Page 6 of Manny Included
“Yeah, I imagine they did.”Bay looked out the window, face stony.
“Okay.Are you hungry?Thirsty?Would you like anything?”
Bay was quiet for a moment, and then he shrugged.“I don’t know.”
“Yeah, me either.”He sighed.“I’m going to put the baby down.I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.I’ll be… here.”
He told himself that the kids’ uncle was exhausted, but he was too.He was shocked and scared and heartbroken.
But it didn’t matter, did it?
The kids needed the adults in their life to fucking adult and deal and make life okay for them.That was the deal.
He was the adult left in these little ones’ lives, so deal he would.
Pete headed back out, checking on the babies as he went.
They were half dozing in front of Brave, so he left them be, finding Bay in almost the same state in the living room.The guy jerked awake as he came in.
“Hey.Flynn go down okay?”
“He did.Do you need…You can go nap more.”
“Thanks, but Will is coming with some stuff for me to sign.I’d like you two to meet.If you ever need me and can’t get in touch, you contact Will and he can help.”
“All right.”Did that mean he was just… on his own with the kids?“How long are you going to be able to stay?”
“I’m looking into what I’d need to do to work from home.Either way, I think we’re going to need extra help.I mean, you can’t be on duty twenty-four-seven, right?I’m sure you’ve already missed some days off you were supposed to have.And I’m not exactly kid-friendly, so to speak.What was your arrangement with Tony and Cindy?”
“I had weekends off, but I know that they need super structure right now, so I can be here for when you need me.”If he could get a nap…
“Would it help to bring in another nanny to spell you off, or do you think that would be detrimental to the kids?I really am clueless when it comes to caring for kids, other than I know they need full time care.I don’t want them growing up to be serial killers because I didn’t do this the right way, you know?But I want to be fair to you, too—and you being on hand all day every day doesn’t seem very fair.”Bay shook his head.“I have a hunch it doesn’t matter how we slice it; we’re never going to find fair.At least not at the moment.”
“No.And I’m fine.I want to be here for them, to support them.”He needed it, even.
“All right.As long as you let me know before you burn out.And I’ll make sure you’re well-compensated.Money isn’t a problem.At all.It’s too bad that money isn’t going to solve the kids’ problems.”Bay ran his hands through his hair again.“But if there’s anything they—or you—need, just let me know.”
“All right.I… thank you.”This was so weird.So wrong.
“Can you show me where the master is?If it’s got enough room, I might be able to use some of it as a home office.I know I’m not great with kids, but I feel like I should be here for them…”
His lips parted, and all he could do was nod.No one had cleaned it out.That didn’t belong to a stranger.That was Tony and Cindy’s room.
Bay’s phone beeped and he looked at it, then stood.“That’s Will.I’ll let him in.”
Pete went to sit with the kids.He couldn’t bear the thought of going to the master suite.
Not yet.
Bay appeared in the doorway to the media room and cleared his throat before asking quietly.“Pete?You wanna come meet Will?”
No.
No, he didn’t want to meet anyone else.
“Of course.”He stood, careful not to dislodge Belle, who was sound asleep.