Page 88 of This Moment

“Macy,” Mrs. Carter said as she approached everyone. Looking down at Jack, she patted his head, and I almost laughed. Macy cleared her throat and fought to hold back her own laughter. Turning to me, she reached over and patted Millie. She looked at me and asked, “Are you the nanny?”

I nearly choked on my tongue. I was waiting for Kian or Macy to correct her and introduce me, but both were attempting not to laugh.

“No, Mrs. Carter. I’m Cadie Waterford.”

She looked me over from head to toe. “Oh, the girlfriend and the little manager at the bakery.”

“Well, I’d like to think I’m more than that, but yes.”

Her eyes snapped to mine. “I think I like you already. You have a backbone; that’s a good thing, especially for a woman.” She turned and looked at Macy. For the briefest moment I swore I saw Macy shrink back.

“Thank you?” I replied as I looked at Kian, who was still trying not to laugh—very unsuccessfully.

Doug walked up and looked at Millie first. “Hello, little darling.”

“Hi, G-dad!” Millie said in the cutest voice.

Looking from his granddaughter to me, Doug smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Waterford.”

“Please, call me Cadie.”

His smile grew bigger. “Cadie, it is. I see why my son is so taken with you.”

I felt my cheeks heat.

“Why is your face red, Cadie?” Millie asked, placing her little hands on my warm cheeks.

Lacy cleared her throat and made her way over to Kian while Doug said hello to Jack. Lacy kissed Kian on the cheek,then turned to Mark and did the same before spinning on her heels and heading to the house.

She hadn’t uttered a single word to either of them. When I looked at Kian, he shrugged and smiled, but gone was the laughter. Instead, it was a sad smile that graced his handsome face.

Macy reached for her daughter. “Didn’t I tell you? Come on, Millie, let’s give Aunt Cadie’s arms a break.”

When Macy called me Aunt Cadie, my heart felt like it kicked against my chest. Had she meant to do that, or was it a slip? Either way, I liked the sound of it.

Kian wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. “So, that was my parents.”

“Your mother barely even gave the kids a hello.”

“That’s more than what she used to do for us when she and Dad would come home. We would be lined up out front. She’d get out of the car and stop in front of each of us, give us a once-over, then walk into the house.”

I slowly shook my head. “That pisses me off.”

He chuckled as we walked slowly to the house. “It used to Macy as well, but she’s moved past it. We’ve just gotten used to it.”

“What about Millie and Jack? You don’t think it bothers them that their grandparents simply pat them on the head and give them a simple hello?”

“Will has amazing parents and they spoil those kids, so they’re not lacking in love.”

I huffed. “Well, I guess one set of grandparents’ love is better than none.”

“And two very loving parents. Will told me earlier he took a desk job, so he will be home a hundred percentof the time. Maybe that will make Mark not be leery of him if he’s home more.”

“Mark doesn’t like Will?” I asked.

He rolled his eyes. “He said he didn’t trust him, but I think that’s just a Mark thing. I’m sure that will be great for all of them now that their dad will be home and not on the road. I know Macy hated him gone all the time.”

Smiling, I said, “Well, that’s nice. Will he be happy with just a desk job?”

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