Page 8 of Swooning for the Summer Manny

“Are you kidding?” he says. “Of course I’m going to go.”

The way he smiles at me makes my heart beat way harder than it should. And despite my best efforts, I once again find myself secretly fantasizing about a make-believe future with him.

“Which one is yours?” asks one of the other moms.

I’m standing in Nina and John’s crowded backyard, sipping on a refreshingly cold wine cooler while barbecue smoke rises into the sky and all the kids play in the impressively grand treehouse in the corner of the yard. I smile and gesture toward Amelia.

“The one dangling from the tree like a monkey,” I say.

The other mother laughs. “Impressive. Does she do gymnastics?”

“Not currently, but that’s a great suggestion. I’ll have to ask her if she’s interested.”

“Oh, do. My daughter does it, and she loves it. I’ll give you the name of the gym we go to. I’m Jennifer, by the way.”

“My name is Karin. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she says. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten a chance to meet until now. I’ve seen your husband drop off your daughter, though.”

“Oh, he’s not my husband,” I say in a rush, feeling heat come into my cheeks.

She looks at me curiously. “My mistake. I just assumed.”

“No, it’s fine. He’s my daughter’s nanny. That’s all. I’m a single mom, and it’s been a really busy summer,” I add, even though I know I don’t need to explain myself.

Jennifer smiles. “I see.”

The summer heat is suddenly feeling even more oppressive than before. “Will you excuse me? I need to use the restroom.”

It’s a relief to get out of the heat again. I search inside the house for a bathroom and find one down a hallway. It’s a cute powder room, with bright geometric wallpaper making a statement on one wall. Sunlight is streaming in through a window up high on the wall.

I rise up on my tiptoes to peer through the glass at the backyard scene that I just fled from like an awkward teenage girl. The last time I saw Ryan, he was talking to some of the other men. But I don’t see him now. Amelia is still playing with the other kids, though. That’s good.

I pull myself away from the window and walk over to the sink to look in the mirror. My cheeks aren’t noticeably red, but I still feel flustered from my conversation with Jennifer.

She didn’t actually think Ryan was my husband, did she? I frown at my reflection, all kinds of critical thoughts clouding my mind. Ryan is way too attractive to be with an average-looking woman like me. He could have anyone he wants. Why would he choose me?

I shake my head, annoyed that I’m being so hard on myself. I wash my hands and pull open the bathroom door.

“Oh!” I say, surprised to see Ryan standing there.

Ryan tilts his head a little as he studies me, his tousled hair falling to the side. “Are you okay, Karin? I saw you rush into the house and I was worried something was wrong.”

He noticed that? “I’m fine. Thanks for checking.”

“Are you sure you aren’t feeling sick or anything?” He frowns. “Heatstroke is serious.”

I smile, touched that he’s so concerned about me. “I’m fine. Really.”

We start to walk back up the hallway together. I’m not in any rush to go back outside, and it doesn’t seem like Ryan is, either. Surely that’s only because of the heat, though.

He glances over at me a few more times, like he’s still worried about me. I know he’s just being thoughtful and there’s nothing to read into, but it’s nice. I’m so used to being the one who’s taking care of another person that being on the receiving end feels like a luxury.

“This is a beautiful home,” I say, glancing around us. “It looks like they remodeled it about ten years ago.”

“How can you tell?” Ryan asks.

“The style of the fixtures and finishes.” Our feet slow, and I point some out and start to talk about the design choices, and how I can tell that whoever did the remodel didn’t cut corners. I don’t mean to keep talking on and on about it, but once I start, it’s hard to stop.

---