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I get up and hug Nana.
Nora walks into the living room with a cart full of delicious smelling food. “This all looks amazing. I may need some cooking tips from Anna.”
“You know she would be happy to give them,” Nora says. She and Anna are married and have been living with Nana ever since I can remember.
Nana and I sit and enjoy our meal and then I head back to the apartment to make dinner for Syd, so it will be ready when she arrives home from school. I can’t seem to shake Nana’s words about seeing me married. I wish I could give Nana this one wish of hers, but it’s so out of reach.
CHAPTERFOUR
Ellie
I’m in the kitchen with my AirPods on, listening to music while cooking dinner. On the way back from Nana’s, I stopped by a grocery store to buy ingredients to make chicken quesadillas and blueberry muffins for dessert. I’m not much of a chef but I can follow a recipe. I just hope Syd will enjoy the meal. After speaking with Nana, I realized how much I want this job to work out.
I have the quesadillas cooking in a portable grill I found, so I measure out all the ingredients for the muffins. I’m using a whole grain flour and blueberries instead of chocolate chips since Connor mentioned he wanted Syd eating healthy.
I’m swaying my hips and singing along to the music as I enjoy making the food. I don’t know if I’m supposed to check in on Connor to see if he’s okay. I kind of got the vibe I was here for Syd and to leave him alone. Besides, it must be difficult to be in that much pain all the time. Makes me wonder how hard it was for him to get out of bed yesterday morning when Syd took off on him. I think he would walk through fire for that little girl and it’s endearing.
I check my watch to see I have ten minutes to head downstairs to get Syd from the bus. I gave myself just enough time to prepare the food so it would be warm when she comes home. It just seems that the recommended prep time for the muffins was a little off. I decide to pop them in the oven and place a timer on, just in case I don’t get back up here in time to turn it off. It would suck to burn something on my second day on the job.
I remove my AirPods and tuck them away. Then I slip on the lilac-colored Crocs I left by the door and grab my jacket. I don’t know if Connor wants me announcing my presence or not, so I decide to leave and shout, “Going to get Syd from the bus now.”
I’m not sure if he heard me but he finally answers, “Thank you.”
I wait outside on the corner. It’s a cold day and the wind whips my hair around so I hold my jacket closed as I shiver. The bus arrives a few minutes late. Syd is the second one to get off. When she sees me her heart-shaped lips tip up.
“Hi there, pretty girl,” I say. “How was your day?”
She twists her hand back and forth making a gesture that leads me to understand it was so-so.
“Why is that?” I ask, but her attention gets pulled to the kid who got off the bus after her. He has a little dog. The little boy runs to his four-legged friend and Syd watches intently.
“Do you like dogs?” I ask.
She pulls her attention away from the furry friend and looks to me and nods.
“I had dogs growing up. The first one was a little white cute ball of fur. My second dog was a big boy. We had lots of fun together. They were kind of my best friends.”
Syd opens her mouth and my heart gallops that she may say something to me, but then she closes her mouth and her brows draw together. I wonder what is going through her mind.
“Come, let’s head upstairs. Is it okay if I hold your hand?” I ask because the street is busy and I don’t expect her to run, but I would rather be on the safe side.
When we head upstairs, Syd drops her bag on the floor and rushes off to her dad. From the hallway I hear her sweet voice. She calls him Daddy and she is so excited to tell him about her day.The fact she’s so comfortable with him really says something, I think.
I walk up to Connor’s bedroom door. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I prepared some food for Syd, and I don’t want it to get cold.”
Connor is lying in bed, half sitting up. He’s wearing a heather gray T-shirt and a pair of black sweatpants. The way his T-shirt hugs his arms and chest is droolworthy, but I avert my gaze. Staring at the hot dad isn’t going to achieve anything.
“You go on with Ellie,” Connor says to Syd. She whispers something in his ear, and he smiles. It makes my heart stutter to see those two together. I never had that kind of relationship with my father or mother. “Come on, Sweet Pea.”
Syd blinks and nods.
“Was Hazel here already? I didn’t hear her come in,” I say.
I don’t know why I ask, other than I feel bad he can’t really get out of bed himself.
“I’m okay,” he replies.
I don’t want to push, but his response is weird because he didn’t answer the question. I had my AirPods in earlier so maybe Hazel was here and I didn’t hear her come in.
