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She rolled her eyes.

Valentino arched an eyebrow.

Norah grinned.

Andreas sighed.

Yeah, whatever this is, it’s going to be a hell of a ride.

Chapter21

Phillip

“I don’t understand.”Raphael put their hands on their hips.

Inwardly, I sighed.Outwardly, I smiled.“Your grandmother is in the hospital.Your mom went to help her and to watch over your grandfather.Your mother tried reaching Uncle Jeremy, but she couldn’t.So she asked me to pick you up from school and to stay with you and Thaddeus while she’s at the hospital.”

We’d been over this three times.While Marcie had given me the quick rundown on what to expect when I threw Raphael’s routine into chaos, she’d neglected to mention this.It had, however, been addressed in one of the eighteen articles I’d read from a reputable website while Thaddeus napped and before we went to pick Raphael up from all-day kindergarten.

I worried about watching the kids—seeing as I had very little experience.

Marcie was apoplectic with panic over her mother, and while she tried to think of someone else she could call, I was standing right there.She asked, and I agreed.

I wasn’t a stranger to the nibblets.We’d met several times now, and I was, technically, staying with them.At least until Jeremy gets back.I also had Anthony on speed dial.And since Colin and James were trying to qualify to become foster parents, I figured they’d know about kids.Oh, and Colin had mentioned having a couple of nibblets in the form of Hallie and Thomas.Those two were the kids of James’s brother Danny and, apparently, visited Colin’s home frequently.

So I had plenty of backup if things went sideways.

Just…proving myself capable and worthy was important.I wanted Marcie—and by extension, Jeremy—to see me as competent.

“Your mom said we could play in the backyard with Wally.”

“I want to walk Wally.”

“We could hook Wally up to his leash and walk him around the backyard.”

“I want to go to the park.”

“Okay.But I can’t watch you, Thaddeus, and Wally.”That might not have been strictly true, but I wasn’t willing to test that theory my first time out.

“I can watch Wally.”

“In the backyard.”

They put their hands on their hips again.

Inwardly, I sighed again.Outwardly, I remained stoic.If Marcus Aurelius could do it, then so could I.“Your mom said we could have ham sandwiches for dinner.She said you could even skip the lettuce—just this once.”

“I want grilled cheese.”

“That sounds lovely.But we’re sticking to meals that don’t require cooking.Just for tonight.”Even I could manage grilled cheese, but I wasn’t one hundred percent certain I wouldn’t have little ones underfoot.How do parents do this?

“I’m hungry.”Thaddeus appeared at the door, loyal Wally by his feet.

“Okay, kiddo.Can you close the back door?Ham okay?”

“I want grilled cheese.”Raphael glared.“We always have grilled cheese on Wednesdays.”

Which Marcie hadn’t mentioned—but she’d been beyond stressed.