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And Jaxon feels the same way about his father. The way Jaxon stopped playing his favorite game (at least his favorite for today) to run over and see his father made my heart warm.
But when I see the way Harrison is sternly gazing at me, I feel some of that warmth disappear.
“You've been intentionally messing with things, trying to get a reaction out of me. Why?"
I take a deep breath, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Okay, fine. Maybe I did rearrange a few things. What's the big deal? It's not hurting anyone." I still try to make excuses. “It’s not like I’ve been here a long time. I didn’t realize that the books had to be on the shelf in exactly the right order.”
"The big deal," he says sharply, "is that I don't need unnecessary stress. I have a demanding job, and I come home to find my things deliberately messed with. It's not okay."
I meet his gaze defiantly, refusing to back down. "Maybe you need to loosen up a bit. It's not that serious, Harrison."
His jaw clenches, and his tone becomes more forceful. "I don't appreciate mind games, Breanna. If there's an issue, let's address it honestly. But intentionally annoying me isn't the way to handle things."
The tension hangs in the air, and I can sense that this confrontation is just the beginning of a larger discussion about the dynamics of our arrangement. But right now, it’s time for me to go home.
I want to go home. I want to be by myself for a little while and think about everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours.
With a cheerful goodbye to Jaxon who is carrying around a huge cardboard box of pizza, I grab my overnight bag and trudge through the warm sunshine to my house.
After setting my overnight bag on the couch, I decide to take my laptop outside and see if there are any good-paying jobs that are just a little less stressful. I move the porch chair until it’s in the perfect spot with my upper body in the shade and my legs in the sun.
Stretching out like some sort of snake, I soak up the warmth and begin typing away.
But then, I hear Jaxon’s voice.
I look up, suddenly.
I haven’t told him where I live because I wasn’t sure how he would react. Sometimes, kids have a hard time with boundaries. I like him a lot, but I don’t want him bounding over here every time he is bored.
But then, I see Harrison walking Jaxon to the mailbox. He had Jaxon on his shoulders, and Harrison is holding his legs tightly. Harrison runs in circles making zooming noises as Jaxon laughs his head off. I shrink back into the shadows, not wanting to be seen.
Once at the mailbox, Harrison bends down at an awkward angle to let Jaxon reach inside and fish out the envelopes. Jaxon accepts his responsibility seriously, passing the envelopes to Harrison one by one.
Then, in a copy of their journey to the mailbox, Harrison takes off zooming again, and Jaxon’s laughter bubbles up.
I smile to myself as they go back in the front door.
They’re sweet together. I wish Harrison would look at me as kindly as he does Jaxon. But that will never happen. We are forced to work together, but that doesn’t mean anything else will ever happen. In fact, I determine that it won’t.
Chapter twelve
Harrison
Ican’t get over the guilt I feel that night as I think about how I addressed Breanna’s request for money. Maybe I should have been more lenient.
I pull out my phone several times that afternoon.
Around four, I make the final decision. I text her, Can you babysit tonight?
It’s not really a lie. I’ll let her be responsible for putting Jaxon to bed. Then, I’ll pay her for her time, and we can attempt to move past this misunderstanding.
Breanna responds immediately, What time?
Relieved that she's open to the idea, I reply, Around 7:30.
As the evening progresses, I find myself pacing the living room, a mix of anticipation and lingering guilt keeping me on edge. At 7:30 sharp, the doorbell chimes, and I open it to find Breanna ready for the evening ahead.
"Thanks for doing this," I say, a subtle acknowledgment of the unspoken tension between us.
