Zach thought the day before Dani went back to work, that empty day when he just had to wait until he got to keep Mark, was going to creep by, but he helped his dad out by taking a day at the store. He’d been so busy, the day had almost flown by. Then he was so tired, he’d slept like a rock. He didn’t even remember dreaming last night. He’d been sound asleep when his alarm had started screaming, startling him upright before he remembered why he’d set it.
He slapped the alarm, finding the one small button that would shut it off, not just snooze it, then got up. He should have ten or fifteen minutes before Dani got here with Mark. That was enough time to get dressed and make coffee.
The coffee had finished brewing and Zach was pouring himself a cup when gravel crunched in his driveway. He t
