His fingers curled tighter around the strands, just like he always did. It seemed to ground him and helped him feel safe.
I leaned closer to him. His gaze darted around the busy cafe, never settling on my face, but that wasn’t unusual. Maverick rarely made eye contact.
“I’ve missed you,” I said calmly, fighting to keep my voice from breaking.
He started to rock on his feet.
At first it was small, barely noticeable, but then the movement grew a little sharper. His grip tightened on my hair. Tears prickled unexpectedly.
Before I could say anything else, a sharp voice cut across the cafe.
“Maverick!”
Both of us jumped.
I looked up in time to see Kayla, Mav’s mom, rushing toward us. Her cheeks were flushed as she practically shoved people out of her way in her hurry.
She grabbed Maverick the moment he was in reach, pulling him away so abruptly that a chunk of my hair tore free in his hand. I didn’t react to the sharp pain, not wanting to add more chaos to the moment.
Maverick immediately became more agitated. The soft rocking turned frantic as he made distressed noises in the back of his throat.
Kayla seemed overwhelmed and frazzled—but when her gaze landed on me, her expression hardened instantly. She shot me a cold, furious glare.
“What are you doing here with him?” she demanded.
I blinked at her, startled. “I-I was having hot chocolate in the cafe.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Did you know Maverick was here?”
I shook my head quickly. “No. I had no idea.”
My gaze flicked toward Hailey, who was staring at the whole interaction with confusion.
Seeing the worry on her face, I forced another one of my practiced smiles.
“I’m actually here with Hailey,” I explained gently. “I’m nannying for her now.”
Kayla didn’t say anything, but her nose lifted into the air like she’d smelled something unpleasant.
She continued to scowl, as if I had done something wrong.
The noises coming from her son grew louder, more desperate, and it took every ounce of restraint I had not to reach out and help calm him.
Kayla glanced around the coffee shop, realizing Maverick was gaining attention, and she became even more flustered. Ignoring me as if I wasn’t even there, she started to pull Mav toward the exit, mortified.
I sat there, staring after them, completely gobsmacked.
My chest throbbed with a hollowness that threatened to swallow me whole.
I knew Kayla loved her son; I’d seen it in the years I’d worked for them. They did their absolute best to take care of Maverick. But she was also a mother overwhelmed and too proud to reach out for more help when she needed it.
Watching it unfold from the sidelines made me feel utterly helpless. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Kayla saw me as some kind of threat, and I had never understood why.
“Palmer?” Hailey’s small voice pulled me back.
I blinked over at her. She was watching me carefully, and I forced another smile, trying to shake off the lingering ache.
“That was Maverick,” I explained, hoping I sounded normal and not like my heart was broken. “He’s another little boy I used to take care of.”
