I nod. “I plan to set that up for her, but I don’t only want strangers taking care of her. I was thinking of asking my mom to help. They get along really well, and that would keep Lorraine from having to stay in an inpatient facility for rehab.”
Jordie leans back against the counter. “That sounds like a good idea if your mom agrees.”
“She will,” I say with confidence. “The only problem is Mom is my backup babysitter. I’ll have to hire someone till Lorraine gets back on her feet, but I hate having to do that. Last time I did nanny interviews it was a nightmare, and I almost pulled myself bald.”
Two curved lines appear between Jordie’s eyebrows. “When is the surgery?”
“Late December. She wants to get it done by the end of the year because she already has her deductible paid. I told her not to worry about that because I would take care of it, but I also don’t want her to put it off any longer and be in pain.” My eyebrows inch together. “I guess I could take off work while Lorraine is recovering. Maybe work from home a bit?”
“Or I could watch Reece,” Jordie offers, dropping her gaze to the floor before lifting it back to my face. “If that’s not overstepping.” Her teeth worry her bottom lip as my mouth gapes open.
“You would do that? Don’t you want a break after your season is over?”
Her soft chuckle is music to my ears. “Trust me, not getting plowed over in practice every day would be a break.”
I run a hand over the top of my head, my mind wrapping around the possibility. I can’t find a single problem with the suggestion.
“If you don’t want me to, I understand,” Jordie adds quickly.
Shaking my head, I say, “No, I think it would be perfect. It would help me out with my situation, and Reece could get to know you better.” I step closer and run my hands down her arms. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
With a shake of her head, she winds her arms around my neck. “I want to do it.”
I drop my hands to her waist and grin. “And I want to doyou.”
For the rest of the weekend, we do each other. Many, many times.
“Did you have fun with Nana?” I ask my daughter. It’s Sunday evening, and I just picked her up from my mother’s house.
“So much fun,” she chirps from the backseat. “What are we having for dinner? I’m hungry.”
“Spaghetti and meatballs,” I reply. “And I have a surprise for you when we get home.”
“Is it a real dragon?”
I laugh. My kid has been obsessed with dragons for a couple years. “Not a real dragon, but it’s the next best thing.”
We’d parked Jordie’s truck in my garage, and Reece spots it as soon as we pull in. “Is that Jordie’s truck?” Her voice is so high pitched with excitement, I’m surprised it’s even audible to the human ear.
“Why don’t you come in and see?”
As soon as I get my kiddo out of the vehicle, she barrels into the house and directly into her favorite person’s legs, almost knocking her over. I follow with her suitcase.
“Whoa, watch out there, little linebacker,” Jordie says, setting down the spoon she was using to stir the sauce so she can lift my daughter into her arms. “Did you have fun this weekend?”
Reece nods and tries to stifle a yawn. “I ate the biggest caramel apple ever and saw a movie about the ocean on a ginormous screen.”
“That sounds awesome. Are you tired?”
My daughter lies her ass off and shakes her head, even as another yawn stretches her mouth wide. “Nope, just hungry.”
We settle around the table in the informal dining room for spaghetti, meatballs, and garlic bread.
“This is really yummy, Jordie,” Reece says, beaming up at the woman who’s slowly capturing my heart.
“It is,” I agree, twirling the pasta around my fork.
By the time the meal is over, my daughter has yawned four more times. Wiping my mouth with my napkin, I say, “Reecie, why don’t we get you ready for bed?”
