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“Wow,” I mutter. “That’s a thing to say.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Flint groans. “I’m just saying it’s easier to work around there without him breathing down my neck.”
“Still, it’s not your dream,” Aspen insists.
“And if I recall, being a nanny isn’t yours, either,” Flint challenges. “Why don’t you go back to school and finish your teaching degree?”
“Well, this turned into career day rather abruptly,” I comment, rising from the table to take my bowl of cereal to the sink. Zoe takes it from my hands and snickers as the others chortle, too.
“Can we have a movie night tonight?” Lily asks.
“That is the best idea I’ve heard all year!” Caden says dramatically. “I think we should watch old World War II movies.”
“No, Papa Caden!” Lily titters.
“NO?!” Caden feigns offense. “Then what?”
“The marshmallow movie.”
I swallow a groan but fake enthusiasm with the rest of the adults. At least she’s off the fairy and unicorn kick she was on.
“It’s a date,” Caden kisses the girl’s cheek and then Aspen’s. He pauses as he walks past me. “You want one, too?” I scowl at him, and he chuckles, heading out the door. “Have a good day, everyone!”
“I’ve gotta go, too. Zoe, can Ryan drive me to the airport today? I have to deal with some emails on the way in.”
“He’s around as always, Flint,” the housekeeper agrees, texting her husband to join them.
“What do you have planned for today?” I ask Aspen.
“We’re going to the park,” Aspen announces. “And maybe to the library.”
“Do you want to come, Papa Pike?”
I raise an eyebrow with interest, but I shake my head. “I wish I could, but I’ve fallen behind in some of my work, honeybee. Raincheck, okay?”
I catch Aspen staring at me oddly as Ryan arrives to take Flint to the airport.
“Bye, family,” he calls jovially, and we wave him off.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask Aspen.
“Oh! I just—I didn’t realize that you had deadlines,” she admits, looking sheepish.
I snicker aloud. “It’s okay. Most people don’t. They think that artists and writers just pop out pieces when the mood strikes, but that’s no way to make a living—particularly if you have an agent on your ass.”
“Papa Pike!”
“Butt! I meant butt,” I correct myself.
Lily points and giggles. “You said butt.”
“There’s something new to learn every day with you guys,” Aspen says, taking Lily’s plate.
“That’s the idea,” I tell her tenderly. “I want every day to be a learning experience with us.”
She smiles at me and helps Lily to the ground. “All right, honey. Let’s get a move on, so we have time to do everything today.”
“Okay,” Lily agrees. “Bye, Papa Pike. I love you.”
