Page 31 of The Widower's Nanny

“Sorry is always fun.”

After dinner, I take my bowl and Lilly’s to the kitchen counter. Rachel is there, frowning at the plastic tub.

“So, how do you do this? I don’t want to use all of our water to wash the dishes.”

I pick up the third bowl. “Let’s let the rain do the dishes for us.” I head for the door and she follows behind and opens it for me. I set the bowls on the steps where the rain would hit them. “This should work.” I look at her. “Of all the things I thought might throw you on this little misadventure, I didn’t think doing the dishes would be one of them.”

“I wasn’t thrown. I was just…considering my options.”

“Oh, okay. My mistake.”

She looks at me for a moment. “Can I say something I shouldn’t?”

“Um…sure.”

“I’m really enjoying our misadventure.”

I smile. “Why is that something you shouldn’t say?”

“Because you’re the reason I’m enjoying it.”

“Because I’m here?”

“No. Because you’re you.”

I lean against the railing. “And who am I exactly?”

She looks out at the rain. “I shouldn’t say.”

“No. Please do.”

She takes a breath, then looks at me again. “You’re someone I’d like to get to know better.”

I cock my head. “In what capacity?”

She laughs. “Preston. You sound like you’reinterviewing me.”

I smile and reach for her hand. “Sorry. It’s kind of what I do. But I still want to know.”

“In a way that might compromise our business relationship.”

I rub the back of her hand with my thumb. “Hmm. I’m not sure if I’m willing to risk losing you. Lilly loves you. You’re great with her. I wouldn’t want you to discover that I’m not who you must think I am.”

“I’m not too worried about that. The man I’ve seen today is a man who will go out into the rain to get clothespins for his daughter’s fort. A man who is happy to spend an hour inside the fort making really bad shadow puppets.”

I laugh. “Are you judging my talent as a shadow puppet artist?”

“I’m not sure artist is the right word to use. But you get an A plus for effort.”

I let go of her hand and sigh. “Tell you what. After a game or two of Sorry, we’ll see how you feel.”

9

Rachel

I’m not sure why I decided to admit to Preston how I feel, but it seemed like he wasn’t too shocked by my confession. I guess I’ll see how the rest of the night goes now that it’s out there. I am a little scared and nervous to see how it all plays out.

We go back inside and Preston looks through the wardrobe for the games. Then he brings the game of Sorry to the table.

---