Page 71 of Suddenly Entwined

I’m grateful for her interruption.

I stick my tongue out at my brother. “See, I’m the best.”

Berg shifts his right thigh so it presses against mine.

Anna slings her arm over my shoulder. “Caro is perfect for that job. Ash, you should have seen how she made sure Louisa was safe at her birthday party.”

Ashlyn pats the table a few times while she swallows a mouthful of wine and smiles warmly. “Oh my god, I forgot! No wonder Berg chose you.”

“I didn’t even know you were looking for a nanny,” says Isaac, pulling a tray of sizzling chicken from the oven when atimer beeps.

“I wasn’t. Not really. But it made perfect sense, especially after someone strong-armed me into taking on some more responsibility at work.”

“As long as you’re paying her.”

“Oh my god, Chris. Drop it. Of course he’s flipping paying me.”

Desperate to steer this conversation away from money, I turn to Anna. “I’ll make an appointment when I have some time.”

She claps her hands together. “Yes!”

I know full well that both Ashlyn and Anna work in their dream jobs. Ashlyn is establishing her own flower farm on the property this spring and Anna owns a beautiful salon downtown. In fact, she’s my mom’s stylist. These women are so kind, but it’s hard to not hate them a tiny bit when I think about their beautiful houses and their careers and their happy relationships. I’m less than a month into a new job and who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Everyone chips in to get the meal on the table. Louisa is setting the cutlery out, ensuring the kids get the tiny forks. Natalie makes an attempt at a swan napkin then announces that triangles are nice too. The girls must subscribe to Emily Post because they arrange us “boy, girl, boy, girl”. Maybe it’s the wine, or the delicious smells of the food, or Berg’s confession in his truck. But it’s easy for me to imagine that he and I are one of the real couples squished around the table.

***

Ashlyn peers out the back door while the men do the dishes, worrying at the end of her braid.

“When the weather is better, I’ll give you a tour,” she sighs.

“I’d love that.”

“Hopefully there’s something left to show you.”

I can make out the edges of a greenhouse, and further off, a large out building that is the men’s office/workshop for the time being. During the meal Berg and Dean ran outside to secure some of the patio furniture skidding across the deck. Every time the overhead lights flickered while we ate, the girls froze, worried expressions on their faces.

“We should go,” Berg says from behind me and I’m in full agreement.

The only place to be on a night like this is tucked into your own bed.

“Thank you so much for letting me crash supper,” I say to Ashlyn as I zip up Louisa’s coat.

Ashlyn leans against the back of the leather couch next to Isaac. “You’re always welcome, Caro. Seriously.”

“Bye!”

I run ahead to open the truck doors, while Berg carries the girls, sheltered against his body from the driving rain.

“Thank you for bringing me along,” I say as we drive along the mostly empty roads.

“Glad you joined.”

“You know, since I'm not working at the bar anymore, it’s weird how I don’t talk to very many adults during the day.”

“What? Louisa talking to you through her stuffed octopus isn’t stimulating enough conversation for you?”

I chuckle as he switches to an AM radio station that announces cancellations for all ferry sailings and worsening wind.

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