Christian considered that for a moment. “When I call her school, I’ll ask to talk to her directly. They’re pretty good at allowing that, given her condition. So, she won’t be blindsided when you show up. Also, if she’s having a hard time, you can remind her of our heart promise. She’ll know what that means. It’s this little heart on her thumb.”
Hallie remembered the matching icon on his hand the day he came over to help with her website. What she’d thought had been a token from a flirty girlfriend had been a sweet way of helping his daughter. How adorable.
“And she likes to chill in my bed sometimes too,” he continued. “I guess the pillows smell like me. It comforts her.”
That made sense. “Heart promise. Pillows. Got it.”
“I’ll call once I’m done, so you know I’m coming home. And if you need anything, please text me. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
Hallie swallowed. “Of course. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”
If only she believed that.
Beads of sweat slid between Hallie’s shoulder blades as she wrestled Isla’s booster seat into the back of her car. She’d attached the first strap to the anchor easily. The second? Not so much.
“Come on,” she groaned, twisting herself into an unnatural angle to push the seat’s claw against the metal anchor. “Go in!”
Installing Will’s infant seat was a lot simpler than this monstrosity. Then again, her nephew’s Graco had two parts, allowing the carrier to be removed during installation. Dealing with the lighter weight made manipulating the base into place much more manageable.
Hallie let out a long grunt and thrust the claw into the spacebetween the two sections of the back seat. The most beautiful sound in the world filled the car: the thwack of the buckle clicking into place.
“Success!” She moved her arms in the only celebration dance possible while crammed into the tight space. “You’re no match for me!”
“Do you need help?” a woman’s voice asked, followed by a series of high-pitched yipping.
Hallie stopped her celebration, warmth rising up her back that had nothing to do with the unexpected workout. Backing out of the car, she poked her head around the door, meeting the curious eyes of a woman in tight leggings and a long-sleeve athletic tee. Her brightly lipsticked mouth twitched in amusement while she ignored the four yorkies straining at their leashes.
Hallie couldn’t ignore them, though. Did everyone in this neighborhood have dogs?
Her chest tightened. Christian’s was waiting to terrorize her when she returned with the girls. She’d been so focused on listening to his instructions on how to help Isla that she’d forgotten all about that major complication.
She kept the open door between herself and the dogs. “I was trying to install these car seats. But I got it. Thanks.”
Hallie turned to open the driver’s side door, willing the woman to leave so she could be on her way. It was already after four, and she wasn’t sure how long it would take the schools to verify her identity and release the girls to her care.
“I’m Carrie, by the way. Carrie Pritchard. I live in that house over there.” She made a grand show of pointing to the immaculate mansion two doors down—the only home on the street free of at least some Halloween decorations.
“Hallie. Nice to meet you.”
“Are you the girls’ new nanny? I haven’t seen you around here before.”
Hallie almost laughed at the idea of her being a nanny to anyone. “Uh, no. I’m just a … friend. Christian is stuck at work, so I told him I’d watch the girls until he got home.”
One of the dogs had broken through Carrie’s hold, lengthening its leash enough to meander around the wall of Hallie’s temporary sanctuary. She sidestepped his attentions.
Carrie pulled on the leash to get the dog back in line. “Well, you can’t blame me for making that mistake. Christian likes to hire theyoungnannies. The last one was barely out of high school. And gorgeous, if you know what I mean.” She wiggled her dark brows.
Something about this woman rubbed Hallie the wrong way. The easy way she gossiped about Christian, and her implication of inappropriate relations with his former employee sent an icky sensation skittering across Hallie’s skin.
“I think she left because of a broken heart.” Carrie gave a smug shrug. “Not that I blame her. I wouldn’t stick around either, given the state of his kids.”
“Excuse me?”
“I thought you’d know, being hisfriendand all.” Carrie gave an exaggerated wink as though she knew exactly what was going on between Hallie and Christian.
How can you when I don’t even know?
Carrie continued in a conversational tone. “Well, if you’re not aware, I guess it’s my obligation to warn you before you get in too deep. You know—” she leaned in closer to Hallie, dropping her voice to a whisper “—woman to woman. That family has problems.”
