I don't know how the nannies do it. It’s only been an hour, and I'm already exhausted.
As we walk into the coffee shop, I realize that I have no idea what my daughter eats. Everything is usually handled by the nannies that I hire. This is the first time I have ever spent time like this with my daughter. I feel my anger at Isabel building again. How dare she leave our daughter and me in this situation!
I find an empty table and lead Katie to it. She's an active bundle of energy, pulling at my hand and trying to run off. I get her situated in the chair next to mine and then fall down into the seat after setting my briefcase on the table. I need to find a new nanny right away.
For a few seconds, Katie is distracted by the people walking by the window. I take advantage of this opportunity and look at my phone. I scroll through the website of the service I have hired nannies from before. None of their credentials are up to my standards. I sigh softly.
Katie pulls my arm. “Daddy! I want food!” she demands.
I put my phone down, though, not without first glancing at the time. This day is just so overwhelming already.
“Daddy! We need to get food!” Katie screeches, pulling my arm again.
“Okay, peanut. We are. What do you want to eat?” I ask.
Katie thinks and shrugs her narrow shoulders. “I don't know, I just want food,” she says.
I have to take a deep breath. She doesn't even know what she eats. “You don't know?” I ask.
“No. I eat what they make,” Katie answers with another shrug. “Can I go look out the window?” She asks.
I nod, grateful for another minute of distraction. I help her out of her chair and stand beside her. She pushes her hands and face against the glass, watching the cars driving by and the people walking on the street.
I'm wracking my brain trying to think of what is appropriate to feed her. I mean, she's still a child, so I assume her diet is different than mine. I try to pull out my phone to check online, but Katie is pulling at my arm again.
I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
Chapter 2 - Cece
It's a typical Tuesday. I arrived at the coffee shop on time for my shift then greeted and helped a few of our regulars. Now, I'm standing behind the register, putting fresh pastries into the display case.
I hear the sounds of traffic as the door opens. In walks the cutest little girl with a man who I assume to be her father. She has golden ringlets pulled up into pigtails, and the pinkness of her cheeks is adorable. The little girl is so happy and full of life that it makes me smile. Sometimes it's seeing little things like that which make this job worth staying at.
I finish my work with the pastries right as another customer comes up. I assist them with their order. It's not too busy today, which is good.
When I look back at the girl, she is standing by the window with her dad. I laugh a little because I can hear them talking from here. She is asking him for food, and he sounds confused. I look at him quickly. Dark, short cut hair and a perfectly fitting suit, he seems like the busy business type, not very involved with his daughter.
I hear the little girl ask him for food again, and I can't just watch this. I walk over to them. “Excuse me, maybe I can be of some help?” I ask softly.
The father has his phone in his hand as he turns to look at me. I kneel before the little girl and talk to her.
“What would you like to eat?” I ask in my sweetest voice.
The baby doesn't hesitate. “Chocolate cake, I want chocolate cake,” she shouts. I laugh a little. That's a very kid thing to say.
“Chocolate cake? I think we have some,” I answer, giving her a little smile.
She jumps up and down eagerly. “Daddy, please!” she begs, tugging on his arm.
He looks at her and asks, “If I get you the chocolate cake, will you be quiet and behave during daddy's important meeting?”
I frown a little when I hear that. He really has no idea what he is doing, so I stand and talk to him. “No child can keep calm after having a whole piece of chocolate cake,” I explain gently. He looks at me, perplexed. “May I make a suggestion?” I ask. He nods. With my direction, we turn to look at the menu above the counter. “I recommend that you get her the cheese and crackers platter. It's healthier for her,” I inform him.