Page 66 of Off Limits

“Channels that are safe for them to watch,” he explained. “Just make sure they don’t look at any videos from otherchannels, even if it seems like the content is safe. It’s crazy how many inappropriate videos slip by the censors or whatever bots they use, even with all the kid settings and parental controls on. They get twenty minutes of screen time, then they have to do something else for at least ten minutes before they can get back on it. I usually get them to alternate choices, that way it cuts down on the fighting.”

I glanced at where Chloe and Tanner were curled up on the couch together in a rare moment of calm.

Asa flicked his gaze to me. “You good if we go?”

“Yeah,” I said with way more confidence than I felt. “I’ve got this.”

Asa gave me a little nod and headed out of the room, leaving me with Tanner and Chloe.

It took exactly six minutes to realize that I’d seriously underestimated how much work it was to keep them occupied and not at each other’s throats, and I was more than a little overwhelmed when Asa and Ruby came back almost forty minutes later with her in a fresh pair of pajamas and her long hair still damp.

“Your turn,” Asa said to Tanner.

“Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.” He got up from the couch and stomped over to Asa even more dramatically than Ruby had.

“You good?” Asa asked, his half-smile telling me I probably looked as ruffled as I felt.

I nodded. “Yeah. All good.”

He smirked. “It’s a lot easier when it’s just them,” he said quietly, nodding at Chloe and Ruby, who were curled up on the couch and looking at something on the iPad. “Just be sure to monitor what they watch. Ruby can’t handle anything scary or sad right before bed. Chloe’s good about sticking to thepreschool channels, but those videos can sometimes take a dark turn with no warning.”

“I’ll be careful,” I promised.

Things were easier when it was just Chloe and Ruby, and I had a chance to decompress as we watched some videos together. I made sure to keep to Asa’s twenty minutes on, ten minutes off rule, and surprisingly, the kids didn’t fight or argue when I told them it was time for a break.

It took another hour to get Chloe and Tanner bathed, and Ruby was asleep on my lap when it was time to put them to bed.

I was in awe of Asa by the time he closed the door to Chloe’s room. In the span of an hour, he’d gotten Ruby down and finished getting the older two ready for bed. Then he read several chapters of the book Chloe picked out to them, keeping them engaged by doing silly voices and really playing up the narration while still keeping things low-key enough that they let us tuck them in with almost no fuss.

I “helped,” which basically meant I tagged along and shadowed him while he did all the work. He’d done his best to include me in their bedtime routine, but it was clear he’d spent a lot of time stepping in and taking care of them over the years.

“Is that it?” I asked, glancing at Tanner’s door as we stood in the quiet hallway.

“Should be.” He raked a hand through his hair and blew out a long sigh. “If they stay asleep for the next half hour, then they’re down for the night.”

“And if they wake up?”

“Then we get to start the cycle all over again.” He shot me a wry smile.

“How often does that happen?”

“Not too often. They had an exciting night with you here, so I think they’re down for the count.”

“Here’s hoping.” I fell into step beside him as he headed toward the stairs.

“So what do you think of babysitting?”

“I think you’re a superhero. I only spent a few hours with them, and I feel like I was put through the wringer trying to play referee and keep the peace. You’ve been here all day, and you’re fresh as a daisy.”

He tossed a grin over his shoulder as he started down the stairs. “They were extra crazy tonight because you were here.”

“I don’t know if you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” I said honestly.

“It’s good.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “They missed you while you were away.”

---