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And when I am done, she says, "I am sorry, Lance, you were on a call, and I thought I was helping. It won’t happen again. Next time I’ll keep him busy until you’re done.” Her apology seems genuine, and I know I am being selfish, and petty right now. It’s her first day, and because mine was shit, my fuse is short.
“Sorry,” I say. “It’s been a long day.”
“It’s okay. I will get the hang of how you two do things. I think we all had a long day, and if it’s okay, I am going to turn in. What would you like me to do with Nova tomorrow?” she asks and I shake my head.
“It’s Saturday. I don’t work on a weekend. I will manage tomorrow. You can have the day.” Sienna smiles and says goodnight before she goes to bed. Her kindness makes me feel like shit for getting mad at her. I should not have lost it like I did. I will apologize again in the morning. I am better than that.
I turn out all the lights and decide to call it an early night too. There’s so much on my mind. Maybe some sleep will help clear my mood. Shutting my room door, I pull off my jacket, unbutton my shirt and turn the hot water on the shower. I strip off the rest of my clothes before getting under the cascading water.
SIX
SIENNA
I was having an awesome first day, and everything had gone so well until Nova was in bed. I messed up and I think Lance is furious. He let me have it—and I know it was a spillover from his shitty day, but it made me feel awful. That is their time I had intruded on it. It never even occurred to me to ask about it. I just presumed I would be in charge of bedtime. In the other homes, I was expected to get the kids into bed at the end of the day.
Lance isn’t like the other parents I have worked with before, and I have a feeling I might step on his toes if I am not careful. I am usually there to fill a hole, the kids are a second or third thought to their parents, but this home is already different. I feel bad that I just lumped him with all the others and did things the same. I should have had a proper talk with him, but he was in a hurry this morning and there wasn’t time for schedules and details.
I’ll make time to sit with him and go over how he wants us to do things. It’s important to me that I don’t get between him and Nova. It’s not often we are hired into homes where the parents are involved, and I’ll have to adapt to that.
I have a restless night, in a new room and bed, but also the guilt of how much I had upset Lance. My conscience keeps me up, and when the sun is up and I still can’t sleep, I get up, take a quick shower and pull on some leggings and a soft t-shirt. The heat is still insane. At least the penthouse is air conditioned to be bearable. I’ll make them breakfast. At least I can apologize to him before they get on with their day. We got everything we needed at the store. I can whip up breakfast in no time.
I don’t know any eight-year-old that doesn’t like pancakes or bacon, so that’s what I choose to make. The house is quiet. Saturdays are for sleeping late and Lance seemed stressed enough that he probably needs a few extra minutes of rest. The batter is mixed and the smell of bacon wafts around the place. “Yum.” Nova’s sleepy little eyes look over the island at me.
“Good morning,” I greet him as he calibers onto a stool. “Did you have a good sleep?” He stretches.
“Isn’t all sleep good?” he asks me, and I chuckle.
“Well, we need to sleep to grow and stay healthy, so yes, it is good.” I put a pan on the heat for the pancakes. “Did you have any good dreams?” I ask him as I put the batter in the pan. He pinches a piece of bacon when he thinks I am not looking.
“I dreamed of dinosaurs playing soccer.” I pause to listen to him tell me about the dream, and then keep flipping pancakes. “They kept missing the goals or trampling them.” He’s telling me every last detail when Lance comes into the kitchen.
In nothing but a pair of gym shorts.
A lot is going on—tattoos, abs, burning pancakes, and bacon. My jaw that I need to shut. He needs a shirt. I can’t cook looking at that.
“Hi,” he says, looking at me like I am at him. “Why are you cooking? I said you had a day off.”
“I wanted to make up for story time, so I thought I would cook for you two before your day starts,” I say, dishing up two plates and putting them out on the counter. “I really am sorry. If you have some time today, we can go over the daily schedule and what you do and don’t want me to take care of each day.” Lance sits down at the counter next to Nova and helps him cut up his food.
“Thank you for breakfast. I work from home as much as I can, but I am still working so he needs to be supervised. If I have to be in the office or travel, I will need you to handle everything in those times,” Lance says between bites of food. “I’m normally home for dinner every night. Yesterday was a rare exception. And we need time together every night, so I will take over after bath time.” He’s far more involved than most dads, and I am impressed.
“Great, that’s perfect,” I say and he continues.
“Weekends, Nova and I go and explore or do something together. I don’t work as much as possible on weekends. Sunday’s, he has soccer matches if he’s on the team. I am always there, but you can join us on weekends if you’d like or take time off. That is up to you.”
“I would love to come to his games, but you keep your Saturday adventures for you guys. I’ll use that time to prep the schoolwork for the week and make sure the household things you asked me to manage are under control.” I don’t want to intrude on their time together either.
“Sounds good. Is there anything you need or want?” Lance asks me, and Nova takes his last piece of bacon.
“No, I just wanted to know if I could use the gym early in the morning when I get up. Or, if I should rather use the communal one downstairs.” I don’t like gyms, but in this heat, it’s too hot to run. If I have to go downstairs, I will.
“Don’t go downstairs, you can go to the gym here. I also workout in the morning but I am sure we can make it work.” The thought of all that in the gym short circuits my brain. He’s still shirtless—and it’s sinful how hot he is for an older man. No wonder the soccer moms looked pissed at me.
“Thank you, I appreciate that. It is just too hot to run in the summer.” Lance nods, and Nova asks me.
“Are there more pancakes, please, Sienna.” I love his manners, and how he hasn’t needed to be reminded to use them once.
“There are more, and I think you owe your dad a piece of bacon.” I wink and he giggles. I dish up more breakfast for him and pour him a glass of water. “Let’s not forget these today.” I found his ADHD meds on the counter and have set a reminder, so I won’t forget. Without a gripe, he swallows it and carries on eating. I catch Lance staring at me, and he speaks.
