“I know it is.I know.”Dad is quiet, then lets out a heavy sigh.“I’ve thought about offering her a job at the club, but I’m not sure she’ll take it well.”
“Mm, yes.Tricky.”
Anger brews inside me.It’s one thing for my dad to worry about me.It’s another thing for him to worry about me in conversations with his wife or my brothers.It’s another altogether for him to talk to Theodore Wallington about me.
I emerge from the hall.“Need new water.”
Both Dad and Theo flip around, surprise evident in both their expressions.
“Painting must be going well, huh?”Dad is acting as if they weren’t just talking about me.
“Mhm.”I look toward the sink.
Theo’s standing in front of it.
“Oh, pardon me.”He throws himself to the opposite counter.
I purse my lips and smile.Kind of.“Thanks.”
I pour out the cup, watch the murky water swing around the drain, then disappear.
Theo sighs.“You know, you don’t have to sit with her and paint.She’s all right on her own if you’d rather…I don’t know, have intelligent conversation.”
His eyes are almost scorching my back.“I think Bonnie is great at intelligent conversation.”
“Uh, that’s not what I meant.I just mean, you know, you’re young, and you don’t need to feel…saddled.”
I glance over my shoulder at him.“Is that how you feel about her?”
Theo’s eyes widen.“No, not at all.I just mean–”
Dad frowns at me.“Abigail, you’re being edgy.”
“Am I?”
Apparently, I’medgynow.This has been something my dad has taken to pointing out especially in the last year of my program when I was finishing up my final research papers.
I turn to go and try to bat away at the edginess.It makes everyone tired.Including me.
“I enjoy spending time with Bonnie.That’s all.”I shrug.
Theo smiles, that same smile that made me lose my breath in the front hall.
Why does he have to do that?
“Your father was just telling me about your job search,” he says out of the blue.
“Dory–” Dad tries to interject, his eyes flying to me.He knows I don’t want to be talked about.
“Relax, Edwin.I just had a thought.”Theo smiles.
“Oh?”
Theo extends one hand as if holding the idea in his palm.“You know, you’re quite good with children.Perhaps you’d consider a role in childcare.”
My stomach plummets.“That has nothing to do with my degree.”
“Well, I know it doesn’t.I just wanted to offer if you were looking for a job.I think you’d make a good nanny.You do very well with Bonnie, and–”