AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Now that Harrison is up, it means my time is gone. And I don’t want to leave a messy house.
I can feel Harrison’s eyes on me. “Did you sleep okay?” I ask, just for something to say.
“Yeah, fine.” Harrison doesn’t add anything else, but I can feel his gaze on my back. Clearing his throat, he announces, "Jaxon, I have something to tell you.”
The tone in Harrison’s voice instantly has me curious, but it’s clear he isn’t talking to me. Jaxon, however, must sense the same tone. He leaves his toys for a moment and hurries over to his dad, practically leaping onto his dad’s lap.
“What, Daddy? Are we getting a puppy?”
Harrison and I both laugh at that. What kid wouldn’t be excited about a puppy. I’m glad when Harrison says no, though. A puppy would be a lot of extra work. I imagine it having accidents all over the carpet and Harrison blaming me for them.
“Your uncle is coming to visit us for a few days," Harrison finally reveals.
Jaxon's eyes widen with excitement at the news, his attention fully captured by the prospect of a visit from his uncle. "I have an uncle?" he asks eagerly.
I want to laugh again, but I’m not sure if Harrison would take my laugh as some sort of jab at his family. I don’t know a lot about his family, but apparently, they aren’t close. “Yes, you do. I’ll show you some pictures of him later. He’s my brother, okay? He’s going to come visit, and I’m going to hang out with him some.”
I finish stacking Jaxon’s books on his shelf and turn around to see Jaxon still gazing eagerly into Harrison’s face. “When’s he coming?”
That’s also my question, so I’m glad Jaxon asked it. I wonder what it means as far as them needing me. It might be awkward hanging around here with some long lost brother, both of us supposedly in charge of Jaxon.
“Two days from now.” Harrison turns his piercing gaze to me, and I feel frozen in place, like he can see me for who I am- the insecure woman who just wants to fix things and find a place to fit into the world.
“Breanna, the reason I want you to know is I expect we’ll go out some. I’ll need you to put in some extra time with Jaxon if you have it.”
The prospect of a family visit brings a sense of anticipation to the air, and Jaxon starts making up some song about uncles and “buncles,” whatever those are.
I remember the clause in our contract about higher pay for overtime, and I’m already nodding. “Yes, I don’t mind. Just tell me when, and I’ll be here.”
Harrison nods, and I think I catch a grateful look in his eye, but it’s hard to tell. He turns away so quickly.
As Jaxon launches into excited chatter about the upcoming visit, I listen with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity. The unexpected news adds a new dimension to the days ahead, injecting a sense of energy and anticipation into the atmosphere.
What if this brother is just as critical as Harrison is?
Or worse- what if this brother gets Harrison to fire me?
I shake my head, trying to loosen and get rid of the negative thoughts. Harrison’s brother has nothing against me. He’s probably a perfectly nice man. I need to stop finding reasons to freak out.
Chapter eighteen
Harrison
Igently nudge Jaxon off my lap, so I can catch Breanna before she leaves. “Wait. Let me give you a little something in anticipation of next week.”
Breanna studies me coolly, and I can understand her disbelief. Just a week ago, we were arguing about when I would pay her. I had insisted that I would keep to the rules of the contract, but now, I just want to help her.
I grab $60 from my wallet and hand it over.
Breanna studies the money for a moment. “So this is… like a down payment on next week’s check?”
“Yes, consider it a bonus for all the short notice sitting you’re doing. Payments in check and bonuses in cash. How’s that?”
Breanna looks up at me and studies me carefully for a moment. Then, she shoves the money into her pocket so quickly that I almost don’t see her hand move. The money is there one second, then it’s not the next.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Breanna takes a couple of steps backward toward the door, but I’m not ready for her to leave yet.
I think back on the night where we drank together- the night that ended with Breanna showering in front of me. Just the memory makes me start to get a little hard.
