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I looked them over again. “Soccer?”
Lily bobbed her head up and down again. “Yep.”
I took a deep breath. “Since neither of you looks like you’re injured and you both look pretty pleased with yourselves, I don’t think I need to point out the mud.”
Lily’s laughter filled the room as she embraced me with muddy arms. “Daddy, we played soccer in the rain! It was the best day ever! Dee is the coolest nanny ever!”
Deanna, her face still adorned with mud, smiled warmly at me. “I couldn’t resist stomping in the mud and the puddles.”
I chuckled. “I see that.”
“I’ll take the car and have it detailed.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said.
Dee scrunched up her nose. “I’m really sorry.”
“I’m going to take a bath,” Lily announced. She gave Dee a big hug. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Lily never did that. She was never affectionate toward anyone outside of family.
“Do you need help?” Dee asked her.
“No, I got it,” Lily said.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Dee told her as Lily scurried out of the room, leaving a trail of wet footprints and mud behind her.
The rain picked up again. I could hear it outside. “Didn’t you say your windshield wipers don’t work?”
“They work, just not well,” she said.
“You should just stay over,” I suggested.
“Oh no, it’s fine,” she murmured.
“Dee, you’re soaked and covered in mud. It’s pouring out there. You have to turn around and be right back here tomorrow. It’s not like we don’t have the room. I’ll give you some of my sweats to wear and we’ll wash your clothes.”
“I don’t want to impose,” she said. “I know you value your time with Lily.”
“You’re not imposing,” I assured her. “I’ll show you to the guestroom. It’s got a full bathroom.”
She looked like she was thinking about it. She shivered once, telling me she was frozen.
“You need to get dry and warm,” I said. “Come on. Lily would love to have you sleep over.”
“Are you sure?” she asked even as we moved through the kitchen.
“I’m very sure.” I nodded. “So, you were playing soccer?” I asked as we climbed the stairs.
As we walked past Lily’s door, I could hear her singing. I couldn’t remember the last time I heard her break into song. She was really happy. In that moment, I would do anything Dee asked me to do. I would give her a million dollars if she asked for it. She deserved every penny after what she did for my daughter. I would give her the damn moon.
“We were just kicking the ball around,” Dee answered. “She’s been asking to go to the park. When we got there, I thought we would have more time before the rain came again. She wanted to stay out. I was the first one to go down. She thought it was hilarious.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen her smile quite like that in a long time.”
“She had fun.” Dee smiled. “I did, too. I’m sorry I brought her back so muddy.”
“Don’t be,” I said. “It made her happy.”
“She had a blast.”
