After a few rings, her phone went to voicemail. I called again, placing the phone on speaker, as I changed into a pair of black jeans, black hoodie, and pulled a pair of field boots out the closet. Again, the phone went to voicemail. This time, I left a message for her to call me back.
“Daddyyy!” EJ yelled out again impatiently.
Walking out of my room, I met Thyri making her way down the hall.
“May I?” she asked, stopping in front of EJ’s door.
“Go head.”
She pushed the door open, and EJ’s head whipped in our direction.
“Hey, EJ,” she greeted.
“Hi, Tyri.” He smiled, showing his small teeth.
He remembered her name. That meant something.
“I hungry.” He rubbed his stomach, making Thyri laugh.
“Her name is Thyri, EJ. Thyri is your new nanny. She’s gonna watch you when Daddy not home.”
“I made you oatmeal,” she said. “You wanna try it out?”
“Yes!” he replied, excited.
“Okay, come on.” She held her hand out to him, and he went to her without hesitation.
I watched from the entryway, as she propped him up in his booster seat at the island and placed a bowl in front of him. I silently prayed that he didn’t vomit. Leaning over the island, she handed him the spoon and a napkin while grinning.
“EJ,” she spoke in a soft tone, “if you don’t like, you can spit it out in this napkin, okay?”
Examining the oatmeal, he nodded feverishly.
Thyri glanced up at me, flashing a quick smile, and crossed her fingers. EJ ate a spoonful, twisted his mouth as he chewed, then took another. We both looked on in silence, me wondering how she’d cracked the oatmeal code and Thyri basking in her first win on her first day.
“It’s good, huh?” She pushed further for confirmation.
EJ gave her a thumbs up and a head nod.
“Looks like Grandma got competition.”
“Nah.” She giggled. “Not competition. Teamwork makes the dream work, remember?”
I smirked and nodded. “That’s what they say. But I gotta make a quick run. Something came up. I’m waiting on the call back from Moms, so she can come and hold him down, while I’m gone.”
“Oh, okay. I can stay until you get back. I can work on dinner, hang with EJ, and put him to bed if you’re back too late.”
“You sure?”
I studied her face, and she flashed a genuine, confident smile. “Positive. My son isn’t home, so EJ will really be keeping mecompany. If you still wanna have your mom come, that’s fine too.”
“Aight. That’ll work. If I’m out too long, I’ll give you a call.”
“Sounds good.”
Walking over to EJ, I ruffled his head. “Daddy be back, aight? You’re gonna stay with Thyri.”
“Okay. I finish, Daddy. More please.” He held up his empty bowl, and Thryi took it from him.
