AllFreeNovel
Share Us
SEVEN
HADLEY
“What are you doing in Oregon,” Curtis demands.
I’ve been here for almost two weeks and finally worked up enough courage to call him and check in. “Temporarily working as a nanny.” With one hand pressing my phone to my ear, I walk around the living room collecting toys and depositing them in various bins and baskets scattered strategically throughout.
“Hadley,” he says, his voice low. I know that tone. It’s the one he uses when he’s about to lecture me. I hate these moments between us because Curtis never acts like my big brother. Instead, he often plays the part of overbearing father.
“My van broke down and I needed money to fix it,” I preemptively explain as I head into the dining room to pick up the plates from breakfast before heading into the kitchen.
“You should have called me.”
“Yeah, right. If I called and asked for money, you would have given it to me only if I promised to turn around and drive it right back home.”
“This trip is foolish.”
“This trip is the smartest thing I’ve ever done.” I drop a few plastic cups into the sink and lean against the counter, closing my eyes and praying for this call to end soon. Part of me hopes Curtis means well, that he’s looking out for me like a good older brother but it wouldn’t be the truth. The only person Curtis cares about is himself.
“When are you coming home?”
“At the end of summer, when the kids go to school.”
He sighs and I imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose. “Hadley, you shouldn’t play games with other people’s lives. That family needs a real nanny. If you want to watch kids so badly, you can watch Remy and Ally on the weekends.”
How do I explain to him that it’s not about watching kids or even being a nanny? I can’t because he wouldn’t understand the way I was drawn to Piper and Colton, the way they’ve already engraved their names on my heart after two weeks. There is no way to tell him I need them as much as they need me, because Curtis is so self-sufficient he doesn’t understand what it’s like to crave connection.
“I’ll see you in September, Curtis,” I tell him before ending the call.
And then I smell it. Smoke.Shit. When the smoke detector starts blaring, I turn in a circle, searching the kitchen for the source of the potential fire. The stove is ice cold. I rush toward the living room just as Colton and Piper come trampling down the stairs, coughing and claiming smoke is coming from the door to the attic. I hurry them outside before calling emergency services.
The fire department arrives within minutes, and we watch them from the front yard as they rush inside to inspect.
“I want Daddy,” Piper whines as she clings to my legs.
Theo. I try calling him, but it goes right to voicemail. I try once more only to get the same result. I grit my teeth with frustration. How can he simply turn off his phone?
“Don’t worry,” I tell her, brushing my hand through her hair. “Everything will be okay.”
A fireman comes out and lumbers toward us. “It looks like an electrical fire in the attic.”
“Oh, my God,” I gasp.
He holds up a hand, probably to reassure me. “You acted pretty quickly, and we were able to put it out before it reached the main part of the house.”
“Thank God. Is it safe to go back in?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Power’s turned off. You’ll need to have an electrician come out and inspect.”
“What about our clothes and stuff?” My mind rushes through a list of things we might need for a few days.
“Go with one of the guys and get what you need. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?”
“Yes,” I tell him, though I haven’t thought that far ahead. Maybe we could drive to Portland.
As it turns out, that’s our only option. The hotels, motels, and summer rentals are all booked, and since I haven’t been able to get hold of Theo, I take the risk and load the kids into the SUV.
When we arrive at the sleek office building where Theo works, his secretary is not very welcoming. “Mr. Franklin is in a very important meeting.” She stresses each syllable as if I don’t understand what she’s saying.
