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It was dark by the time I got home. Isabelle, Brent’s nanny, was just starting dinner in the kitchen and the delicious smell of chicken enchiladas flooded my senses when I stepped in the door. When she saw me, she smiled.
“Hi Mr. Thomas,” Isabelle said. She grinned at me. “We had us a nice long day, didn’t we baby?”
Brett nodded and smiled. Isabelle had been with us since shortly before the divorce, and Brett really cared for her. Some of my friends had joked about her – she was young, curvy, and a lot of fun to be around. But dating the nanny was such a cliché…I wasn’t going to become that kind of man.
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Dinner almost ready,” Isabelle said, swinging her hips as she flung a dish towel onto the counter. “Just bake for twenty more minutes and you’re good. I’m going to clean up and then I’ll head out.”
I nodded. “You want a ride home?”
“No, thank you Mr. Thomas,” Isabelle said.
“Alright, then,” I said. “Thanks for everything.” I pulled out my wallet and handed her a crisp fifty. “This is for a good week,” I said, handing the folded bill to Isabelle. She tucked it inside her pocket and smiled.
“Wow, thanks!”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said dryly. “Work is really ramping up, and I think things are only going to get busier from here on out. You okay with spending a lot of time here next week?”
Isabelle nodded. “We’ll have fun, won’t we, Brett?”
“Yeah!” Brett looked ecstatic. It was hard not to take it personally – he was obviously closer to Isabelle than me or Marlene. But I knew I shouldn’t care – at least the boy had someone to be a positive role model, even if she was the nanny.
Isabelle grabbed her coat and left, leaving a wake of heavy orchid perfume behind her. As soon as she’d left, Brett seemed to clam up. He hopped onto a barstool at the island and slumped over a piece of paper, furiously scribbling with a crayon.
“Hey buddy,” I said, walking over and taking off my jacket. I loosened my tie. “How’s it hanging?”
Brett barely glanced up. “Fine,” he said.
“Just fine?”
Brett sighed. “Dad, I’m fine,” he said.
I forced a smile. “Okay. You hungry?”
Brett shrugged.
“How was school today? And don’t say it was fine,” I added quickly. “Because I know it wasn’t.”
That got Brett’s attention. When he turned to face me, his cheeks were pink with guilt.
“I’m trying, Dad,” he said after a long pause.
“I know.” I cleared my throat. “I know you’re trying, but sometimes that’s not good enough. Brett, you know I want the best for you.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
It was difficult not to get angry, but I took a deep breath and tried to let my frustration drain.
“I know I haven’t been around as much as I should be,” I said. “Things are really busy at work, but I’m thinking of taking a really long trip over the summer.”
“Oh.” Brett sounded glum.
“With you, together,” I said. “I was thinking about Disney World. Or maybe San Diego, wouldn’t that be fun?”
Brett looked up and nodded. He smiled. “Yeah, Dad. That would be great.”
I tried to smile back. I knew that I shouldn’t be bribing him like this – with offers of a fancy vacation – but sometimes, it was too easy.
