After a time, the other kids had to go and told Alexis they made it a habit of coming on Saturdays. Alexis told Damon, who said it could be a thing they could do once a month if she behaved like a good girl all week.
I walked out of that place feeling exhausted and wondering how such a cool place had even been invented. It was clean, fun, and great for all age groups. I even saw a grandpa and grandma get stuck in the ball pit, and their laughter had truly been something to behold. It wasn’t Disneyland, but it was definitely a fun place to be with children.
On the way home, we drove past a local park where there was a heap of dogs doing dog training. Alexis made us stop so we could admire the well-behaved and not-so-well-behaved dogs that were doing their thing. Some of them could jump over hurdles, and many of them could do a twisting jump that made Alexis giggle. One of the dogs was an all-black crossbreed. He was being very cheeky. All the other dogs in the class sat and stayed, but when off his leash, he ran to a tree and peed on it while the owner ran after it. Alexis laughed so loudly, Damon had to tell her to be quiet so as not to distract the good dogs that were learning how to behave properly.
An hour passed, and Alexis grew sleepy as the light began to fade. The day had ticked by like a flash storm that came and went in a passionate rage. Once in the car, Alexis nodded off, so Damon rang for pizza, which we picked up on the way home.
My heart was happy as we drove to the pizza house on Fifth. Damon had enjoyed a great day, and so had I. For Alexis, it had been “out of this world.” I imagined being her age again and doing all the things we’d done in one day. It would have been wonderful and exciting.
When we got home, Damon placed Alexis in bed and got her comfortable, taking off her shoes and socks and making sure Clara was with her in bed. I sorted out the pizza and opened a bottle of red wine. It was Damon’s favorite, a Shiraz from a good year.
I didn’t have to wait long for Damon to join me. He was starving, and we sat together, just eating and sipping our wine in blissful silence. The fire flickered, and the peace was golden. He didn’t push a conversation with me, and I didn’t entertain my feelings aloud. As I finished a piece of garlic bread and took my last sip of wine, I thought I would clear the plates and make my way to bed.
“I’m exhausted,” I said as I got up. “I think I’ll head to bed. Thanks for today.”
Damon smiled at me, looking like he was tired too. I knew I should’ve said something, but my body and mind were at the point of no return. We had been on most of the day, and as usual, Alexis had been full of energy and a million wonderful questions that made you really think hard each and every time.
“Good night, Karly,” he said.
“Good night, Damon. Sleep well.”
I knew my distance from him was unfounded. We’d shared an amazing day with Alexis, but we’d barely said a word to one another. It was my fault. I had created the disconnect without any real explanation. He knew it and I knew it, but he was still a gentleman about it. Maybe tomorrow would bring me some clarity. I needed a big sleep to settle things in my mind.
Chapter 23
Damon
I headed to work and got my mind into gear regarding the upcoming press conference. I needed them to know it was more than just a fling between an employer and an employee. I wasn’t just fucking the nanny, as they’d put it. Karly meant the world to me, and I felt like she was the piece of the puzzle that had been missing in my life for so long.
The media were there, waiting for me to tell my side of the story. It was like watching shark-infested waters get closer to a boat in the ocean with me being the boat. I wasn’t going to get eaten, though.
They had set up a small podium for me to stand on in front of the company building, which looked amazing given its glassy magnificence and stature. I had already spoken to the owners of the company, a group of four super-rich men who knew I was more than capable of handling myself well.
I stepped up and waited for the questions. My heart already knew the answers.
“Mr. Jacobs, good morning. Is it true that your new nanny is now a sexual partner of yours? And do you think it’s professional to be sleeping with your employee?”