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“Wow,” I say. “Gina’s here early.”
Gina’s son goes to the same daycare as Kaitlyn and Gina often takes Kaitlyn on her way since I have all of the older kids to deal with and she only has one.
I open the door and it’s not Gina, but Valentine.
“Valentine!” I say. “What a pleasant surprise! I was just thinking about you.”
I feel my face heat up. “I don’t know why I said that.”
“It’s okay,” he replies with a smile. “I’ve been thinking about you too.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Really,” he confirms. “But first, I was hoping I could check on Annie.”
“Of course!” I say. “Here, come inside.”
As soon as he enters the dining room, the kids all jump out of their chairs and mob him, blithely ignoring my calls to sit and stay calm. Valentine allows the kids to crow around him for a minute, then claps his hand and calls, “Atten—tion!”
It’s like he has some sort of godlike power with kids. Instantly, they snap to attention and stand stock still awaiting further instructions.
“All right,” he says. “I want all four of you to finish your breakfast, clear your dishes, clean the table, sweep the floors and line up for the bus and I want all of that to happen in the next five minutes. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” they chorus.
“Dismissed!” he calls.
The kids spring into action like little soldiers—or sailors, I guess—and damned if the breakfast isn’t eaten, the dishes in the sink, the table clean, the floor swept and the kids in a perfect line at the bus stop in exactly five minutes.
“My God,” I say to Valentine. “Can I keep you?”
He smiles at me but before he answers, the doorbell rings again.
“Auntie Gina!” Kaitlyn cries, barreling into Gina the moment I open the door.
Gina laughs and picks her up. “Hello there, birthday girl! Oh my God, did you get bigger?”
“I’m four but I’m still little,” Kaitlyn replies, laughing.
“Really?” Gina says. “I guess I’m shrinking. Help me, Kaitlyn! Help!”
Kaitlyn laughs and waves her hand like a magic wand. Gina pops up and says, “I’m big again! Thank you, Kaitlyn.”
Kaitlyn giggles and Gina says, “Okay, go to the car and sit next to Derek. I’ll be out in a moment.”
Kaitlyn sprints to the car and Gina turns to me and says, “Oh my God, who’s the hunk in the kitchen?”
“The neighbor,” I say. “Here, I’ll introduce you.”
They exchange pleasantries and then Gina excuses herself to get to daycare. On the way out, she whispers to me, “You better land that fish, or I will.”
“Hands off,” I reply. “He’s all mine.”
When everyone’s out of the house, Val turns to me. “I know you probably have to get to work. Anything I can help with while you’re gone?”
“Oh,” I say. “Actually, it’s my day off. I just sent Kaitlyn to daycare because I need a break from everything and I need to get things set up for her party tonight.”
I feel a little guilty about that but before I can amend my statement, Valentine says, “So we’re alone?”
