No answer.
“Flo.”
“I’m sorry, Evan.” Her voice is wobbly.
“Can you please open the door for me, trouble? I don’t like talking to you through a wall.”
After a heartbeat of hesitation, the stall door is pulled back, revealing Flo’s red-rimmed eyes and flushed face. It looks like she stopped crying a few minutes ago, but the after-effects are still there.
“Don’t be upset. Leo’s fine.” I’m reaching for her, but she steps away.
“Why aren’t you mad at me?”
A scoff lingers in my throat. “Now, why would I be mad, Flo? Because Leo tripped and fell while under your watch? He’s done that with me a thousand times; just today, he got unlucky and landed weirdly. It isn’t your fault.”
“I had a responsibility, and I—”
“Did what you were supposed to do. You took my son to the hospital and let me know as soon as the accident happened. I can’t fault you for the way you handled it.”
“He said he loved me, Evan.” She’s in my arms now, breathing in my scent, but my body feels frozen. “I hated seeing him cry like that. He kept asking for you, and I felt helpless because I couldn’t provide the same level of comfort you can and calm him down. I didn’t know what to say or do, but I just kept telling him that you’d be here soon, and I didn’t want him to see me cry, so I slipped out.”
My hands smooth up and down her arms. “You were amazing with him, Flo. You always are, and even though the kid’s independent and pretends he doesn’t need anyone, he’s a Daddy’s boy at heart. It comes alongside not growing up with a woman in his life. Don’t take it as if you're doing something wrong. He’s just still learning to navigate himself around someone who isn’t his dad.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And if he told you that he loved you, I’d say he’s learning pretty quickly.”
I didn’t want my son to fall for Flo, but how could he not? It’s one of the reasons why I never kept nannies around for long, because I didn’t want feelings to creep in through the cracks. I should have swallowed my desire and fired Flo for the sake of my son, but Iwantedher around. Enjoyed having her here. She’s good for both of us. And now my boy loves her.
“I know, I’m sorry.” Flo takes a breath, but then nods down to the contract I’m holding with perplexity. Her expression is silently asking for permission to take a look, and with a stiff hand, I give it to her. I can’t say no to this woman.
Zara’s full name isn’t actually on the contract anyway, so I won’t be in breach. She was too worried that it would be intercepted.
Flo’s gaze falters as she reads over some of the words. “The mother requests that her identity shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed. The mother agrees she intends to have no relationship with the child, effective from the date of issue. The mother waives any right to visitation and involvement with the child.” She pauses. “Evan, what the fuck?”
“The doctors needed the contract to take her off Leo’s records. They called her.”
Her mouth pops. “So she knows about his accident?”
I nod.
“And?”
“Nothing.” While I’m pissed, it wasn’t their fault. They followed the rules.
Flo is even tearier, and she hands the contract back to me and curses with a disgusted scoff. “That’s so… “ It seems she has no words, which was the same reaction I got when my mother and sister read it. “I probably look crazy right now, crying like this.” Flo has mascara smudged under her eyes, and she runs a hand down her cheek and jaw in what appears to be embarrassment, which isn’t something I see often with her.
I wipe her under eyes, and glide my wet, darkened fingers under my own eyes, triggering a confused expression from her.
“What are you doing?”
My shoulders roll in a shrug. “If you cry, I’ll cry with you, Flo.”
She blinks, bottom lip wobbling with disbelief, before she gives a sad laugh and swipes the darkness away from my skin. “How about we both just don't cry?”
“Sure, I like that option better.” I take her hand. “Leo wants us to meet him by the vending machine, by the way. Asked for you specifically.”
Flo’s blues dazzle, and she straightens her shoulders, allowing herself one last sniff. She wets her hands under the faucet and rubs at her skin to eliminate her panda eyes. “Well, then, why are we standing around in a bathroom that smells like shit? Let’s go and get that kid some candy.”
“That’s more like it.”
29: Evan
