by Remi Grey
“And this right here is my most prized possession,” Lily announced.
I laughed at Lily’s choice of adult words, but she wasn't messing around. She had lugged out a small wooden chest that she kept in the corner, and I knew what was inside of it.
“These are gorgeous! Could I hold one?” Jenna asked as she peered excitedly inside at Lily’s painted rock collection.
Over the years, Lily and her mother had collected rocks and painted various designs and short affirmations on them. Lily had been begging me to take her rock hunting – something that even after all these years, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to do it.
“You can have one.” I watched as Lily reached in and handed Jenna a bright pink rock.
A lump was rising in my throat. I could picture Hillary's loopy handwriting, where she had written: "Follow Your Heart” on the rock. I couldn’t let that one go.
“Not that one.” I raced over and grabbed it back before Jenna could wrap her fingers around it.
If Jenna was surprised by my outburst -- she didn’t let it show. Instead, she smiled at me and gave me a small nod as if to say it was okay.
“Anything else you can show me?” Jenna asked as Lily, who was oblivious to what had happened, closed the lid on her trunk.
“Yes!” She jumped up excitedly. “Wait until you see my collection of tutus.”
They were off again, hand-in-hand down the hall. I watched as they disappeared out of sight. I was suddenly very nervous about the future.
Chapter 6
Jenna
“Pick a straw, any straw.” I waved the pink, yellow, and blue crazy straws in front of Lily and Ian as we sat at a local diner.
I already knew Lily would grab the pink straw.
“This one.” She exclaimed excitedly as she stuck the pink straw in her root beer float. “It matches my nails you did for me. “See, daddy. Look how pretty they look together. Can you take a picture?”
"Sure." He took out his phone and snapped a quick picture as she struck a pose, making sure her nails were clutching the cup at the right angle -- which took a few tries. She was a pro already, but it was easy to see why.
In the 10 minutes we had been at the diner, the five other tables here had already come over to say hello and take pictures. When there was no one new left to come by, we were finally allowed to enjoy our root beer floats in peace. They were a treat for Lily, having had a great week at school.
"And for you?" I flashed the last two straws available towards Ian, who I had a feeling wasn't going to pick either one.
“This one is fine." He grabbed the one, sitting in a wrapper, off the table, and stuck it in his drink. It should have irked me the way he had always shut down anything that remotely resembled fun or being silly. But, for whatever reason, it seemed to suit him.
In the week I had been in their family, I was already getting to know them both incredibly well, and I could see that they were polar opposites. Ian was a hard shell with an even harder interior underneath. You could see that he loved his daughter and football, but that was about it. At a bare minimum, he seemed to tolerate me by barking short orders and responses to all my questions.
I studied him sitting across from me as he took the tiniest sip of root beer – more so to appeal to Lily than anything else. He was handsome. His blonde hair was kept short, and his face was dotted with scruff. It was his eyes, a vibrant emerald green, which always seemed to be watching me with such intensity. I had a hard time wondering if he wanted to yell at me or perhaps something else entirely. Not that I needed to be entertaining those thoughts about my employer.
It was all in my head anyway. I was his nanny, and he could literally have any girl he wanted. After his wife’s death, I knew he was tied briefly to a supermodel, but I hadn't heard or read anything recently on that.
“Want to get out of here?” Ian asked after another flash from a camera, drawing me from my thoughts. I followed the two of them, root beer floats in hand, towards a park nearby. It was neatly hidden by a thick line of trees.
I was learning that this was one of the traditions that they shared when Ian wasn't traveling for practice or a game.
Ian put on a dark pair of sunglasses as I took a seat on the bench next to Ian. The park was a bit run down, but Lily ran immediately towards the jungle gym in the middle, clearly no stranger to this one.
We didn’t say much as Ian, and I sat together, but I felt a small jolt when his leg rested briefly against mine. He quickly moved it, and I looked away.
“Do you guys come here often?” I asked.
"Whenever we're in the area." He sighed and rested both of his elbows on the back of the bench. "It's where she found her first rock collection, which spurred her love of them."
"That's really neat," I said, honestly. "It's good that kids have hobbies like that."
“Yeah.” He said. “She’s very artistic. How’d you get into art?”
“It was an escape. My parents fought a lot growing up, and I needed something that would take me to another world.” I said the first words that popped into my head and instantly regretted it. How much did I want to reveal to my employer about who I was and what my background was? “My parents fought a lot growing up.”
“Understandable.” He was quiet for a moment. “Everybody needs something that allows them to escape the moments when the pain of the real world is too much.”
“Is that what football is for you?” I asked, turning towards him. He was looking out towards the park, and with sunglasses on. I didn't have the luxury of getting a read on his expression.
“Something like that.” He ended the conversation firmly. Each day, I was getting more and more tidbits out of him.
“Well, football is lucky to have you.” I took my book out of my bag and took one final glance at him. He was watching Lily on the monkey bars; a smile crossed his face. “And Lily is too.”
“Thank you.” He turned towards me and smiled a big genuine smile. I quickly hid my face in my book, hoping he wouldn’t catch the shade of pink that flushed my cheeks.
Chapter 7
Ian
It was dark out, I was exhausted, and I could barely find the strength to lift my key into the front door. I couldn’t remember the last time I was able to be home for more than a few hours. I was looking forward to this time with Lily.
I was gearing up for a big game against our rivals, and I had been relying on Jenna more than I cared to admit right now.
“Hey.” Jenna was in the kitchen. “Lily’s in bed, looking at a book. I heard you pull up, so I told her that you’d be in, in just a few minutes to say goodnight. I hope that’s okay.”
"Of course." Something weird passed between us, but I quickly shoved it aside as I watched Jenna head to the cabinets, stretching up to grab a glass out of the cabinet. She was wearing a form-fitting white t-shirt, with some faded band logo on it, and black leggings.
I had allowed her to dress casually ever since her first day here. Now, seeing her stretching up with black leggings on that accentuated every curve of her fit body. I was regretting that decision.
She turned around unexpectedly and caught me staring.
“There are no cups in here.” She said, a slight smirk playing on her lips after catching me staring.
“Sorry.” I got up and brushed past her to the cabinet next to it. Her warm skin against mine for even the slightest minute sent an electric jolt up my body. “They’re right here.”
I held a cup out to her, which she took.
“Thank you. Go say goodnight before Lily falls asleep on you."
“Will do.” Shit. My phone started buzzing on the counter.
“It’s your sister.” Jenna looked down at it, and I knew I had a decision to make. "Do you want me to talk to her so you can finish bedtime?"
"You're the best," I told her as I tiptoed towards Lily’s room, only to find her sound asleep; a book lay open in her left hand. It was on the last page. I sat down on a sto
ol that Jenna had likely moved from the dining room into here for me.
I knew this didn’t matter, she was sound asleep, but I whispered the last page of the book to her before giving her a kiss on her forehead and turning out the light.
"How was it?" Jenna was leaning over the counter, but thankfully she was facing towards me and not away this time. God, I could not get control of my thoughts. Although a strenuous practice and workout usually did that for me, this just felt different.
“Good. I read her the last chapter.” I didn’t want to break it to Jenna that in a small way, I had failed as a father yet again. I heard all the whispers -- the comments on how Lily was a sad and deprived child because she lost her mother in a tragic way and her father to a dumb sport.
Then, there were the commenters who said they would have given up on football if they were me and that I treated it as more important than her.
"Hey," Jenna said seriously. “I read a study once about how important being there is for bedtime, even if you miss the other small stuff during the day.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “I don’t know if I believe that.”
We were quiet for a moment until I remembered she had my phone. She seemed to remember at the same time as me.
“Can you catch this from there?” She asked as she prepared to throw it. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"What? I can bring it over otherwise…" She trailed off before interrupting into a fit of giggles. "I am so sorry. I legit forgot who you were for a moment."
Her laugh was infectious, and I found myself joining her in laughing. It wasn’t that it was necessarily funny. It was a relief that for once – someone forgot who I was.
I caught the phone as she tossed it towards me, and I dialed my sister’s number. She answered on the second ring.
“You’re going to kill me.” She said without even a hello.
"Tarryn. You say that to me more than anyone I know, and you're still alive."
"Point taken. But I can't go to the gala with you tomorrow."
“What?” I raised my voice before catching a warning glance from Jenna before she exited to the patio, giving us our privacy.
"I have a very high-profile client who needed a last-minute hair appointment,” she said.
“Oh yeah? Who is that?” I didn’t believe her for one second.
“That’s private information. Anyways, I’m sorry to do this to you on such short notice.”
“Tarryn. I’m the emcee of the event. Do you know how this is going to look if I fly solo?”
“I know.” She suddenly gasped as if she had an idea. “Bring Jenna with you. She's gorgeous, and I'm sure the papa-"
"No," I said firmly as I looked out the window. Jenna was curled up on the wicker chair, her feet tucked neatly underneath her, and her nose back in the book she had been reading. She had ditched the glasses recently, and I had a slinking suspicion that she had worn them the first day as a ploy to look smarter. The wind had picked up outside, and Jenna was struggling to keep her hair from blowing in her face. I suddenly felt protective over her and didn’t want to subject her to the paparazzi and the false rumors that would ultimately fly.
“Plus, what would I do with Lily?” I asked Tarryn apprehensively. I knew by asking that, Tarryn would think that I was considering this ludicrous idea.
"She can hang out at the shop for a little bit, and then, I can watch her when I’m done with my client.”
“Your high-profile client wouldn’t mind that?” I wasn’t buying a word of this.
"Stop it." Tarryn laughed. "Look, I'm sorry. I promise you I didn't plan this, but just bring Jenna. She deserves a night out.”
“Fine.” I begrudgingly found myself agreeing. “But if this ends in disaster, I really will kill you.”
“That hasn’t happened yet -- on either account.” She hung up quickly before I could formulate a response or change my mind.
Jenna closed her book when she saw me slide open the door. I knew I just had to take a deep breath and ask her. When’s the last time I actually asked anyone out? It was just something I didn’t do. And this wasn’t really a date -- was it?
It was a business offer, I told myself. I was a business major in college, and of course, I knew how important it was to keep employees happy. She was an employee, nothing more, and as long as I kept reminding myself of that, we'd be okay.
“Everything okay?” She gave me a smile as I leaned against the railing, suddenly too shy to take a seat directly next to her. It felt as if something had shifted, and I think she realized it also.
“Everything’s fine.” I studied her. “So, look. I've got this thing tomorrow. Um, a gala, and I need a date."
“Okay…” She trailed off and raised her eyebrows.
She really was going to make me say it.
“So, I was wondering if you would like to go with me?”
“Oh.” She was fiddling with her hands now. “Who would watch Lily? Is this a work thing? I don’t have a dress- “
I put my hand up, stopping her from rattling off any more excuses that she likely had on standby. “I can take care of all of those things I just need to know if you’d like a night off of work to come with me.”
She was quiet, and for a moment, I was genuinely nervous she would say no.
"Okay." She finally said. "But I should warn you. I'm terrible at walking in heels."
Chapter 8
Jenna
“You literally look like a princess. A devil princess, but still a princess.” Lily reached out and brushed her hand against the silk fabric of my dress.
“Thank you?” I laughed, unsure if it was a 7-year-old’s version of a compliment. I surveyed myself in the full-length mirror. I had purchased a bright red ruffled dress with a deep plunging v-neck and a high slit. It was bolder, sassier, and more expensive than anything I had ever purchased before in my life. I had texted Ian close to a dozen times — asking if he was sure that the cost wasn’t an issue and promising him, I could return it with the tags still on if it was. He laughed and asked if people seriously did that. It sure showed just how different we both were.
I couldn't believe the person staring back at me was actually me. I looked over at Lily, who started admiring her pink polka-dotted nails when she saw me doing the same. We had gotten them done together, and Lily said it was the most fun she's had ever. It caused something to stir inside of me, but I knew that was just another reminder that I needed to get a hold of my feelings before any of us got hurt. Lily was the number one priority. Even if making sure she was happy and taken care of meant that I had to squash whatever feelings I had brewing inside whenever I looked over at Ian.
He was my employer, and on the surface, this could have looked like a date to anyone else. Or a retelling of Cinderella except I had a fire-red dress, and Ian was a quarterback instead of a prince. Also, I had no idea where he stood.
Whenever I stayed late, and I knew he was sleeping in the room next door, I couldn't help but think how nice it would be to just crawl into his arms as he slept. It was sad that the last man I even kissed was an ex-boyfriend from high school a year ago when I went back home to visit my mom.
My phone buzzed. It was Ian. He was already at the gala, having needed to do a few run-throughs before the event began.
“Hello?” I said.
"Hey. Are you almost ready?" In the background, I could hear what sounded like a live band practicing and the clanging of metal, which likely meant the set-up crew was doing their last preparations. My palms were getting sweaty, picturing how many people would be at the event. All eyes would be on Ian, and naturally, that meant they'd be on me too. A small voice in the back of my head started nagging me. Reminding me that I was nothing more than an imposter in a red dress, and a pity date for Ian since his sister couldn’t attend.
He could have had any girl he wanted to be his date, and yet here I was. I couldn't let myself think that way or build up these visualizations in my head.
That's how people got hurt.
“Jenna?”
“Sorry.” I looked down at Lily and reminded myself of why I was here. "Yes. I’m almost ready.”
“Good because your ride will be there in about half an hour.” He said his goodbyes and hung up right as the doorbell rang.
“I got it!” Lily screamed and jumped up, running towards the door. Luckily, I was still barefoot and able to beat her before she could throw open the door.
"Wait," I instructed her. There was a lot I was still trying to teach her about stranger danger, seeing as how her whole life had been filled with strangers wanting interviews, and so that was her usual.