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“You need help to get them to and from school.Taking them to appointments.Helping with homework and all the other little things that you don’t have time for.Then, when you’re here, you can just be with them, and not worry about all the shit you haven’t done.You can spend quality time with them, Rem.They’re craving that with you right now.”
“Running a ranch isn’t a nine-to-five job.”
“I know that, and you know that.But they’re just kids, and they miss you.You’ve taken on a lot more over the past year, and they’re feeling it.”
“I do need the help.Mom’s spread thin, and she should get to enjoy her time with Dad anyway.”
“Yeah, she should.”
I sit back and tap my fingers on the top of my scarred desk.It used to be my dad’s, and his father’s before him.
I think about how rushed everything always is where the kids are concerned, and how I’m not able to enjoy them, or them me, because it always feels like we’re running around with our heads cut off.
“Okay.I’ll hire a nanny.But it needs to be someone reputable and trustworthy.Not a kid.”
“Agreed,” Millie says, nodding.“I’m going to keep my eyes and ears open, and I’ll keep you posted.”
“Do that, because the last thing I have time for is to find a nanny.”
“I have time,” she says with a bright smile.“Just leave it up to me.”
“Deal.”
ChapterFive
Erin
“You havegotto be kidding me.”I lean forward and rest my forehead on the steering wheel in absolute despair.It’s been too cold the past few days to walk around town for work or my errands, thanks to a spring storm that rolled through and reminded us that, although the season may have changed, winter is still hanging on with her icy fingernails.
But halfway home from the grocery store, my car decides to simply stop running.
It’s dead.Deader than a doornail.
“Shit.Shit.Shit.”
I have a trunk full of groceries that I need to get home, and I’m at least two miles away from my apartment.Glad that my dad insisted that I invest in the roadside assistance insurance, I find the card in the glove box and call the toll-free number.
“One hour,” I repeat when I’m told how long I’ll have to wait.“Well, at least my ice cream won’t melt.”
“I’ll get someone there as soon as possible.The driver will call or text when they’re on their way,” I’m assured before the call ends.
I take a deep breath, blow it out, and frown because I can see my breath in the cold air.It’s damn cold.The week started out pretty decent in regard to the weather, but now it just feels like February all over again.And, of course, I didn’t bring any gloves or a hat with me, because I was planning to simply go from the car to the store and back again.
Just when I’m contemplating a two-block walk to a restaurant to sit and wait for the tow truck, my phone rings.
“Hey, this is Peter with A-1 Towing.I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”
“Oh, thank goodness.I appreciate it.”
“No problem.See you soon.”
My teeth have just started to chatter when the tow truck pulls up in front of me, and a tall,veryhandsome man steps out of the driver’s side and walks my way.
I get out to talk to him and to get the circulation moving in my legs.
“I don’t know what’s wrong,” I begin.“It just stopped, and I could barely get it pulled over to the side of the road.”
“Interesting,” he says, eyeing my car.“It’s not a beater.”
