Page 56 of Holiday Hire

I press my fingers so hard into my thigh they hurt. "Lance, let me know when you want a ride to the airport."

He shoots me daggers with his glare.

Wilder interjects, "He drove a car here, remember, Dad?"

"Ah, that's right, son."

Lance spends another moment trying to stare me down, then rises.

Phoebe follows, and they disappear from the room.

"He's leaving as soon as breakfast is over," I mutter, then shove potatoes into my mouth.

Mom scolds, "That's not your decision. It's Phoebe's. He's her boyfriend."

"So what? Besides, they're on a break. He should be giving her the space she needs," I declare, still not sure what that phrase means, but it's what she said she wanted. So he should give it to her. If he's any sort of man, he should respect her wishes.

The room erupts in lively conversation about Thanksgiving and all the holiday plans over the next few months, but I don't engage. I barely taste my eggs or bacon. I swirl my toast throughthe yolk until the picture of the turkey on the plate appears, then I toss it down.

Phoebe and Lance seem to be taking forever.

What if Mr. Douchebag is convincing her to leave with him?

She won't go.

But what if she does?

The door opens and Phoebe steps into the room. She sits back down in her seat.

Willow questions, "Where's Lance?"

Phoebe clears her throat and smiles. She puts her napkin on her lap and replies, "Lance decided to go to the airport now. He said to say thank you for all your hospitality."

Sure he did.

Mom frets, "Is everything okay, dear?"

"Hopefully, you dumped him," I mumble under my breath.

Phoebe's blues meet mine in surprise.

I don't flinch.

"Phoebe?" Mom softly questions.

Phoebe tears her gaze off mine and refocuses on Mom. She answers, "Everything's fine, Ruby. I'm happy to stay on the ranch and nanny for the boys. It's best if Lance returns to Pismo. But don't worry, I'm one hundred percent focused on my job."

It's a statement she doesn't have to make. She's proven she's good at what she does. I already trust her with my boys. And the realization hits me like a slap in the face.

My insides shake. All I can do is wonder how a woman got me to trust her with my kids so quickly.

She's a nanny. It's normal,I tell myself.

Is it though?

I can't be sure. I've never had a nanny before. My family has always stepped up to help me after my wife got sick and died.

Mom doesn't want to let Phoebe's relationship issues go. She replies, "Of course you're here to do your job. And you're excellent at it. But are you sure... Is Lance okay too?"

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