Page 11 of Daycare Santa

“I like it fine.”

“Well, I have to like it, too.” Her attention came back to Zack. “Can we have a look around?”

“Of course.” He stepped out from behind the counter and locked it. Then he pointed at the door to one side of the foyer that was also covered in graphics. “Let’s introduce you to Emily and see how you like our facility.”

Gina walked alongside him, with Luca in tow. At the door, Zack spun the handle and waved one hand with a flourish. “Welcome to Wintertime Daycare, whereyourchild isourpriority.”

Normally, he wouldn’t have felt awkward reeling off Lizette’s spiel because their customers liked that bit of reassurance. This minute, he was uncomfortable and hoped he didn’t come across as an over-eager salesman. The twinkle in Regina’s eyes didn’t help.

He sucked it up and strolled to where Emily stood next to a group of kids who sat cross-legged on a checkered blue and yellow foam surface. None of them could carry a tune. He didn’t blame them, though. Rhonda, the lead, was not the best singer.

He gave Emily, his cousin,thatlook and she shrugged. Everyone knew where Rhonda’s talents did not lie, except Rhonda. After introducing Emily to Luca and Regina, they left with her to see the rest of the building. He didn’t want to leave the front office empty, but also had no desire to come across as a stalker by tagging along on Gina’s tour. At the end of Rhonda’s off-key singing with the kids, he asked her to take over reception.

Zack arranged the children into three groups, gave them instructions, then sangFrére JacquesorAre You Sleeping. Their start was chaotic, but the young ones soon got the rhythm of their part of the round and sang as loudly as their vocal cords allowed.

From the other corner of the large studio, Patrice, a petite, light-skinned woman, bobbed her head in time with their singing. In another two minutes, she brought over the six children she was supervising and had them join Zack’s group.

Singing with, or to, children wasn’t a daily part of Zack’s life. He was chipping in because Lizette was off the island and scheduled to return next weekend. Her staff of six didn’t need supervision, she claimed, but she’d conned him and Elijah into “keeping her business afloat” as she put it. “The more the merrier,” she said.

All because they asked her to bring back some electronic items they bought online. Neither Elijah nor he lived on the island, but had returned for their parents’ ruby, or fortieth anniversary, which fell a month ago.

According to their mother, she and their father appreciated the matching earrings and necklace set with rubies, plus the cufflinks for their father, but the pricey gifts couldn’t substitute for their long absence. Since they could work from anywhere in the world, Elijah and he opted to stay in Jamaica for a while.

Being here kept Alana out of his mind, which was a good thing. Their breakup left him gutted, and twelve months was enough time for him to get himself together and start working on another idea for an app.

But here he was, passing time in his sister’s daycare instead of moving on with his life. Not that he regretted helping Lizette. His baby sister had a special place in his heart and knew she could depend on him.

He refocused on the new round when Regina and Luca emerged from the room behind the studio and made their way out front. As the song ended, his phone vibrated, and he motioned to Patrice to take his place. He swiped the screen and opened the message from Elijah.Meet me out front to get this mutt.

Chuckling, he slid the phone back into his jeans. Elijah had taken Champ, his parents’ Royal Caribbean Terrier or Jamaican brown dog, to the vet. Most islanders classed them as mongrels, but they were affectionate, intelligent, and made good pets.

He opened the door to the foyer, where Regina and Luca stood at the counter. As he went past them, Regina slid a credit card to Emily. Zack’s heart did a joyful little leap at the thought of seeing her again.

In the parking lot, Elijah and he greeted each other as Champ leaped from the car and made a sound between a growl and a whine, as though happy to see Zack. Of the two men, Zack spent more time with their parents and, according to them, had a way with animals and children.

“Close the door,” Elijah, his twin, ordered. “I said I couldn’t stay.”

“And I heard that,” Zack shot back, adding a wicked grin. “But with that attitude, I’ll tell Mom you flung Champ off at the side of the road without waiting.”

Elijah stroked his beard and scoffed. “It’s not like I care about that ungrateful four-footed creature.”

Champ barked twice, as though he understood Elijah’s words. The two men laughed, and Zack watched as his brother pulled out of the property. He climbed the steps with Champ at his side, then slapped his thigh.Dang!

Elijah had left with the leash.

He opened the door, and Champ trotted inside. The dog sniffed the air, then headed directly for Regina.

Luca’s face lit up as he petted Champ, who stopped next to them and sat on his haunches.

At the tail end of her conversation with Emily, Regina turned to locate Luca. A range of expressions crossed her face before she snapped, “Get your hand off that dog.”

She pivoted toward the counter. “You allow dogs in the building?”

Emily’s pleasant expression turned to one of concern. “Not exactly, but ...”

“Isn’t that risky? What if he bites one of the children?” Gina threw Champ a dirty look. “And he looks like a ... a ...”

“D’you mean to say mongrel?” Zack asked.

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