much?” she asked.

“I think you’re not working at the city hall next summer if you come up.”

“That’s okay.” Brittany waved it off.

“I might not have a job anyway.”

“Well, I doubt that.” She watched her mother. Meghan felt her daughter taking in details that she’d missed in their months apart. “It sounds like last week was a lot of fun for you. We should talk about it.”

Meghan smiled at her daughter. The girl had the spit and fire of her mother. Even living that far away from Meghan, Brittany walked in her mother’s shadow and wasn’t afraid to tell the world she was there.