“Goodnight Moon, please.”
I grabbed her favorite board book from the side table and opened it. Even though she was fast asleep after the first time I read it, I read it again, slower this time to bask in the moment with her. I’d never get back each day with her so I tried to soak it up when I could.
Chapter Eight
Jess
The rest of the week went by in a flash, and by the time I knew it, Friday had come around. I wasn’t sure if Noah wanted me to work the weekend, but I wouldn’t have minded either way. Gina’s energy brightened each day. And even though I had been exhausted every night this week, I didn’t mind. It was the best three nights of sleep I’d had for a long time.
“All right, do you want a cut lunch today?” I asked.
Gina wrinkled her nose. “Cut lunch?”
I smirked. “It’s Aussie slang for sandwiches.”
“Oh!” she said. “Grilled cheese, please.”
“With tomato?”
“And bacon!”
This girl loved her bacon. She tried to get it at least once a day from me. It wasn’t my place to give her nutrition advice, but I tried to steer her in a healthy direction as much as I could.
“One piece,” I said, grinning.
“Okay,” she conceded.
“What time is Daddy coming home?” Gina asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said, plucking two slices of bread from the paper bag on the table. We’d bought the homemade loaf earlier that day from a local bakery. I loved their bread, and I was sure to get the Stone family hooked as well. “Why do you ask?”
“I like when he tucks me in,” she said.
I wasn’t sure if it was crossing a line, but Gina had opened the door. I wanted to know more about their lives before me. The other day, Noah had seemed a little remorseful of the previous nanny assignment, and Gina had told me the woman was older and couldn’t keep up with her. “Did he not tuck you in before?”
She shook her head. “I only saw Daddy sometimes. He went to work early and got home after I fell asleep. Sometimes I would wake up when he said goodnight. But not every night.”
Noah coming home around six each night this week either meant that he was checking in with me or he’d realized how hard he worked and made an effort to spend time with his daughter. I hoped it was the latter. By no means was I offended if he did want to check on me. Gina was his daughter, after all. And he’d just met me this week. I understood that protective nature. But I hated that she felt so sad about it.
“I want him to be around more,” Gina said.
“I understand that,” I said. “My mom is all the way in Australia. I don’t get to see her very often, though I wished I did.” That was partly true. I loved my mom, but there were still issues in our lives. A weekly phone call was all I could take for the moment. Gina didn’t need to know that, though.
“I don’t remember my mom,” Gina said. “So, I think it’s okay for Daddy to meet a new mom.”
That was a touchy subject to discuss with her. Kids this age were like sponges, and I’d
hate for Gina to repeat anything to Noah that I said about the topic, so I avoided it for the time being.
While making our lunch, I thought about how Gina’s life was going to turn out without a mother. As much as me and my mom had issues, I wouldn’t be the woman I was without her. Gina would have to rely on her nannies to give her advice for growing up. But what happened when she no longer needed a nanny? The thought made my heart hurt. I wondered if Noah ever made time to date. Though with his schedule, I doubted it. If he barely had time to see Gina, I bet he never made time to look for a girlfriend, let alone a wife.
I was sure he was still affected by his wife’s death, but it had been three years. It was time to move on. And Gina needed a mother. I knew he would be less stressed out if he had a consistent woman in their lives.
Gina cared so much for Noah. I hoped he would do this little thing for her so she could grow up with two loving parents.
Around five, Gina and I were playing outside in her huge backyard on the massive wooden playset when I heard a car come up the driveway. I brought her over with me to peer through the fence to see Noah coming up the walkway.
I had to check my phone again to make sure I had the right time.