Page 18 of Mister Mom

The phone clicks in my ear and he’s already gone.

Payne crawls into my lap and lays his head on my shoulder.

“Was that Daddy?” he asks, way too used to the drill.

“Yeah, he’s going to call us back tonight,” I say with false brightness.

His silence is evidence that we both know he won’t.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” he whispers.

I hold him closer. I knew he heard me.

“I know, sweetie. Do you think you could try to be better for the nannies from now on? If I can find one?”

He draws back from me, his soft brown eyes still sleepy.

“Yeah.”

I inhale a deep breath. This is why he is the way he is. I can hardly discipline him when his father is a constant disappointment.

“Okay. How about some pancakes?” I pat his butt to get him to slide off me so I can make some breakfast and try to get Carver out of my head.

He walks to the family room, picking up the ball Via dropped and handing it over to her.

Fifteen minutes later, the smoke from the pancakes fills our entire downstairs. I spin the dial to off and push the skillet off the burner.

So much for getting Carver out of my head. He occupied it so much, I burned our entire breakfast.

“Mommy?” Payne comes in, his eyebrows raised.

“Want to go out to breakfast?”

He smiles and nods, runs off, screaming, “I’ll go get dressed!”

Grabbing my phone, I text-message Vance. I need to secure our future because Lord knows I’m the only parent who’s going to. A leading role will surely produce more offers and then maybe I can hire a full-time live-in nanny. It’ll be hard in the moment, but best for the three of us in the future.

Me: Hi. This is Layla Andrews. I finished the script last night. I’d love to meet to talk it over. I’m heading out to breakfast with my kids. Call me whenever you wake up.

My thumb hovers over the send button.

Why am I nervous?

I click send before second-guessing myself any further.

Three dots appear below my message immediately.

Vance: Kids? As in plural?

Me: Yes, I have Payne and Via, an eighteen-month-old. Is that a problem?

Vance: If I say yes, I’d be sued.

Well, his response doesn’t exactly scream ‘your kids are welcome on set with you,’ now does it?

Vance: BTW, I’ve been up since six. Where are you going for breakfast?

A smile plays on my lips and I bite the inside of my cheek again.

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