by J. P. Comeau
I’ll give him ten more minutes.
And after ten more minutes passed, I cracked open the other bottle and chugged.
Five more, then I’ll get on my way.
After waiting forty minutes like an idiot, I heard his car zooming down the driveway, and I abandoned my post. I walked across the backyard and made my way for the guesthouse, where my eyes gravitated toward my laptop. I walked over slowly and sat down, staring at the email I left up on my screen.
It was an email with an attached acceptance letter that had been emailed to me.
It was regarding my new job.
“Shit,” I hissed.
I closed the laptop and crossed my legs at my ankles. I chewed on the bed of my fingernails, racking my brain for what to do. I couldn't just dump this information on him. But, I had to let him know that I was starting a new job in a couple of weeks. That meant I only had two weeks to get my ass moved out, get a new nanny hired that I approved of, and get Marie Lee transitioned into the care of this new nanny. And now, he’d be gone for five of those days? Before we could even talk?
“Not good. This is not good.”
I looked down at my cell phone and reached for it. I knew the girls would have advice for me. And since I hadn’t spoken with them in a while, they were well overdue for an update anyway. With the baby monitor hooked to my hip and cranked up all the way, I dialed Sadie’s number. And before she even picked up, I called Luna. Connecting her to the phone call so the three of us could talk.
“Girl! It’s been forever. I don’t like this. You need more days off,” Sadie said.
“I’m sure you’ve got some juicy details for us, though, right?” Luna asked.
“I mean, the town is ablaze with chatter about Patricia and Bryce.”
“Did you hear about her demands? She wants fifteen percent of that man’s company!”
“I heard she wants all of his investment accounts, too.”
“And his retirement.”
I blinked. “Uh, sorry. What?”
Sadie paused. “You don’t know?”
Luna snickered. “How the hell could you not know? You live with the man.”
I furrowed my brow. “What exactly have you guys heard?”
As they started talking over one another, filling me in on the insanity of Bryce’s divorce, my stomach dropped to the floor. No wonder he had been so defeated after that conversation I overheard. No wonder his shoulders had been slumped. He wasn’t defeated because he still loved her. He felt defeated because of the demands she was making with money she thought she was entitled to.
But, solving that mystery posed yet another question.
What the hell had Bryce wanted to talk about today on the porch?
20
Willow
“Sparkies!” Marie Lee exclaimed.
Thunder rolled like a truck down the highway as lightning cracked across the sky.
“That’s right, pretty girl. That’s called ‘lightning.’”
“Nu-uh.”
“Mhm.”
“Nu-uh!”
I giggled. “Then, what’s it called, smartypants?”
She beamed with pride. “Daddy calls them ‘sparklies.’ And Daddy’s always right.”
I had to curl my lips over my teeth to keep from barking with laughter. The image of Bryce in his big ole’ Dad voice saying something like ‘sparklies’ made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I’d miss these two a lot. Especially since I wouldn’t get to say goodbye formally because of this business trip, Bryce left for yesterday.
“More sparklies!” she exclaimed.
We sat perched at the window, watching the summer storm roll on in. The rain kicked up dust that I knew would settle on the trucks. So, I had plans for Marie Lee and me to wash them tomorrow. A fun activity with colorful bubbles and water hoses. I mean, I wasn’t sure about her, but that sounded like my two-year-old fantasy in a nutshell. I was looking forward to it, as well. Any time I got with her between now and the end of the week was just fine with me. And now that we were alone with no one to interrupt us, I could devote all of my time and energy to her.
Like I should have been doing from the beginning.
“All right, pretty girl. It’s snack time. What would you like?” I asked.
Marie Lee clung to me as I picked her up. “Jewwo?”
I snickered. “You know you only get one sweet treat a day. Do you want it to be Jello at snack time?”
I watched her think really hard about it as her brow furrowed and her lips pursed together. She looked as if she were in deep thought, so I got her set up at the table while she pondered her choices in her mind. I meandered into the kitchen and found myself taking in every little detail—the shining granite countertops with flakes of silver twinkling inside. The beautiful white-washed cabinets with matte black handles that somehow made the room seem more modern than laid-back country. I peeked down at the rich hardwood floors that looked original with the house itself, shimmering with a fresh wax and not a scuff to be seen.
“Wiwwow?”
I looked over at the sweet girl. “Made a decision?”
But, before she could answer, a heavy knock came at the door.
I furrowed my brow just like Marie Lee’s as I silently told her to stay put with my hand. I wandered over to the door and tried to see through the frosted window, but all I saw was a blurry outline of someone. Even through the blurriness, though, the features seemed familiar—someone short, with what looked like blonde hair and--.
“Patricia?” I whispered.
I quickly opened the door, and she turned around, looking like a sopping wet dog in the middle of a July downpour. And the angry look in her eye as her gaze fell down my body told me everything I needed to know about the tone of her visit.
“You’re Bryce’s new flavor of the month, I take it?” she spat.
I blinked. “No, ma’am. I’m the nanny. Can I help you?”
She pushed past me. “I’m here for my daughter.”
And before I even thought about what I was doing, I reached out and grabbed her wrist. Preventing her from moving anywhere.
“I’m sorry, you’re what?” I asked as I kicked the door closed.
“Get off me,” she warned.
“I think Bryce would be just fine with this current altercation. Why are you here to get Marie Lee?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Because she’s my daughter.”
“One that you abandoned almost two months ago.”
She wrenched away from my grasp. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing. I don’t even know you!”
“I know plenty about you, though.”
She harrumphed. “I don’t give a damn what you’ve heard about me. I’m here to get my daughter now that I’m all set up in a new place, and that is that. Marie Lee!?”
“Mom?”
“I’m calling Bryce. And if he tells me that you’re not supposed to be--.”
She ignored me and walked off toward the kitchen, screaming for her daughter. So, I rushed up to her and grabbed her arm, tugging her away from the table. And as I tried fishing around in my pocket for my cell phone while trying to fight this woman, I realized I didn’t have it on me. I ran after Patricia as she stormed up to the table, unbuckling Marie Lee and scooping her into her arms.
And the way Marie Lee fought her made me sick.
“No, Mom!”
Patricia held her close. “Come on, honey. I’ve got a place all nice and set up for us.”
“No! I don’t wanna! Wiwwow!”
I gripped her arm again, trying to level her with a glare. But, all she did was buck up to me, and I didn’t know what else to do.
“I’m calling the police if you don’t let me go, you sorry sack of nonsense,” Patricia threatened.
“Give me your cell phone. I’m calling Bryce right now to ask him about this,” I said.
She shrugged. “I don’t have to do anything for you, nanny.”
“
I’ve been more to this girl in the past few weeks than you’ve been in that same amount of time. And I think if we put that in front of any police officer, they’ll agree with me. Now, we either call Bryce--.”
She wrenched away again. “Let me guess. He fucked you, right?”
I blinked. “You shouldn’t use that kind of language in front of Marie Lee. Even at this young of an age.”
She giggled bitterly. “He screwed around with you, gave you a glass of wine, cuddled up with you on that couch, and somehow you just couldn’t resist him. Right?”
I swallowed hard. “Give me your phone.”
She took a step toward me. “I’m not giving you anything, and here’s why: I’m that little girl’s mother, and you’re just Bryce’s new play toy. That man never cared for me. The only reason why he married me was because of the daughter we had. There’s no sin in finding me a man that cares for both my daughter and me. I matter, too. So, we’ll put that in front of a judge and see what they have to say. But, in the meantime? I’m taking my daughter even if I have to fight off the lowly nanny my ex-husband is screwing around with in his spare time.”
But still, I only tightened my grip. Refusing to let go as Marie Lee looked up at me in horror. Still, this woman was stronger than she looked, and she pulled away from me as if I had butter on my hands. And when I reached out for her once more, she dodged me before she whipped around and leveled a stare at me that made my heart stop in my chest.
“You put your hands on my daughter or me again, and I’ll have you arrested. Understood?”
Marie Lee started crying. “No!”
I looked at the precious little girl. “I’ll figure something out, pretty girl. Don’t you worry, okay?”
I watched in horror as that woman carried the screaming and kicking girl over her shoulder and toward the front door. Everything within me wanted to pummel that woman to the ground before tossing her out into the cold rain. But, I resisted the urge.
“Wiwwow! Pwease! No!”
Tears rushed my eyes as the little girl reached out for me.
“Daddy!” she shrieked.
I heard Patricia hiss. “Calm down, now. You’re just fine. You’re with Mommy.”
“No, want Mommy!”
As the front door opened and slammed shut, a tear trickled down my cheek. There was so much to unpack about what just happened. It was unreal. But, the interaction only solidified what I needed to do. First, I needed to call Bryce. After that, though, I needed to leave him a note and start packing up my things.
I was more than just a nanny.
I was more than a fuck toy.
And Marie Lee deserved a nanny that would focus more on her and less on her father.
I dashed back out to the guesthouse, and the first thing I did was rush for my cell phone, still on the charger, untouched from this morning. I found Bryce’s number in my contacts and pressed ‘call’ even though I knew he’d be busy, and of course, it went straight to his voicemail. I pinched the bridge of my nose as his voice filled my ear. I sat down gingerly, still hearing the echoed yellings of his daughter bouncing off the walls of my mind.
Then, it came time for me to leave a voice message.
“Bryce, hey. It’s me. Listen, I know you’re busy. But I just, I’m so… so sorry…”
My mind fell blank, and I hated myself for it.
“Look, Patricia’s come by and took Marie Lee. I tried to stop her.. But…but she is Marie Lee’s mother. Just… your daughter needs you right now, okay? She didn’t want to go with her mother.”
I need you right now.
“Yeah, so. All right. Let me know what to do. I’m so sorry, Bryce. I couldn’t stop her.”
I hung up the phone and slid it into my pocket as I walked like a zombie into the kitchen. I heard an engine revving down the road, and it made me sick to think about Marie Lee sitting in the back seat of some speeding car trying to whisk her away from the only home she’d ever known. I wiped at my tears as they streamed down my neck. My chest soon started heaving with my sobs. And as I flopped into a seat at the kitchen table, I pulled my laptop towards me.
But, leaving a voice message or sending an email seemed so impersonal.
Maybe leaving a handwritten note would be better.
I lumbered back over into the house, and the first person I encountered was Maria. Some weeks, it felt like I didn’t see her at all. She was always careful not to interrupt. But, the expression on her face caused me to pause. There was a mixture of worry and sadness: fury and sorrow. But, there was something else in her eye that I couldn't interpret.
Something I was too tired to interpret.
“Pen and paper?” I asked softly.
Maria simply pointed to a cabinet towards the corner of the kitchen.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
With a heavy heart and even heavier shoulders, I blinked back tears as I rummaged around for a pen. And after pulling out a notepad to scrawl on, I started writing Bryce the note. I hated that we couldn't have this talk in person. But, maybe this was all for the best. Me never seeing him again. Me calling the police so they can figure out what the hell to do about Marie Lee. Me getting the hell out of this place before I lost my mind, my heart, and my dignity all over again.
“He’s gonna miss you, you know,” Maria said.
Her thick accent turned my head, and I found her wiping down the kitchen table where Marie Lee had just been sitting.
“A lot,” she then added.
But instead of fighting back, I simply let my eyes fall back to my note. I kept my hand as steady as I could, murmuring the words to myself. Making sure the note flowed effortlessly and didn’t seem as disjointed as my mind currently felt.
Then, I picked it up and read it one last time to myself once the tears dried up.
Dearest Bryce,
I’ve taken a full-time office position with a warehouse on the other side of town. I start at the end of the month. Thank you for all the generosity you showed me, and I wish you to best of luck with your divorce.
W.
I took the note and taped it to the fridge so it wouldn’t flutter anywhere. And then? I started back out to the guesthouse. I needed to get packing and get back to my place if I stood any chance at starting this job in a week and a half. I kept trying to convince myself that Marie Lee was safe with Patricia because she was her mother, and this upcoming job would be good for me. That nothing terrible would come of any of this, and everyone would get the lives they always dreamt about.
But even as I started packing up my things, I knew that wasn’t the case. I knew I was running. I knew I was doing that thing I always did again.
And yet, I was still helpless to stop myself as I started stacking my toiletries into my cosmetics bag.
21
Bryce
It felt good to be in Houston. It felt good to be out of that gossiping small town and away from the craziness my life had become. And while some of it was a good kind of crazy, a great deal of it was still the bad kind. The kind I wanted to get away from. The kind I never wanted to encounter again.
The kind that was about to take half of everything, plus part of my family’s business.
“Shit,” I whispered.
As I settled into my hotel suite, I eased myself against the mattress. Still clad in one of the only four suits I owned, I gazed up at the ceiling. I was glad I came early so I could enjoy a couple of days to myself. But, the day after tomorrow marked the start of a long weekend of work. One where I’d have to buckle down, get shit done, and get some things finalized.
However, my cell phone vibrating in my pocket ripped me from my trance.
“What is it now?” I sighed to myself.
I looked at the phone and saw the house number was calling. So, it had to be Marie. Willow would’ve just called me on my cell phone since she had my number. I answered the phone and drew in a deep breath, steeling myself against whatever it was that was so urgent it required a phone ca
ll while I was out of town.
“Hello, Maria,” I said.
“Mr. Remington. I hope I’m not bothering you?”
Her accent always made me smile. “Not at all. Everything okay?”
“Well, sir. No. That’s why I’m calling.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “What’s going on? Is Marie Lee alright?”
The second she launched into her spiel, her accent took over. Some of the words she started slinging around were even in Spanish. I heard the worry in her voice. The anger. The confusion. But, I knew enough of the language simply by being around her to understand what she was telling me.
“Hold, hold, hold, hold, hold on just a second. Did you say Patricia came to get Marie Lee?” I asked.
“Si.”
“And Willow just… let her have my daughter?”
“I don’t think she understood what was supposed to do. She did fight, Mr. Remington. But, your ex-wife threatened her with police and all sorts of stuff. She was crying, sir. Your daughter didn’t want to go. I don’t know what to do.”
“Where’s Willow? Where is she?”
She paused. “She wrote you a note before she headed back out to the guesthouse, and she hasn’t come back.”
I quickly sat up, and noticed I had a voicemail from Willow. “A note? Those are never good in my world. Can you read it for me?”
“Isn’t that an invasion of privacy, Mr. Remington?”
I tried not to groan. “All right. Look. I’m going to check out early and head back. But, until then? No one else is allowed on the property. Not until I get back and get things sorted out. Understood? Call the sheriff if she comes back. I’ll call him to explain as soon as we are done talking.”
“Si.”
I stood to my feet. “Good.”
“Sir, may I speak freely?”
I paused. “I didn’t realize you thought you had to ask.”
She giggled. “Sir, I know it’s not my place. But, Willow is the first person to come into your home that truly makes you smile. No disrespect to the mother of your child, but I’ve never seen you look at her the way you look at Willow. It’s nice to see you smiling again, sir.”