She and AJ had moved into a home she’d bought that they were renovating.
“Okay, well, you just rest?—”
“No, why were you calling? Is it Tab? Did you need?—”
“I know you usually have Mondays off, but I have to be in Silicon Valley this Monday, and I was wondering?—”
“Oh, Monday I was going to do that reflexology course, but I can see if I can?—”
“No, no, don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind reschedul?—”
“Absolutely not. We’ll see you Tuesday.”
“Deacon, I can?—”
“Honestly, Poppy, don’t worry about it. I’ve got it covered. Just rest.” He projected a calm he didn’t feel inside as his mind raced to figure out who to ask.
He hung up the phone and stared at it. He had Liam and Frankie he could call. Tabby loved Frankie, but she wasn’t as close to her as she was to Poppy. Tabby had so much fun at Phoebe’s house for the sleepover, but their family was on vacation this week. He could ask his other sisters, Lina or Pippa, Tabby wasn’t as close to them.
“Mr. St. Claire?—”
“Deacon,” he corrected her as he glanced over his shoulder. Hehatedbeing called Mr. St. Claire.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. If you’re looking for someone on Monday, we have a teacher in-service day, and I’m available.”
“Really?” Holy shit. That was amazing.
“You’re coming over again?” Tabby hopped up and down in her chair.
“Maybe.” Blake looked back at Deacon hopefully.
He knew he paid well for babysitting, so that could contribute to Blake’s enthusiasm for another chance to sit with Tabby, but from her references and what he’d witnessed personally, shelovedkids. And it was obvious from the interactions he’d seen that they loved her back, especially Tabby.
He’d also looked at her volunteer profile in We-C-U. She had a nearly perfect feedback score. Every time there was a We-C-U interaction, there was a mandatory follow-up feedback questionnaire, and Blake not only had almost all ten out of ten, but people always wrote glowing comments about her. He wanted,sobadly, to share themwith Jenna, but they were strictly confidential. Also, how would he explain having access to those files?
Blake tilted her head, her lips curled in a hopeful grin, and Tabby was beside her doing the exact same thing. It wasn’t the first time he noticed Tabby copying her mannerisms. After she left from interviewing her for her article, Tabby had picked up a few of her phrases, she kept telling Rocco, “We love a self-aware king,” whatever that meant. And she told Deacon,it’s giving boring,when he told her they were having lasagna for dinner again.
Honestly, if she was going to mimic or mirror anyone, Deacon was happy it was Blake. She was a bright girl, treated people with respect, and saw the world exactly how he was hoping to raise Tabby to see it.
“I would need you here from around seven in the morning till at least four, maybe later. I have to go into the Bay Area for a meeting.”
Blake nodded decisively. “Done.”
“Shouldn’t you check with your mom?”
Deacon was almost positive he caught a roll of her eyes, but she hid it well as she pulled out her phone. Her thumbs flew over the screen, and not ten seconds later her phone dinged.
She lifted her head with a smile. “Mom’s good with it.”
“Great.” Deacon smiled with relief.
Not only did he have a babysitter for Monday, he also knew Jenna had her phone on her. He remembered her saying she always did when Blake wasn’t with her. He did have her number, he’d gotten it from her card at the salon. He hadn’t used it yet, but maybe it was time.
Music.That was the only answer that had ever worked for her, at least since she was old enough to recognize that the world, her world in particular, could not be neatly organized by logic, ambition, or even sheer force of will. It was music—the mindless algorithmic playlist, the syrupy pop anthem, the heavy bass and catchy lyrics of ’90s and 00s hip hop and R&B, and the gritty all-woman indie alt-rock collective—music had never made her a promise it couldn’t keep, it had never abandoned her marriage by going undercover for four years, music didn’t cheat on her with her best friend or betray her by sleeping with her husband.
She needed to lose herself. That was her only objective tonight. She needed to shut off her brain and forget about the gala and the red temptation mere feet away from her.
