Page 28 of Nanny for the Don

I smile and nod. He’s all business now, clearly shifting into work mode. He gives the girls a quick kiss on the head and a nod to Ms. M and me before heading out the door.

As soon as he’s gone, my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s a text from Kendall, my cousin:Can’t wait to catch up later! Coffee’s on me!

It’s later in the day, and Ms. M just left to get the girls. They won’t be back until dinner, so I’ve got a solid four hours of me-time. First up, coffee with Kendall.

Part of me is tempted to take the pregnancy test before heading out, but honestly, I need a break from my own brain. Kendall’s the perfect person to help me chill; she’s always had a way of making everything feel a little less serious.

I throw on a coat and step out into the crisp air. The sun’s out, but there’s still a bit of snow clinging to the ground, sparkling like it’s trying to remind everyone that winter’s just begun. I make my way to Bushwick, where Kendall lives, and head straight for our favorite coffee spot.

As soon as I walk in, I spot Kendall, her tall frame at the counter.

“Will!” she exclaims as soon as she sees me, rushing over to pull me into a tight hug.

“Kendall!” I hug her back, feeling some of the tension in my chest start to ease. She always knows how to make me feel at home, even when everything else is chaos..

“I’m so happy to see you!” she beams, squeezing me again before letting go.

“Same. It’s been way too long,” I reply, trying to match her energy even though my brain’s still spinning..

“I’ll grab us some coffee,” she offers, heading back to the counter.

“Sure,” I say, but then I freeze. Wait, aren’t pregnant women supposed to avoid caffeine?

“Uh, actually,” I call out, feeling super awkward, “can you get me something caffeine-free?”

Kendall turns and gives me a funny look. “Caffeine-free? You, Will? Since when?”

I scramble for an excuse, feeling like a total idiot. “Oh, uh, I’ve just been, you know, trying to cut back. Health kick or whatever.”

She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push it. “Alright, how about a chai latte? It’s still delicious and caffeine-free.”

“Perfect,” I say, trying to sound casual as I plop into a seat. As soon as I sit down, I realize I’m not off to a great start if I’m already fumbling to keep this whole thing under wraps. Kendall’s no fool—she’ll catch on if I’m not careful.

Kendall heads to the table with the drinks, talking a mile a minute like always. “So, how’s the new job going? And those girls—oh my God, they’re so cute in those pics you sent! And your boss—what’s he like? Also, I’ve been thinking, we should totally do another joint yoga class soon. My students loved it last time! We could mix it up, maybe throw in some meditation or something? What do you think?”

She’s a total yapper, but that’s one of the things I love about her. When she’s in full-on chatter mode, I don’t have to worry about filling the silence. It’s a blessing right now, especially with all the crazy thoughts bouncing around in my head.

Just as I’m about to answer, Kendall suddenly cocks her head to the side, eyes narrowing a little like she’s picked up on something. “There’s something different about you.”

Oh shit. I try to play it cool, but my stomach does a nervous flip. “Different? Nah, just, you know, life stuff.” I give a little laugh, hoping it doesn’t sound as fake as it feels.

But Kendall’s too sharp for her own good, and I can tell she’s not buying it.

She squints, leaning in a little like she’s trying to solve some big mystery. “I don’t know… your skin, maybe? It looks, like, glowy or something. Are you using a new routine? You know, I just started this thing with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid—total game-changer. My pores? Practically invisible. And don’t even get me started on the ceramide moisturizer—my skin has never felt so soft.”

She’s off on her skincare tangent, but I can barely focus. My heart’s pounding, and I feel like I’m on the verge of cracking wide open. I can’t keep it in anymore. The words are just sittingthere, heavy on my tongue, waiting to spill out.

Kendall pauses, mid-rant, and tilts her head again, this time with genuine concern in her eyes. “Will… what’s wrong?”

And just like that, I lose it. The dam breaks. “I think I might be pregnant.”

Her eyes go wide, and for a second, everything’s dead silent, like the world just hit pause.

“Wait,what?”

Chapter 15

Willow

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