Page 12 of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

‘Thanks, Noah.’

‘My pleasure.’ Noah peeked around Archer’s shoulder. ‘Hey, Iris. What are you doing here?’

Archer should have figured they would know each other. Everyone in this town knew one another. It was unsettling.

‘Hi, Noah. I’m uh…’ She glanced at Archer and back up at Olive. She was probably calculating how difficult this job was going to be. He was sure a mute runaway was more than she’d bargained for. ‘I’m interviewing for the position of nanny.’

‘Wow, Olive. You hear that?’ Noah tapped the little girl’s leg where it dangled over his shoulder. ‘Iris might be your nanny. That’d be cool. Iris is very cool.’

Iris smiled. ‘Hey Olive.’ She waved, but Olive continued her stare, tilting her head to the side as though she was considering the idea of Iris. Archer wondered what his daughter thought of her. That should matter, right? He shouldn’t hire someone the little girl didn’t like.

‘What does a nanny do?’ Olive asked, and the sound of her voice froze every muscle in Archer’s body. He didn’t blink. He didn’t breathe for fear that she would remember he was there and clam up again.

Iris shrugged. ‘I figure we’ll just hang out together. Maybe go to some fun places. You can drive, right?’

Olive shook her head, the giggle he’d heard earlier returning. His heart was uncomfortable in his chest like it was too big to fit anymore.

‘I’m too little to drive.’

Iris frowned like she didn’t believe it and Archer had to bite down on his own smile. ‘Are you sure? You have to be about six-foot five at least.’ Iris gestured to her up on her perch and Olive laughed again.

‘I’m on Noah’s shoulders!’ She patted the man on his head and Noah grinned.

‘Oh! You’re right. Sorry, my mistake. I guess I will drive us to the fun places.’

‘What kind of places?’

‘Do you like to swim?’

‘I don’t know how to swim.’

‘Then I’ll teach you.’

Archer was about to cut in that they’d hadn’t agreed on swimming lessons, but Olive’s face lit up at the suggestion and his heart just about gave out at the sight. Iris could teach her to sky dive if it made Olive look like that.

‘You will?!’

‘Sure. Oh. I mean, if your dad says it’s okay.’ Iris glanced back at him for the first time since this interaction began and it was like the fun went out of the party.

Olive’s smile slipped.

Archer cleared his throat. ‘I’m sure we can figure something out.’

Iris looked back up at Olive with a grin. ‘That’s dad talk for: if you ask enough times, I will totally give in and let you do it,’ she said with a wink and Olive’s eyes widened.

‘Why don’t we go back inside and discuss it, okay?’ Archer asked and Olive nodded, which, frankly, felt like progress.

Noah lowered her to the ground and Archer decided not to feel jealous when she gave him a big squeeze of a hug goodbye.

‘Come on, kid. Let’s get to know each other.’ Iris started back down the driveway and Olive followed. And just seeing them walking away together, side by side, so naturally, Archer knew she was hired. Hopefully, she still wanted to be.

‘Thanks again, Noah. Sorry she keeps turning up here.’

‘We don’t mind at all,’ he said with a grin. ‘Sorry she keeps scaring the shit out of you.’

Archer blew out a long sigh and Noah patted his arm.

‘You’re doing the best you can. She’ll get used to things soon.’