Page 46 of Power Move

I shrugged. “I don’t know what my situation is, and I am not sure how comfortable my parents will be with you dropping in.”

“Oh, you’re planning on staying… here?”

“Well, my parents are both retired. They can help me. You’ll be busy working. The commute doesn’t make sense.”

His face fell.

“Don’t start with the puppy dog eyes, Davey,” I sighed.

“Eva, I want to be there. I am taking leave.”

“CEOs don’t take leave.”

“Well, my dad fucking did!” Davey’s frustration bubbled.

I took a deep breath, not wanting to fight. His indignation came from a good place.

“You said your dad was involved?—”

“My dad took leave even if he was also available. Don’t ask me how it will work, but we will figure it out. Daphne will be back by then. I can jump in for the big things, but that first month should be all about you recovering and the baby growing. I want to bond. Even if I must sleep on a motherfucking couch, I will do it. I just want to be there.”

He thought this through.

“You say this like it is instinct.”

“I’m the dad, so it is.”

I shrugged.

“Why are you so resistant to believing me?”

“I don’t know you,” I said.

“And?”

“I want to believe you. I want to also believe that you don’t feel the need to buy me or my child off. I don’t need your money.”

Davey groaned. “That’s not why I offer. Think about it this way, Eva. You work a full-time, demanding-ass job. Don’t you want help?”

“You work all the time.”

“So? We hire a nanny.”

“A nanny that works where?” I asked.

“Eva, you need to either hire a nanny or put the child in a center. I don’t want our newborn in a center. The germs alone?—”

“Why are you such a germaphobe?” I asked.

“I had awful childhood asthma and hospitals terrify me.”

“Kids go to the doctor a lot,” I said.

“I am a grown man. I can handle it,” Davey protested. “I want this to work, Eva. I am willing to do what you need, but there need to be some basic assumptions.”

“Go on.”

“You need a place of your own, a car of your own, and we need to hire a nanny,” Davey said. “I don’t have to pay for the first two unless you want me to, but I think that is the point of child support, right?”