Page 8 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

CHAPTER EIGHT

HALLIE

What do I take to meet a client for the first time?

Usually, I have a portfolio and references and all kinds of things, but usually it’s an interview. It seems like this Wilson guy really wants to hire me. And I’m cool with that, as long as he passes my vibe check. Though with Frannie’s endorsement, I don’t know how he could not.

He said to come over around 7:45, so I’m waiting one more minute before walking across the hall.

I’m dressed in my typical summer nannying attire. Relaxed fit thick canvas shorts with a simple V-neck tee. My hair is tucked back in a braid, and I’m ready for whatever the day might bring.

And I’m praying a lot of nausea won’t be a part of that.

But that might be wishful thinking.

I grab one of the ginger hard candies that have become my saving grace and head across the hall.

There are faint footsteps and then heavier ones, and finally the door swings open.

“Hey, thanks for coming over this morning, I’m?—”

“Deck,” I breathe, my heart stuttering as I take in the devil of a man who I was only supposed to have one night with.

One night. And now… oh fuck. Oh fuck .

“Hellion?” he rasps, eyes locked on mine.

“Also known as Hallie,” I chirp.

We stare at each other, eyes wide.

What in the fucking fuck? Of all the places and all the neighbors and all the jobs… Deck?

Here?

My hand almost goes to my stomach.

My baby daddy.

At least I found him?

I open my mouth to speak, but before I can say a word, a little girl flies over, coming to a stop in front of her dad.

She’s beautiful with big green eyes and light brown hair.

“Are you my new nanny?”

I look at Deck, because— what the fuck —am I?

“Ooh, do you know how to braid hair?” she asks, bouncing on her toes.

“I do.”

“Good.” She gives me a big smile. “You’re hired.”

Then she grabs my hand and drags me inside and right past Deck.

Or Wilson?

I don’t know.

I don’t know much of anything right now. I’m so overwhelmed I couldn’t think straight if I wanted to.

“Can you do two braids? One on each side?”

My focus goes to the girl standing beside the couch and staring up at me.

Right. This is why I’m here.

“What’s your name?”

She smiles brightly. “Sophia.”

“That’s a very pretty name. I’m Hallie. And yes, I can do two braids. But I need your help. Can you go get me your hairbrush?”

She nods firmly, then I get up and go to the kitchen, opening a few cabinets until I find the bowls, then I fill one with water. I can feel Deck’s eyes on me as I get back to the living room and take a seat on the couch, but I tune it all out.

If this is an interview, I’m going to prove my worth. Everything else can be dealt with later.

Sophia returns and hands me her hairbrush.

“Here, sit down on the couch in front of me.” I turn sideways on the couch and she sits down in front of me.

After dipping the brush in the water to wet her hair, I part her hair and separate a few strands, then get to work on two Dutch braids. It takes about ten minutes, but she holds still the entire time.

“Okay, ready for the reveal? Do you have a small mirror we can use so you can see the back?”

“Yeah, come on.”

She drags me down the hall to the bathroom, and I try to ignore the roiling in my stomach at the fast movement.

She pulls the mirror out and hands it to me while she gets a stool. Once she’s standing backward on it, I hand her the mirror and her little mouth drops.

“Oh my gosh! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Daddy says his fingers are too big and meaty to do braids. And Nana can’t because of her arthritis. I’ve always wanted someone who could braid my hair like this.”

I gently rub her shoulder. “Well, I’m happy to help.”

She throws her arms around me in a hug, and I hug her back.

This is why I love nannying. The amazing connection I form with the kids I nanny for is like nothing else.

Although I have a feeling the connection with my own child will surpass even that.

“Anything else you need to do to get ready for school?”

“Nope. I ate my breakfast, packed my backpack, and brushed my teeth. I just need shoes.”

“Soph!” Deck calls.

“We better hurry.”

I grab her hand and she jumps off the stool.

She runs over to her dad, and my stomach flips.

Her dad. Who is also my baby’s dad. Which means she’ll be my baby’s sister.

My brain is scrambling all over again.

Deck throws a backpack over his shoulder, and it takes me a second to remember what Frannie said he does. Construction.

Slowly, I make my way to the door instead of standing there awkwardly and staring.

Deck looks at me hesitantly. “We’ll talk this evening?”

I give a quick nod as I follow them out the door. “Yeah. No problem, Mr. Decker.”

He freezes for a second, then makes a strangled noise, and I’m not sure if I want to laugh out of playfulness or at how absurd this all is.

“Bye, Miss Hallie.” Sophia waves as they walk down the hall.

I wave back, smiling as they go. But the second they’re out of sight, the facade falls. And when the door at the bottom of the stairs slams shut, I run upstairs to Frannie’s apartment, praying she hasn’t left for work yet.

I hit the bell at her outer door, and she buzzes me in.

She’s walking across the living room when I throw open her door.

“Hey, how was your meeting with Wilson?” Her brow furrows. “You look frantic. Are you okay?”

“It was an interesting meeting. Of sorts. And okay? I’m not sure what okay is right now.”

“You’re freaking me out. What’s going on?”

“He’s the guy.”

“The guy—what guy?”

I gesture to my stomach. “ The guy.”

Her eyes fly wide. “Oh my god,” she whisper-screeches. “ The guy? But wait, how did you not know? I’ve said his name a billion times!”

“You said Wilson a billion times. And I told you we didn’t do full names. That night he went by?—”

“Decker.”

“Deck, actually, but yes.”

She paces in front of me, then spins to face me again. “Did you tell him?”

“No, I didn’t tell him!”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s one thing to give professional courtesy and tell this stranger that I’m pregnant but it won’t affect my ability to do my job.

It’s another to have a personal rule about never sleeping with the parent of the child I’m nannying, then showing up at their house to find out I already did and I’m pregnant with his baby. ”

“Okay, yeah. That’s not the best.”

“Thank you. Plus, I couldn’t do that in front of his daughter. She seems sweet and wonderful. I’d love to be her nanny. But how? How would any of this work?”

“Maybe instead of her nanny you could be her step mommy.”

My mouth drops open and I give my sister a little shove. “What is wrong with you?”

She laughs. “I’m just saying…”

“Well, don’t. We’re so not going there.” Even if he’s hot as sin and I’d love to take another spin on that ride. But no. Nope. Not an option. Especially if I work for him.

“Okay, well, do you want to be Sophia’s nanny?”

“Yes. It’s literally across the hall. Sophia seems awesome. I think it could be a great fit for me. Minus one particular complication.”

“When do you think you’ll tell him?”

“He said we’ll talk tonight. If he wants to do this… maybe I’ll work through a contract first. Then I can tell him so he doesn’t get weird about how he’d pay me or anything else.”

Frannie stares at me for a moment. “Will you be able to work with him? With your history and now your present?”

I rest my hand on my stomach. “If he’s anything like the father he seems to be, I’m going to need to work with him one way or another. And this baby is Sophia’s sibling. Even if it makes things weird at first, this could be a great fit for both of us.”

Frannie pulls me in for a hug. “Then I hope it works out for you.”

“Me too.”

Frannie kept me for tea, then she had to get back to work. She’s been working from home more lately since a lot of what she does working for CPS she doesn’t have to be in the office for.

When I get to my room, I flop onto my bed, then pull Veranda into my arms. Who knew a floppy gray bunny could hold so much meaning to me?

My eyes flit to the half heart necklace hanging on a small nail on my mirror.

What are the chances of Deck being the guy I’m supposed to nanny for? What were the chances of us randomly meeting that night at McGills?

What if none of it was random?

I immediately chastise myself for that thought, but it’s impossible to deny. How coincidental is life?

Were we meant to find each other again?

I don’t like the feeling in my heart when I think that.

A silly little flutter that wants to cling to the romantic idea of soul mates and fate.

It’s a feeling I instantly want to squash.

But that feeling is tied to my baby too. So I can’t squash it.

Instead, I tuck it away in a box and try to ignore it.

Then I grab my phone and make a group message with Justin, Jade, Brian, and Hardy.

Me: So, remember that guy from McGills after the Metros game? Funny story…