Page 74 of The Accidental Nanny

“Then why end it?” he asks.

I look into my coffee cup before I answer, “I didn’t tell her the truth.”

"She must care about you still," he says as he drains his cup.

“Yeah, she does.” I care just as much about her. We continue our small talk, and he waits for me to finish my drink.

"Well, thanks for the company." We both get up to leave. Opening the door, I see her car spinning off in the distance.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Alex

It was the first day back at school after the Easter break. Returning to a routine was proving hard.

“Come on, we’ll be late,” I urge the children as I wait. I hold their school bags as they argue about who is sitting in the front.

“Eden, back. Ace, front. I’ll move the car seats later.” I do not have time for this.

I lock the door as we get into my Volvo. The car I bought for Gemma is still sitting on the drive, untouched. I can't bring myself to sell it. In a way, it's like holding onto a piece of her. Eden started sleeping in my bed again as soon as Gemma vacated it. Ace was faring better, but then, he had the rabbits to focus on.

We turn up at school and nobody is there.

“Daddy, why are we the only ones here?” Eden asks as we stand at the closed gate.

“Erm, hang on.” I open my phone and go to the school calendar. Teacher training day, of course.

“Change of plan. You’re coming to work with me,” I say, taking their hands and leading them back to the car.

Ace pulls back. “Not in my school uniform,” he argues.

I sigh. “Come on, Ace. I’ve got spare clothes in the car. You can get dressed in my office.”

“Workday with Daddy, yay,” Eden chants over and over again.

I get them back into the car and buckle them in. Fern is going to hate me, but she’ll have to watch them while I work.

“Fern.” The children are excited to see her.

“What are you monsters doing here?” She’s confused.

“Eggs for eyes or eyes for eggs?” Eden giggles.

“Neither,” Fern answers. “imagine eating your eyes.” They both laugh.

“Can you watch them? I’ll be two hours.” They follow me, getting dressed in my office.

“What’s these eggs for eyes thing?” I ask Eden.

“It’s a game Wesley played with us,” Ace replies for her.

Who the hell is Wesley?

“And he is?”

“Fern’s brother. He’s funny. He’s got big muscles,” he tells me.

“Big muscles?”