The Daddy Box Set

My office phone rang. Allison’s name scrolled across the caller ID. I picked it up.

“Noah, Brandon is here to see you,” she said.

“Send him in,” I said. I stood and buttoned my suit jacket to greet my best friend.

Brandon walked in. He was bundled up in a heavy coat and scarf.

I crossed the room and shook his hand. “It’s not that cold out.”

“Dude,” Brandon said. “I was near the equator for a month. This weather is taking a little getting used to.”

“Do you want me to turn up the heat in here?” I asked.

He pulled a face and stripped off his jacket, but left the scarf. “I think I’ll be fine.” He went over to the window and sat on the couch. “Dude, this vacation was one of our best ones.”

Brandon and his wife, Amelia, took at least one big trip every year. Last year, they toured Europe for two months. The idea of that was fun, but with my job and Gina, I’d never be able to swing it.

“We laid by the water almost every single day.”

“You look it.” His face was much darker than it had been the last time I’d saw him. What I wouldn’t give to be on a beach in the middle of winter.

“You should try and come with us next time,” he said.

“And be your third wheel?” I asked and shook my head.

“Since when do you have a problem being a third wheel with us?”

He was right. Brandon and I met in high school, and he met Amelia in college, so we’d all known each other a long time.

“I couldn’t leave Gina for a month,” I said. “Unless you plan a child-friendly vacation.”

Brandon paled.

“That was a joke,” I said.

Brandon clicked his tongue. “These vacations are definite perks of not having children. No offense.”

“None taken.” I wouldn’t trade Gina for any vacation. I’d rather be shackled at home and have her then go on fancy vacations each year. Brandon and I had different priorities.

“We drank and ate so much on the cruise,” Brandon said, patting his flat stomach for emphasis. “I need to get back to the gym as soon as possible.”

I sat down next to him and prodded for him to tell me more about the vacation. At least I could live vicariously through him. Eventually, I’d go on vacations again, when Gina was older. But for now, I liked hearing all of the places that Brandon visited. He somehow always managed to find really great local restaurants or shops or new places off the beaten path to explore. Something that wouldn’t be possible with a toddler.

“Did you find a new nanny?” he asked when he finished talking about the trip. I wasn’t sure if he sensed my attention fading away. I had a million things to do before getting home to Gina and Jess.

“I did,” I said. “It’s funny how it worked out.” I recapped the hiring process for Jess. “Gina loves her. Jess is a sweet girl. She’s Australian, and Gina always has a new slang word to tell me each day. Jess has been taking Gina to all of these different places around the city to keep busy. I’m glad to have scooped her up when I could. She’s fantastic. She’s a lifesaver, an

d I’m not sure what I would have done without her.”

Brandon furrowed his eyebrows.

Had I said something wrong? “What?”

“Are you talking about a nanny or your next girlfriend?”

“What do you mean?”

“Dude, you’re grinning like a man in love.”