Page 91 of Years in the Making

“She’s good,” Nellie says, walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my neck.

“She really is.” I smile down at her and pull her close, letting my hands dip a little further than Tanner’s had been. Possessive but PG since we’re surrounded by kids. “How much longer do we have to stay?” I ask as we make a second turn of the space.

“I figured one of us could start yawning a lot. You know how it is when you have to share a small space with someone. Best to get ready for bed at the same time.” She winks at me.

“Ah yes, always key to a good night’s sleep.” I relish the way she blushes again and dips her head shyly. She wasn’t so shy a couple hours ago when she was ordering me to get on my back and removing my clothes. Or when she eagerly climbed into my lap in the truck. But here she is, almost bashful at the mere suggestion of things to come.

The sound of Nellie’s ringtone cuts me off, and I watch as she reaches into her back pocket and brings out her phone, “Mom” flashing across the screen. A pang of jealousy stabs at me as she holds up her finger with a smile and accepts the call.

“Hey Mom,” I hear as she walks towards the edge of theforest, one hand up against her other ear to block the noise around us.

I watch her expressions change as she speaks and then listens. Minutes of a conversation that likely won’t be remembered but will always exist. Nellie hasn’t fully admitted to me how upset she is that her parents have moved so far away, but I hear it when she tells me about an update.

I turn back to the other guests to give her some privacy and catch sight of Midge dancing with George. His hands are definitely below friend level, and the way Midge is smiling up at him has me thinking that there may be more to their morning coffees than meets the eye.

“Devon told me that they’ve been a thing for three years now.” Nellie’s voice makes me jump as she comes up next to me holding Kevin.

“Three years?” I ask, looking back at the apparent couple.

“But they like to pretend they aren’t a couple. He doesn’t get it, but it’s clearly a kink.”

“Speaking of kinks, you got a thing for dogs watching?”

She looks down at the impressionable pup in her arms and back up at me, horror-stricken. “I didn’t even think about it. We’re going to traumatize him.”

“Just go see if Devon wants to have him for a sleepover. Kids love puppies.”

“That’ll give it away,” she hisses back.

“How?”

“Devon will say, ‘Hey Grandma, can Kevin sleep over?’ and then she’ll be thinking, ‘Oh, because Teddy and Nellie are doing it.’”

“Doing it?” I laugh.

“Fucking” she mouths, and I’d be lying if I said that the word leaving her lips has me ready to say to hell with what anyone else thinks. But we’re technically here as part of her job,and I don’t want her to feel like she’s being unprofessional, despite all the things we’ve done already.

“We’ll just have to be discreet.” I take Kevin from her and start walking towards the truck. “Time to get this little guy to bed,” I call out to Midge and George as they sway slowly back and forth. “Have a good rest of your night.” I wave quickly before getting in the truck. Nellie climbs in seconds later looking nervous.

“They all know,” she says, slamming her head against the headrest.

“Even the kids?” I joke.

“Well no, probably not the kids, but the adults do and they’ll talk and then I’ll be the naughty librarian.”

“You’re not making that sound like a bad thing, LG. Besides, from my experience, you have a bit of naughty in you and you are a librarian, so you might as well own it.” I start the truck up and do my best not to peel out in a spray of gravel, even though I want everyone to know that I’m about to get laid by the naughty librarian.

THIRTY-SIX

NELLIE

Florence is sitting outside when we pull in. She had brought a couple of the younger kids back early. Kevin practically jumps from my arms when he sees her, and I hear Teddy’s soft laugh as he bounds over to her.

“Maybe Kevin will make this easier on all of us by choosing to have a sleepover.”

“He’s a very perceptive dog,” I say quietly, watching as Florence puts her phone down and bends to pick the dog up.

“He’s yours for the night if you want him,” Teddy calls to her.

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