My stomach sinks. “Oh?”
Claire studies me over her cup of coffee, a crease in her brow.
“The contractor is here,” he continues. “I told him he was scheduled for next weekend, but he says that’s impossible because he’ll be out of town. I apologize, sir. I don’t know how this got messed up, but he’s insisting he meet with you today. Otherwise it’ll be another few weeks before he can meet again.”
I groan into the phone. “Will you call Jack or Natalie? Get them to handle it.”
“They’re in the city this weekend.”
“That’s right. I forgot.” I huff out a breath. “Do you mind if I drop Bea off with you?” I ask him.
Claire leans forward and whispers, “I can stay with her.”
“But it’s your day off,” I whisper back, holding the phone away from my face. “Hang on,” I tell Brenner.
“I don’t mind,” she says. “I was planning to lay out by the water, maybe see if the art room is free later. If you’re cool with it, I’m happy to spend some time with her.”
That would be much more entertaining for her than watching a movie on the iPad under the desk in the front office. “What do you think, Dolly?”
Jumping out of her chair, she announces, “Yay! I’m going to get my new bathing suit on.”
“Hey, Brenner,” I say into the phone. “Sorry about that. I’ll be there shortly.” I hang up, then turn to Claire. “Are you sure? I can pay you.”
She winces. “I’m not a nanny.”
“Exactly. Which is why you don’t have to?—”
“It’ll be fun.” She rests her hand on mine, though she quickly pulls it away. “I swear I don’t mind. We’ll be fine, Ash. Now go.” She waves me off.
I push my chair back to stand. I should get out of here before I change my mind. Claire is highly capable of watching my child. That’s not the issue. It’s that I’ve never let a woman who wasn’t family or the staff in the childcare center on site watch her. This feels like a big step. But she works at the camp, too, right? It shouldn’t be a big deal.
Yeah. This is fine.
“You can leave this.” I motion to the sticky plates and empty mugs on the table. “I’ll clean up when I get back.”
“I’ll have my phone on me, but don’t worry about a thing. If she gets hurt, I’ll just call a doctor.” She winks.
“Very funny,” I deadpan. “Thanks. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Is this for next door?” she asks as I set my coffee up by the sink. “I thought they were backed up withrepairs.”
“No, actually, we’re expanding the camp.” I glance at the time on my watch. “I’ll tell you about it later. Wanna do pizza tonight?”
When all she does is stare at me, I inwardly cringe. Shit. That wasn’t meant to be a suggestion that we go out on a date. So I backpedal. “Bea and I usually pick up a pizza from the cafeteria and play board games on Saturday nights. You’re welcome to join us.”
She probably has exciting single-girl plans on her weekend off, as she should, and the thought causes disappointment to nag at my chest.
“Sounds fun,” she replies.
As a weird sense of joy rises in me, I turn and head down the hall to change out of my chocolate- and syrup-stained shirt.
I’ve barely left the kitchen area when she calls out, “Maybe then we can discuss the text you sent my brother and Ezra.”
My feet freeze in place, my body locking up.
Shit. I didn’t even consider the possibility that they would mention that to her. Shit, shit, shit.
Pivoting to face her, I say, “About that… I accidentally?—”
