I smiled at them gratefully. “Thank you both for doing this. I promise I’ll find a nanny soon.”
My grandmothers loved their store, Fragrant Delights. Having them spend their time here wasn’t fair to them.
“We can work out a system until then,” Isabeau said carefully. “So, take your time with finding the right person.”
“I intend to do just that. Charlotte is a little fussy, and I want someone who is patient and will love her like I do.”
The grans exchanged a strange look. “Well, Beckett, you know what youreallyneed,” Celine said.
“I highly recommend the nanny agency I’m using,” Chad cut in. “Simone loves hers, and we’re very happy with her too.”
“Thanks. Text me the information, and I’ll give them a call.”
Chad opened his mouth and closed it again. Judging by the look in his eyes, he was probably going to make fun of me and thought better of it. Why did he change his mind? Because the grandmothers were here? That had never stopped him or any of my brothers before.
“If you give me a few minutes, I’ll change, and then we can go into the office.”
“Sure,” Chad said. “Bella, do you want to come with us and stay with Scarlett while she works in the kitchen?” Bella’s stepmom was the chef at LeBlanc-Broussard, located on the first floor of our building.
Bella looked straight at me. “Uncle Beckett, do you think I can stay here and help the grandmothers?”
I nodded. “Of course, if you don’t think you’ll be bored. Thank you, Bella. That’s very considerate.”
“But Uncle, she’s my cousin. It’s important that I help take care of her.”
I couldn’t love my niece any more than I did in that moment.
“Right. I’ll show you all where everything is and how to use the bottle maker.”
As I headed into the kitchen, Bella was at my side with the grandmothers right behind. It was great that my niece was staying here with them, because the bottle maker wasn’t very user-friendly, but between the three of them, they should be able to figure it out. Of course, I reminded them that they could always call me.
“Uncle Beckett? Dad said he can give you lots of advice because he took care of me when I was little,” Bella said.
I nodded. “That’s right.” I remembered that time as if through a haze.
I’d been in high school when Bella was born. Chad divorced his then-wife a few years later. The whole family had rallied around him and Bella. My brother had done a great job as a single dad, and I planned to follow in his footsteps.
After I showed Isabeau, Celine, and Bella everything, it was time to introduce them to Charlotte. I opened the door to the nursery and held a finger over my lips for them to keep silent.
Chad was with us too. Watching the family look at my daughter with so much affection was more than I could’ve hoped for. I was going to be a good father to Charlotte. I was determined.
Chad and I arrived at the office half an hour later.
Hillary looked relieved to see me. “Beckett. Excellent. You’re finally here, although almost an hour late. She’s in the meeting room.”
I frowned. “Who’s ‘she’? I have a meeting already?”
“Yes, I put it on your calendar last night.” She winced. “Crap. You probably didn’t look at it, did you?”
“No,” I admitted.
In the past, that would never happen. I wasn’t a workaholic, but I always checked my calendar in the evening. “That’s okay. What’s the meeting about?”
“It’s a pitch from a marketing agency. MarketingPros.”
I stared at Hillary. “But we agreed not to schedule any more appointments with agencies. I told you that I’d heard enough.” I tried to keep my tone level. I didn’t want to be too stern with her after she’d literally saved my ass by stocking my place with baby things.
“I know, I know. But this one was very insistent.” She lowered her voice. “I thought I’d never get rid of her unless I changed my phone number.”
