Her gaze flitted from me to the tiny newt, lingering on the delicate movement of his legs as he blinked up at her. Slowly, she nodded. I could see the understanding dawning, even if it came wrapped in reluctance.
Together, we carried him to the back door. Sadie stayed close, still holding him with care, and I guided her hands over mine when the little guy wriggled.
“That’s it,” I said. “You’re doing great, honey.”
Outside, sunlight hit his smooth back as she lowered him to the ground. Sadie let out a quiet breath, her shoulders easing. “Bye, Winston,” she whispered. “You’re my best friend.”
I wrapped an arm lightly around her shoulder. “Good job. You helped him go back to his family. That’s a big deal.”
“My heart hurts,” she sniffled, and I held her tighter.
I looked up, and saw that Ethan had been watching us this whole time. Leaning against the porch railing, quiet, assessing, a slight sign of approval lifting the corners of his mouth. A warmth spread through my chest that made the craziness of the morning dissolve into the background. Taking space up front was the idea that I could actually handle this job.
That I might actually end up enjoying it.
7
Maren
I gripped the wheel a little tighter as Emma’s rapid-fire questions bounced off the dashboard. “Why are you driving Uncle Ethan’s car?” she asked, leaning forward from the backseat.
“I thought you’d prefer it to the school bus,” I said, smiling at her through the rearview mirror.
Sadie, safely buckled in her car seat, hummed along to the radio, while Will, of course, had his nose glued to his video game.
Emma wasn’t done. “Do you like being a nanny?”
The jury was still out on that one. The attractive pay check didn’t hurt. Or the attractive boss. But I couldn’t tell her that.
“I love kids,” I answered honestly.
This satisfied her for only three seconds before she came back with, “How do you know Uncle Ethan? Why weren’t you here last year when we came to visit over the summer? Are you married?”
“Emma!” I said a little sharply, keeping both hands on the wheel as I navigated a narrow turn. “One question at a time, okay?”
She pressed her lips together, but her curious eyes sparkled, clearly waiting for the next opening. Will muttered something under his breath, and Sadie sang louder to cover it up. I was usedto managing classes with five times as many kids, but this was different. This was full-time and never-ending.
Finally, I pulled into the lot at Copley Place, one of the fanciest corners of Back Bay. The kind of place where even the polished marble floors and gleaming storefronts made you feel like you’d stepped into a magazine spread. Liv and I would venture out here when we wanted to feel rich and beautiful. Armed with Ethan’s credit card, I figured it’d be a good after-school stop for the kids.
“Yay!” Sadie cheered. Emma practically launched herself out of the car, eyes wide. Will stayed put for a beat, glancing at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Come on,” I said, holding his door open. “Ditch the video games for a little fun.”
He looked unsure. “We’re supposed to go straight home after school.”
“Sometimes detours make the best adventures,” I said, and gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
The girls were talking at the same time about what they wanted to do first, and when the topic of ‘ice-cream’ entered the chat, Will’s ears perked up.
“Okay, but I have homework,” he said, slipping the Switch into the pocket behind the seat.
“We’ll be home with plenty of time for homework. I promise.”
The doors swung open, and we were instantly swallowed up by that weird pocket of space and time in which malls seemed to exist. Air too cool, lights too bright, and the faint undercurrent of music and footsteps that blended together to make everything feel not quite real. Like the outside world paused in place while we weren’t looking.
The girls were ready to make a run for it in opposite directions, but I gripped their hands tightly as I steered them toward the atrium. Thankfully, Will was old enough to stay close all on his own.
“There’s something I want to show you guys,” I said, ignoring the debate for which should come first—cinnamon donuts or ice-cream.
