Page 44 of Worst Nanny Ever (Babes of Brewing #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

TRAVIS

Conversation with Karen

Travis, your nanny is fucking crazy

She threatened me

You need to fire her and get a restraining order

Let’s meet up and talk

Conversation with Hannah

I hear you made friends with Karen?

Look. I’m sorry, but she was hanging out with that nanny who bad-mouthed you. The whole situation stank. So Eugene and I decided to follow them.

You roped Eugene into this?

He was a willing participant.

Turns out Karen’s the one who told Rachel about your dad, but we don’t think either of them is the snitch.

And, fine, I told Karen to stop coming to your shows.

Are you pissed?

You claimed me, Hannah?

I guess I did.

No, I’m not pissed.

Karen is definitely pissed.

Good.

Were you jealous?

I’m not telling you that until you admit you’re jealous of Jonah.

I’m not jealous of Jonah. I’d like to crush him. There’s a difference.

So, maybe I wanted to crush Karen.

Good. But we probably shouldn’t crush either of them. Liability and all that.

Buzzkill.

I’m sending him a glitter bomb, though.

I’ve created a monster.

[Monster emoji]

Guess what? I gave Eugene a mini makeover, and we’re heading over to Big Catch so I can make sure the other kids play nice with him.

Tell him his friend Dottie says hello.

Dottie’s over there?!

I didn’t even give her my number, but I guess Rob did. She texted me half a dozen times asking if she could come over to hide some crystals, so I finally caved.

Sounds like her.

She said it’s going to take ‘several hours.’ Ollie is surprisingly into it.

Conversation with Karen

I’m giving Hannah a raise

“The house already feels more serene,” Dottie says, patting my hand. “The energy is exactly what it should be.”

I smile at her, wishing it were true rather than believing it might be. “Thanks, Dottie.”

“Can we make cookies?” Ollie asks, practically bouncing on his feet.

It’s hard to believe he’s the same kid who wrote mathematical equations on the wall to get a rise out of me. I’m starting to realize that he may have just needed more people in his court.

I think I did too.

It’s been a real up-and-down day. A surprisingly good one, though. I’m glad Dottie came around. I don’t even mind the basket full of crystals she brought with her. Hell, I helped her and Ollie “strategically place them,” although that wasn’t something I’d care to admit to Hannah. Or to Rob.

And then I got that text from Karen .

The thought of Hannah laying claim to me got my blood hot. It made me want to do the same.

Soon , I promise myself. I’ve already posted a few ads for nannies, using different sites than last time. Unfortunately, the only response I’ve gotten so far is this comment: We don’t forget. Justice for Rachel! So it’s not off to a great start.

“Why don’t you go have a little lie-down, dear?” Dottie suggests to me. “You look tired. Ollie and I will make some cookies, read some tea leaves, and then maybe we’ll draw our spirit animals. Mine is a llama.”

“I think mine’s a fox,” Ollie says, doing his little happy dance again.

“Just don’t turn him into one, and I have no objection,” I joke.

Ollie shocks me by throwing his arms around my middle and hugging me. “Today was a good day.”

I wrap my arms around him, feeling choked up. “Yeah, buddy, it really was.”

Other than the off-and-on headache from my hangover.

“And you’re on the path to great things,” Dottie say to me meaningfully. Glancing down at Ollie, she adds, “Can I have just a second alone with your dad, sweet boy?”

“Sure,” he says with a shrug and heads toward the kitchen.

Dottie pats my arm, giving me a serious look. “I want you to know that I’m here to support your love journey.”

I cough. “Excuse me?”

“You probably don’t get much time alone with Hannah, but I would always be delighted to spend time with little Ollie.

I know for a fact that Sophie and Rob feel the same way, and I have other friends who would be thrilled to volunteer their time.

I also have a few great-grandchildren his age who would love to play with him. You have a village, my dear. ”

My heart swells at this confirmation of what I was feeling earlier. We’re not alone anymore. Maybe we never were, and there were always people ready to step in, waiting for me to let them.

“Thank you. I appreciate that, Dottie.” I pause. “How did you know I’m interested in Hannah?”

No point in denying it.

She laughs. “It’s clear from the way you look at her, my dear, and in your aura when you speak to her. My goodness, I could tell weeks ago, when you were both in my tea shop.”

“I don’t think we should date while she’s working for me. It feels…wrong.”

“Oh, poppycock,” she says, surprising me. “I worked for Beau Buchanan for years while we were together, and it was the loveliest partnership imaginable.”

I pause, trying to pinpoint what my holdup is. “But I don’t want to pay her for looking after Ollie. I want…”

My chest tightens as I consider what I really want. What I’ve been afraid to put into words, even in my own head.

I want the three of us to be together because we all want to be there, not because there’s money on the table. I want her to be…

Fuck, I’ve only known her a few months, and I’ve only known her well for two weeks. I can’t already be thinking…

But I am. I’m thinking about the three of us sharing holidays and birthdays. Celebrating with party poppers and glitter bombs that will make an unholy mess. I’ll complain about them, of course, while secretly loving the way those things make both of them smile.

I heave a deep breath. “I don’t know,” I hedge.

“I do,” Dottie says with glimmering eyes that say she’s seen everything passing through my head, the snapshots of the life I want. The life that feels too far away to touch. “And maybe you’re so focused on the problems, dear boy, that you’re missing the solution sitting before you.”

“You?” I ask.

She laughs, then pats her chest. “It’s in you .”

That sounds more like verbal gymnastics than an actual answer, but she’s so earnest it’s impossible not to like her. I’m touched that she cares enough to try to help me. My mother wasn’t an affectionate woman, and Nanny Grace was practical and no-nonsense. Caring but hardly warm and fuzzy.

Dottie reaches into her pocket and pulls out yet another crystal. “This one is for you. It’s for letting love back into your life. I’ve been holding onto it awhile, but I can tell you’re ready for it now.”

Another crystal? She must have spent a fortune on the ones she’s seeded throughout the house. Still, I’m grateful when I take it from her. Because she’s saying she believes in me. She thinks I’m capable of being the kind of man Hannah and Ollie deserve.

“Thank you, Dottie. You seem to take everyone you meet under your wing. Hannah’s a bit like that.” I run my fingers over the crystal. “I’m surprised you don’t run out of space.”

“Oh, dear, here’s the secret. You just grow bigger wings.”

Then she taps me once on the arm, almost like she’s casting a magic spell, and maybe she actually is. Because as she strides out of the room, I feel remarkably energized.

Instead of taking a nap, I place a few special orders for Hannah on my phone and then head into the music room and pick up my guitar to practice “Blue River.” While I’m playing, I let my mind drift, and it naturally lands on Hannah and the problems before us.

I want to be with her, and she maybe wants to be with me, but it won’t feel right if it happens while she’s working with me, and I haven’t been able to find another nanny Ollie likes.

Dottie said my solution was right in front of me. In me…

Maybe it’s the music, or maybe Dottie really did cast a spell on me—either way, I suddenly know what I need to do. And it feels like magic.

When I emerge from the music room, the house smells like cookies. I follow the sweet scent to the kitchen, where Ollie and Dottie are smiling together as they sample the cookies.

“Want one?” Ollie asks, grinning at me. “They’re maple spice. Dottie says they’re full of love and they really taste like it. I already ate five.”

“Then I’d better take at least two,” I say with a smile, wrapping them in a napkin.

“Are you on your way out?” Dottie asks with a meaningful look.

I don’t ask how she knows. She may not be clairvoyant, but she’s definitely intuitive, a person who sees beneath the seething surface.

“Yeah, if that’s okay. I was wondering if you could stay for another hour or so.”

“Of course,” she says, acting like I’m honoring her by asking. “I was hoping to tell Ollie a story before bed.” Her smile broadens. “Do say hello to Hannah and dear Eugene for me. Liam too.”

“Of course,” I say with a smile, not all that surprised that she guessed where I’m going.

“Are you giving Hannah one of those cookies?” Ollie asks, looking delighted by the idea.

“I am,” I confirm.

When I get to Big Catch, the guy manning the host stand says, “Heyyy, it’s Drummer Boy.” He’s wearing a beanie over his dark curly hair and has a name tag that says, I’m [ink smeared] , ask me about Dungeons and Dragons!

I smile and nod, at a disadvantage, because I honestly don’t remember him.

Maybe I should be embarrassed about getting so drunk last night—I don’t usually let myself overindulge like that—but I’m sick of beating myself up over things I can’t change.

I came here last night, got tanked, and that’s that. No need to dwell on it.

“Good to see you again,” I say with a nod.

“How’s your head, man?”

“It’s been better. Is Hannah here?”

“Yes!” he says, beaming. “And she brought Spreadsheet. You won’t believe it when you see him, man. They’re in the back. I’ll take you there.”

He promises the group people in line behind me that he’ll be right back, then walks at a completely unhurried pace past the familiar tables and booths, including the kayak booth.

I vaguely remember trying to climb into one of the kayaks last night, which is another thing I’m determined not to be embarrassed about.