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“Definitely,” Logan agreed, his voice steady and calm, just like his dad.
I smiled at their enthusiasm while busying myself in the kitchen. The sound of sizzling oil filled the air as I prepared dinner. “What did you guys love the most about today?” I asked, trying to keep my thoughts from wandering back to Max.
“Building sandcastles with you and Dad,” Lucy said, grinning ear to ear.
“Finding that cool seashell,” Logan added thoughtfully.
Their words warmed my heart but also made it harder to ignore the growing feelings for Max. As a nanny, I knew I had to maintain a professional distance, but our shared magnetic pull was impossible to resist.
Later, I served a chicken and broccoli soba noodle dinner for me and the children and carefully fixed a plate for Max to eat when he returned from work. I covered it to keep it warm, feeling a blend of anticipation and uncertainty, given that I was still learning his tastes and preferences.
“Thanks for making these noodles, Miss Mia,” Logan said with his mouth full. “It’s delicious.”
“It’s amazing!” Lucy chimed in, her face lighting up with delight.
“Thank you, guys,” I replied, my heart swelling with pride. Lost in thought, I reflected on the age gap between Max and me and the true nature of our connection.
After tucking the kids into bed that night, I retreated to my room and pulled out a worn-out copy of Jane Austen’s Love and Friendship from my bag—a guilty pleasure. I scoffed at the clichéd “love at first sight” trope, yet wondered if such moments genuinely existed beyond fiction’s pages. With my mind racing, I journaled my thoughts and emotions, candidly exploring my conflicting feelings about Max, weighing my duties as a nanny and the potential consequences of following my heart.
The evening wound down, the Thornton home fell silent, and I lay in bed, lost in a whirlwind of emotions, hopes, and uncertainties about the days ahead, gazing at the ceiling.
The next day, I tried to focus on my responsibilities as a nanny. Lucy and Logan seemed to notice the change in my mood, but they didn’t press me for answers. They were good kids like that.
“Hey, Miss Mia?” Lucy asked as she worked on her art project, smearing paint across the canvas with gusto. “Do you think we could go to the park later?”
“Sure,” I replied, attempting to sound cheerful. “That sounds like fun.” She cheered, her infectious enthusiasm bringing a small smile to my face.
As I prepared lunch, I couldn’t help but steal glances at the framed commendation for bravery hanging in the dining area. Next to it was a beautifully framed photograph of a radiant woman with a kind smile, her eyes sparkling with life. I assumed she was Max’s late wife, the mother of his children. It served as an ever-present reminder of Max’s past — something I was both drawn to and wanted to understand more about.
Earlier, I’d noticed another picture on their nightstand. It was a candid shot of the same woman joyfully playing with the kids on a beach. Their laughter and happiness were palpable, even from the still image. I felt a pang of sympathy for Max and the kids. Having such a radiant presence taken away must have been hard for them.
Could someone like him, with such a profound past, truly be interested in me? I wondered as I set the table.
“Is everything okay, Miss Mia?” Logan asked, his observant eyes locked onto mine.
“Of course,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just thinking about what to make for dinner tonight.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be great,” he said, offering me a supportive grin.
“Thanks, Logan,” I replied, touched by his sincerity.
Late that afternoon, I took Lucy and Logan to the park. The sun painted everything in a golden hue, and their laughter was contagious as they darted around. Logan proudly showed off his new frisbee, throwing it with all his might. It often went awry, causing both of them—and occasionally me—to dash in unexpected directions.
“Watch this, Mia!” Lucy exclaimed, taking a dramatic stance. She aimed for a tree, but the frisbee veered off, nearly colliding with a park squirrel, which scampered away indignantly. We all burst into fits of laughter.
Seeing my opportunity, I scooped up the frisbee. “Alright, team, let’s see if my aim is any better.” I teased, squinting one eye for dramatic effect. Predictably, my throw was just as wild, and the frisbee sailed right into a puddle, splashing Logan in the process.
His mock outrage was met with Lucy’s hysterical laughter and my hands up in surrender. “I swear, it wasn’t on purpose!” I protested, laughing along.
We continued our frisbee escapades, adding hilarious penalties for missed throws like hopping on one leg or singing a funny song. As the day passed, our antics attracted a few more kids to the park, turning our small game into an epic frisbee match.
As we took a break, sprawled out on the grass, I marveled at the bond forming between the twins and me. The setting sun washed the sky in hues of pink and gold, and I was reminded of my responsibility and privilege to care for these wonderful children. And though thoughts of Max lingered in the background, right then, my focus was solely on cherishing the present moment with Lucy and Logan.
Lucy and Logan’s excited chatter filled the dining room as they animatedly recounted their day at the park. I smiled, nodding in all the right places, but my thoughts drifted to Max. Our age difference was undeniable, yet my connection with him was electric.
“Earth to nanny!” Lucy giggled, waving her hand in front of my face.
“Sorry, love,” I replied sheepishly, returning to reality. “I got lost in thought.”
