Page 27 of The Nanny and the Grump

“Oh, really now? So all the front you put up was for show?”

“I did not say that.” We both laughed, and he continued, “I’m sorry if I made things difficult for you. After the death of Olivia, I literally shut myself off from the rest of the world. Your coming in was a big change for me, thanks to Amy. So, I found it quite difficult to adjust. Perhaps it would have been easier to get along with you if you weren’t female and a very attractive one, too. It was almost like Amy was intentionally setting me up.”

“Has she ever done something like that?” I asked.

“Who? My sister? Definitely! That was how I met Olivia in the first place. And even after she died, she tried to get me to go out with a couple of other ladies. But I guess I’m not just wired like that. I can’t just move on from people I love that easy.”

“Aw, that’s a beautiful thing, though. It was one of the things that had me drawn to you regardless of everything else. Your devotion to her is phenomenal, even in death.”

“Yeah. But she’s gone now, so I’ve decided to truly let her go. I can’t keep holding onto her forever. I’ve got to live again, for my sake and June’s. I’m sure it’s what she would have wanted.” I smiled and nodded.

Our conversation gave me some form of renewed hope, as if I wasn’t just wasting my time or being there just for sex.

“June is a special kid, and she couldn’t possibly have had a better dad,” I commented.

Hudson smiled and tightened his grip on me. It felt so warm, like I could melt away in his arms. My heart beat rapidly—a rush of ecstasy and excitement. I was definitely in love with this man. There was no denying it anymore. We drifted off to sleep, only to be woken up by June the next morning.

“Daddy, I’m running late for school!”

Hudson and I jumped out of bed like the fire alarm had gone off, almost forgetting that we were naked and a little girl stood in front of us. It felt like in those movies where teenagers were caught in the act by their overprotective parents. I took a peek at my phone screen. Truly, we had overslept.

“Shit!” Hudson exclaimed. “So sorry, baby. Just head on downstairs. Madison is coming to assist you get ready for school, all right?”

I dressed up as soon as June left the room, winking at Hudson before leaving. He grinned and got into the bathroom to shower. As soon as I exited the room, a text came into my phone.

I continued walking hastily as I unlocked my phone to read the contents of the text. It was from an unsaved contact. “Hi, Haze! It’s been a while. How have you been? I’ve been trying to get my hands on your contact for a long while now. Guess what? I’m finally getting transferred to Oklahoma. You’re surprised, huh? I was, too, when I got the mail. Now we can finally get to be together, and I can get to feel the warmth of your tender body against mine. I can’t wait. Write me soon. Love, Dylan.”

My eyes opened wide in shock. For a moment, I froze, I could not move my feet anymore. I immediately deleted the contact information and blocked it, still shaken up.

“Are you all right?” Maria asked, sighting me in the corridor as she went to lay breakfast on the table.

“Oh . . . yeah, I’m good. Good morning, Maria,” I replied.

“Good morning. Seems like you slept in late this morning. I’m nearly done serving breakfast.”

“Yeah. Really, sorry I couldn’t help you out in the kitchen.”

“That’s totally fine. It’s my job. I’ve packed up June’s lunch as well. You can go grab it now.”

“Oh, all right.”

While Maria and I still spoke, June ran toward me and dragged me by the hand to her room. “I don’t know what to wear,” she said.

I chuckle, obliging and following behind her. “I’ll come get it later, Maria,” I said.

For the rest of the morning, my heart continued to skip. I didn’t exactly give closure to whatever it was that existed between Dylan and me. Maybe because I never really viewed it as a real relationship, given the distance between us. I wasn’t willing to move. I didn’t love him enough to. I was really just having fun. However, with Hudson, I was truly happy and hoped for more. I didn’t want to think that Dylan’s relocation might truncate that.

“Are you all right? You seem kind of off,” Hudson asked while we had breakfast, bringing me back from my reverie.

“Oh, yeah. Just a slight migraine, but I’ll be all right.”

“You should get some rest then and probably take some pills. I’ll just pick June up after school today, so you don’t have to stress.”

“It’s not that serious. I can still handle it.”

“I know, but I would like to pick her up myself today. You could use the time to prepare for your lessons.”

“Lessons?” June inquired, a confused look on her face.

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