Page 5 of The Widower's Nanny

“Is Rachel going to live in the house with us?”

“No. Rachel is going to live in the guesthouse.”

“But she’s going to be here all the time?”

“Yes. Is that okay with you?”

She nods enthusiastically. “Yes. I like her. She’s pretty. And she’s funny. And we played a game, and she didn’t let me win. Grandma always let me win.”

“What game was this?”

“Checkers. I almost beat her. But I didn’t. And it was really cool. Because I knew she was trying to win and not…coddling me.”

“Coddling you? Where’d you learn that term?”

“I heard Mrs. Cartwright say it to Grandma. She said, ‘you can’t keep coddling that child or she’ll end up as spoiled as her father.’”

I frown. “Um… Mrs. Cartwright is a little…”

“Are you spoiled, Daddy?”

I think about it for a moment. I certainly was as a younger man. But time and life have taught me that the world doesn’t revolve around me. Losing my wife gave me a new perspective.

“I hope not.”

She smiles at me. “I don’t think you are. I think you’re perfect.”

“Thank you. And I’m glad you like Rachel. Maybe next time you’ll beat her at checkers.”

Well, that’s two votes for Rachel. I still haven’t made up my mind.

Lilly is sitting under the big maple tree in the yard with the puppy in her lap. I go to them and kneel beside her.

She smiles at me. “I love my puppy.”

“I’m glad, ladybug.” I kiss the top of her head. “So, what should we name her?”

She takes a long dramatic sigh. “I think I’ll call her…Cutie Pie.” She nods, then looks at me. “No wait. Precious.” She thinks about it. “No. Sugar. Because she’s sweet as candy.”

“Sugar?”

“Yeah. Isthat a good name?”

I take the dog from her and hold it up so I can look into her eyes. “I think that is a perfect name.” I hand the dog back to her.

“Can she sleep in my room?”

“Well, for now, until Sugar is house-trained, she’ll need to sleep in the kitchen.”

“Aww.” Her shoulders slump, and she lowers her head.

“It won’t take long. Once she sleeps through the night, she can sleep in your room. But not on the bed.”

“She has to sleep on the floor?”

“She has a very fancy dog bed to sleep in. She’ll be fine.”

She runs a hand over Sugar’s back. “Okay. I guess.”

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