Page 53 of Strum Me

When he sees me not arguing, he hands me a business card. “This is a number of a nanny agency that Dennis has gotten in touch with. Meet with a few of them, pick one, and they’ll be coming with us to take care of Ben, 24/7.”

“I can’t afford that,” I tell him, embarrassed to have to admit it.

He tilts his head and looks at me like I’m mad. “Yes, you can. Because you’re not paying.”

“What?”

“Dennis and Phil have done their ‘your people talk to my people’ thing and between your paper and the band, we’re going to cover for it. I mentioned that you’re a stubborn mule-ass and won’t accept the money, in which case Phil has decided that you will be getting a very substantial raise for the duration of your time with us. They’d rather you did it their way of course, tax things blah blah, I tuned out, snore. But anyway, it’s all taken care of.”

Has he really organized all this for me?

“It’s four weeks. Doing what you love, having the person you love most right there beside you,” he concludes, saying the exact right thing.

I don’t know how to respond. Am I really considering it? Am I crazy?

Brad looks at me, his top front teeth digging into his lip, waiting for my answer.

“It does sound like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ben would have a fucking ball, and after his accident, there’s really no chance I could leave him,” I think out loud.

My time to shine.

Maybe it really is.

“Brad…what about us?” I have to ask.

He thinks for a minute, and I appreciate that he does. That he doesn’t just have some prepared answer. “Ball’s in your court. I will do whatever you want, leave you alone, or be on call for 24/7 orgasms, and everything in between. I don’t want what’s going on or not going on between us to affect your decision. I don’t want it to be the reason you say no.”

“Okay.”

“Wait, are you—” His eyes widen and he searches my face for clues.

“Wait.” I hold out my hand.

“You’re considering it?”

“Maybe…”

Brad jumps up and runs into Ben’s room, pulling something out of his back pocket. I follow him, confused.

“Hey Benny Boy, do you know what this is?” He waves something in front of Ben’s face.

“Sure! It’s a helicopter, is that for me?”

“Sure is, but I’ve got something even better.”

“Ooh.”

“How do you feel like going for a ride in a real helicopter?!” Brad asks him. And I realize I’ve lost this battle.

“I would love it!”

“Then convince your mother.”

“MOMMY! Can we go in a helicopter ride, can we? I’ll eat more yogurt! Please Mommy, please!” Ben begs me, TV forgotten.

“You bastard.” I glare at Brad.

“I said the ball was in your court. I didn’t say I wasn’t going to smash it there,” he says, victory written all over his face.