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Lucy picked up her fork Dragging the utensil through her green beans, she said, “Well I hope not I could’ve gotten thees”

“See there,” Mrs Carpenter said “I told you The two of you need to see Lucy before you take up stock car racing” She nodded toward the stairs “They’ve got hours of footage froet the they’ve collected”

“Why don’t you?” Lucy asked, turning in her chair and facing the older lady

Mrs Carpenter shook her head “Not a chance These two fine and upstanding otta hurry now and get this place cleaned up so I can take off”

“When did we do that?” Rex asked, looking at Luke “Last I heard she wanted the weekend off”

“Got to thinkin’ about it,” she clucked, acting a little too giddy “Might as well take a week, maybe two”

“What are you talking about?” Luke asked “We didn’t discuss this”

Mrs Carpenter shrugged “I’ve got soonna have to look out for rowncare of themselves You may have to teach them how to do a load of laundry and cook ’eain” With a jovial spirit, Mrs Carpenter reached behind her back and untied her apron

“You can’t be serious,” Luke said, apparently at a loss

“Oh, but I am,” Mrs Carpenter reassured him “Lucy has been the first wo I intend to take advantage of this Sorry about your luck, child”

Rex squir her again, he said, “You knohat, you’re right You need a vacation You haven’t had one in a good number of years

“Luke, go get the checkbook and pay Mrs Carpenter I’el her toys When I get back, we’ll talk about that dessert none of us want to , of course, Mrs Carpenter has already left us to entertain our sweet and pure little angel”

Lucy balked at that What she’d give to show Luke and Rex just what she’d learned in a short period of time

“I can’t get out of here fast enough,” Mrs Carpenter said, winking at Lucy “You and I will catch up when I get back from my break What do you think?”

Lucy took a bite of broccoli casserole and observed This was planned to a fault That’s what she thought Lucy should’ve been a nervous wreck Instead, she was very excited Why wouldn’t she be? She knew daood and hat toys she’d left there