Miles couldn’t help it.He was staring at them, grinning.Neither noticed.
“Yeah!”Annie laughed.“It’s chaos!”
He hadn’t really looked at Annie before.She had kind, blue-grey eyes, her laugh reaching the corners.Wisps of brown hair escaped her ponytail and framed the soft features of her face.She had delicate, smooth skin and full, red lips.She was pretty, in a very real, no-frills sort of way.
Her hands worked quickly and gently, physically showing Bella everything: how to change a diaper, how to deal with the kicking legs of a two-year-old, how to change the shirt of a feisty toddler.
Bella dutifully followed her lead, stopping suddenly at the sound of toddler shrieks, the relief on her face palpable when Annie stepped in to guide her.
Bella was doing her best, and she was doing it well.She was lucky to have found such a kind teacher.
Maybe Miles had judged Annie too harshly.She didn’t seem like a billboard chaser.She hadn’t thrust any headshots at him.She hadn’t told him any strange puns.
She was a woman living with her two kids and elderly mom, treating Bella with the utmost respect.
He looked up and saw Margie staring at him.
“Thanks for introducing us,” Miles said.“This is exactly what Bella needed.”
“It’s exactly what Annie and Clara needed, too,” Margie said.“Do you think you’ll be able to get it all done in time?”
He nodded.“I’ll make a trip to the mainland to get the handrail, but otherwise, yeah, everything else I can get locally.”
“Wonderful.Now, help me set the table.”
Enough time gazing at his daughter.No matter how long he stared, she kept growing up.
He stood, startled by his own rudeness.“Of course.”
Eight
She couldn’t have offended Miles too badly, because after taking notes on the improvements they needed, he said he’d be back the next day.
Just before they left, Leon accidentally headbutted Bella in the chin.Annie half expected to never hear from her again either, but at eight the next morning, Bella appeared on Annie’s doorstep with a drink in each hand.
“I brought coffee,” Bella said, a tentative smile on her face.“Margie told me moms of young kids always need coffee.”
Annie grinned, accepting the cup.“Margie was right.Come on in.”
The twins had been up since five.Annie was due for her second cup of coffee.
“Let me give you some money for this,” Annie said, rushing to get her purse.
“No, please, it’s my treat,” Bella said.“I had so much fun yesterday, and I feel so lucky that you trust me with Noel and Leon.”
Annie frowned.She would slip the money into Bella’s purse later.If Bella even had a purse.What was it kids had these days, fanny packs?
“You are too sweet,” Annie said, leading her in.“You know, I loved babysitting when I was your age.”
“I got the idea from my mom’s old books.She had this huge box of Babysitters Club books, and Ilovethem.I made all my friends read them.Now we’re determined to run a babysitters club of our own.”
Annie blinked at her.“The Babysitters Club books?I loved those growing up!I can’t believe kids are still reading them.That’s wonderful.”
“See, and they say today’s youth is rotting their brains with screens.Not me,” Bella said solemnly, “I am reading thirty-year-old paperbacks and getting ideas.”
A laugh burst out of Annie.“Not you, indeed.”
Bella impressed her more and more.She was a delightful teenager.They spent the morning wrangling the kids – playing with toys, making snacks, and even getting them outside.Bella’s skill in getting a coat and shoes and hat onto an escaping two-year-old had appeared overnight.
