Page 13 of Royally Benevolent

“Could you?” I asked.

“If it makes you happy, Odette, I’ll do my best,” Rick promised.

8

HELP WANTED

WYATT

Irefreshed my email for the fourteenth time. I wasn’t sure which excited me more: the nanny agency telling me they had a replacement or the prospect of Princess Odette following through with an email.

The night before opened my eyes to possibilities here in Neandia. It didn’t feel likework. It felt impactful. It was progress. I worked on these projects to make this place efficient but hadn’t done anything to keep people safer. Odie seemed so optimistic last night. She’d seen me.

Then, I heard Theo wake.

“Papa,” he said brightly. “Bon matin!”

“Good morning, buddy,” I said. “Put your clothes on, and I will walk you to school.”

“Where is Janette?” Theo asked.

“She’s not here,” I cringed at the disappointment on his sweet face.

The nanny hadn’t worked out. Or, instead, she’d worked out for Theo but wanted it all to work out with me a lot more. Theo hadn’t run her off, but I wasn’t pleased. I asked the agency to send the names of someolderchildcare providers in hopes that might cut down on the nonsense I’d encountered last night after returning home.

“Why don’t we get some cake this afternoon?” I tried to placate him. “I will take you for lunch.”

His face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Okay, Papa!”

Theo came downstairs. By then, I’d packed his backpack with daily essentials. It was time to drop him off and work from home. Without childcare, I’d work remotely and take the afternoon off for childcare. I wasn’t disappointed. I enjoyed time with Theo.

As I walked home from drop-off, Mom called.

“How are you? How did last night go?”

“Last night went well, but I gotta fire the nanny.”

“What?” Mom laughed. “You just hired her. Sweetheart, no one is perfect?—”

“She came onto me,” I said. “I cannot have that.”

Mom let out a long breath. “Well, that’s it.”

“What is?”

“I am getting on a goddamn plane, Wyatt.”

“Why?”

“Because Theo needs some stability, and you all are up shit creek. I know things are getting busy for you. I want to help.”

“No, Mom, please?—”

“I will. I must. If I don’t, I won’t forgive myself.”

Though guilty, I knew it was for the best. She wouldn’t fuck this up. Theo adored her, and she knew our routine. Even when everything was falling apart, Mom was there to pick us up. She never wavered in her support.

“I love you, Wy,” Mom said. “Sometimes, you need help. Ever since Lucinda left, you all have been in a real pickle. Why don’t you letmetry to find a good fit?”

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