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“Gracie, it’s super early.”
“But Mommy…”
“Hey caterpillar, why don’t you go get the other swimsuits you picked and bring them for your mom to see?” Jaah stepped in the room and had Gracie bolting in his direction, balancing on her toes beneath him.
“Then can I go swim.”
“We’ll see. Let me talk to your mom first.”
“We’ll seemeans no.” She pouted and I choked on a laugh.
This kid.
“It’s not a no, Gracie. Just go and hurry up.” I kept my statement void of any promises but gave her hope.
“Okay.”
She took off running and he moved deeper into the room. “Why is she already in a swimsuit?”
“I arranged it last night. I had my assistant bring over a few this morning and she helped Gracie change into the one she liked the most. I thought it best if I let her handle that.”
He was being cautious with the care of my child, which I appreciated.
“Thank you.”
“Are you upset?”
“No…” I shook my head. “This is just different and going to take some getting used to.”
“Being here?”
“Well yeah but mostly having help. It’s usually just me and Gracie. I don’t get to sleep in because Val is not a morning person and Gracie is really wired when she wakes up.”
His smile expanded and he tilted his head to the floor, brushing a hand over his head when I had his eyes again he confirmed, “She’s definitely wired, but nothing I can’t handle. I let her tell me her routine and she picked her breakfast. It was easier to let her do what she could and only help when needed it. She’s very independent, like someone else I know.” His accusing eyes landed on me.
“When all you have is you to depend on you tend to be independent with most things.”
“I’m not saying it’s bad. Just stating facts. She’s a smart kid which she gets from her mother.”
“Thank you.” I blushed from the slant of his eyes and the depth of his stare. I quickly stood and slipped into the robe I’d worn from my room to Gracie’s last night or early this morning, technically. “And as for swimming. It might not be early in kid time but it’s definitely early in adult time. I can take her later. Maybe this afternoon.”
“It’s not that early…” I gave him a look because he sounded just like Gracie before he continued his argument with, “And I sort of have someone on the way to start her lessons. She’ll be here by ten and she’s fully vetted. She’ll sign an NDA and no phones allowed while she’s here. All she knows is that a friend and her kid are visiting for a while and that Gracie needs a few lessons to at least learn to be safe in the pool.”
“And when did you plan that?” I eyed him skeptically and he blessed me with a smile that I was learning would be hard to resist.
“This morning. I made some calls.”
“That is what I mean by we live two very different lives. You make some calls and get swimwear here for my kid in a matter of hours and a swim instructor ready and waiting.”
“I won’t pretend I don’t have pull. I do. Money allows me to make things happen but yours and Gracie’s privacy have been considered so I made sure that neither of you are exposed.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And Gracie isn’t the only one who has swimwear. I had her bring a couple things for you, only yours aren’t as modest as what I ordered for Gracie.” He winked and stepped out of the way just as my kid came barreling in the room, arms full of swimsuits.
“I’ll be downstairs waiting.”
“Mommy, look.” Gracie held up each one, showing them off and explaining what she liked best about each one. She had a blue one with tiny white butterflies on it which she shoved into my lap. “I picked this one because it matches yours. Ms. Amanda, that’s Jaah’s ’sistant, got this one because it matches one of yours. I told her it wasn’t my favorite color but I want to keep it because bue is your favorite color. She showed me the one she picked for you and it’s bue but yours has two and mine has one.”
