AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. Does it has rules?”
“’Does ithaverules, Anna,” I correct her, the straws in my hand. “It does, but they’re easy. You spread out the straws like this.”
I let the straws drop, and a colorful pile of sticks take over the carpet between us.
“Now you pick up a straw one by one.” When she moves to do so, I interrupt, “No, wait! You need to pick up one without moving the others. If you move any, it’s my turn.”
“And who wins?” Anna jumps in place, getting excited.
“Whoever picks up the most straws! Now you go first!”
We play a few rounds, until Anna starts to get hungry, and then I have her pick up the toys and go downstairs.
The wonderful smell translates into a very large plate of meat and potatoes with a side of white rice and greens. Anna and I dig into our plates.
“Staying late today?” Mary asks, wrapping the boss’ plate in aluminum foil.
“Yup,” I start to clean the table while Anna waits for dessert. It’s clear I’m not very happy, but I’m doing my best not to let it bother me.
“I’m lucky I have you,” Mary says, placing the wrapped-up plate in the oven, “This used to be me! Being the nanny and cooking and cleaning. Let’s just say it was all way too much for one person.”
“Mary, dessert!” Anna moans in complaint, slamming her fist on the table.
“Calm down, cutie-pie. I made bread pudding just for you!” Mary says, taking the dishes off my hands. “Joyce, it’s in the fridge. Please serve some to Miss Impatience.”
I giggle at Anna’s new nickname, “Like father, like daughter, huh?”
Now it’s Mary who laughs.
“Are you having some, Mary?” I ask, grabbing the small dessert bowls.
“No, just doing the dishes then leaving,” she says.
I give Anna one bowl and save the other for me. In need of passing the time since Mr. Bardin still hasn’t arrived, I offer, “I’ll do the dishes for you, so you can leave early.”
“Really?” she says in disbelief. “You don’t have to.”
“But Iwantto!” I say, smiling big.
“Okay,” she shrugs. “I’m leaving then. See you two tomorrow!”
“Joyce?” Anna tugs on my shirt. “Pudding!”
“Say bye to Mary first!” I tell her, going to the fridge to take out the damn pudding.
“Bye, Mary,” Anna says, chewing on her knuckles yet again.
Mary leaves, and Anna and I have dessert. After that, I lift her onto the step stool to help me with the dishes, and it turns out I couldn’t have asked for a more efficient little helper.
Later, we move to the living room, where I turn on some cartoons and watch them with her.
The hour Mr. Bardin asked me for has already gone, so I email my professor to say I might not be there again.
When Anna is almost asleep on the couch, there’s a noise at the door, and she recognizes who it is just from the sound of his steps.
“Daddy!” she runs over to greet him and returns held in his arms.
What I feel seeing Mr. Bardin like that is hard to describe. He’s clearly capable of love but doesn’t seem to like to show it much.
