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When we got home, I pulled Jade aside.
“I have to run out. You’re okay to do the afternoon?”
“I think we’ll be just fine,” Jade said with a smile. “He’s a good kid. We’re going to have a ton of fun.”
I nodded. “I’ll be back just after four, and tomorrow we’ll do a full day. If you need to find anything, Ben will help you. Get acquainted with the house and make yourself at home. Call me if you need anything.”
Jade nodded. I hesitated. I didn’t know what I wanted to say. I just didn’t want to leave them behind alone. I wasn’t worried or anything. It was more that it looked like they were going to have a good time. Rather than leave, I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to get to know Jade better––her energy was magnetic, and I’d never seen Ben this chatty and upbeat unless he was in a good mood and it was just the two of us.
“I’m out, then,” I said. “Come here, big guy. Give me a hug.”
Ben ran to me, and I kneeled to hug him.
“Be good.”
“Always,” Ben said.
I grinned and ruffled his dark hair. “I’ll see you later.”
“You can work late if you want to; I’m okay here with Jade,” Ben said.
I laughed. “Thanks. I’ll be back earlier today…try not to look so disappointed!” I said it when Ben started pouting. “Jade is going to be around every day, so you’ll get more than enough of her.”
Ben grinned at me before he turned away from me.
“We have cookies for dessert when we watch TV,” he announced. “But Dad says we have to eat food first, so let’s get sandwiches.”
“Your dad is very wise,” Jade said.
She waved at me before they disappeared into the kitchen, and I turned to leave the apartment.
I didn’t have to go back to work––I’d taken the afternoon off so I could be at the house if either of them needed anything. Instead of driving back to the office, I drove to Noah’s apartment.
Ava opened the door with a grin. She had Warner on her hip.
“Look! It’s Uncle Aaron!” she said. “Say hi, Warner.”
Warner said something unintelligible and offered a toothy grin.
“Hello, big guy,” I said and pinched his cheek. “Are you guys busy? I don’t mean to impose.”
“We should be, but we’re not,” Ava said with a grin. She hooked her shoulder-length dark hair behind her ear. “Working from home isn’t all it's chalked up to be. Noah and I spend more time relaxing than we have in years. Come on in. Excuse the mess.”
“I have Ben. I know what life with kids is like,” I said.
When I walked into the living room, Noah had the TV on sports, a playmat, and toys scattered at his feet. He had case files on the couch next to him.
“You work too hard,” I said with a chuckle.
“Hey, man, what are you doing here?”
“I’m giving Ben and the new nanny some breathing space, so I thought I’d stop by. You know, since you mentioned you’re working from home this week, and I know how hard you work, you need a distraction.”
Noah burst out laughing. “Yeah, I’m working myself to death, can’t you see?” He collected the case files and moved them to the coffee table so I could sit down.
“To be honest, Ava loves working from home, so we can spend time with Warner. We’re at the office so often I get scared his first word won’t be mom or dad. It will be Chrissy.”
“She’s good with him, though, right?” I asked. “How did you find someone you like?”
