Page 20 of Nanny Crush
“That,” Xander says, pointing to the new chart.
I gasp. “That’s right! And do you know what that is?”
They both shake their heads so I explain the chart and how it works. They both agree to do their very best to earn as many gold stars as they can. Xander starts his homework just as Liam walks into the kitchen.
“Who are these kids? I know they can’t be mine, with as clean as everything is and as quiet as they are.”
I smile and the kids giggle. “It really us, Daddy,” Maddy says.
I hand Liam the note from Xander’s teacher.
He reads it and then gives Xander a disappointed look.
“We’ve already talked about it and he’s promised to do better. Right?” I ask, looking over at him.
He nods.
Liam wads the paper up and tosses it into the trash can on his way by to the fridge. He pulls out a bottle of water and takes a long drink.
“Done!” Maddy says, pushing her empty plate away.
I stand and pick her up out of her chair and set her on her feet to go and play. Xander finishes his homework and puts it into his folder. I put both their backpacks away and clean up after their snack.
Liam doesn’t say much of anything as he walks by and goes directly up to his office. I wish I knew how to break down the wall between us. This would be much easier if we could talk to one another like friends. I lean against the doorframe as I watch him walk up the stairs and back to his office, the door closing behind him. It’s easy to see why the kids have been acting out. He doesn’t give them much attention, but I don’t really know how things were around here before I arrived either. Hopefully things will turn around for them now that I’m here and they have a little more stability.
Chapter Ten
LIAM
I’m actually impressed by how well things are going. Sasha is great. The house is clean, the laundry is getting done, she cooks three meals a day, and the kids are well taken care of. The best part is that now I know I don’t have to worry. I can sit in my office all day long and everything outside of this room will be just fine, allowing me to get more work done in a few short days than I have in months. I’m not completely exhausted at the end of every day, either.
I can hear the kids giggling and quietly playing downstairs and after working a few hours, I smell something delicious waft up the stairs and right to my nose. I push my chair back and go to inspect. The smell gets stronger the closer I get to the kitchen and when I walk in, I find the kids setting the table.
I think my jaw hits the floor. “What’s going on in here?”
“We help Sasha, Daddy,” Maddy says, putting a fork on the table.
“I see that. Good job guys. I’m proud of you for behaving so well with Sasha.” I look over at her, hard at work cooking. “How did you get them to do chores?”
She smiles and shrugs one shoulder. “It’s nothing,” she says.
“We help with laundry too, Daddy,” Maddy adds on.
“Yea!” Xander says. “I even get to help load the dishwasher.” He’s excited, and I laugh.
“I’m proud of all of you,” I tell them.
“Daddy eat dinner?” Maddy asks.
“Yeah, Dad. Will you eat with us?” Xander asks.
“There’s more than enough,” Sasha says.
“Sure, why not?” I agree even though there is still more work to do. I guess there always will be.
Dinner is served, and we all take our places at the table. Things feel weird and, at first, I’m not entirely sure what to say. The kids break the awkwardness by filling the room with chatter. They tell me about school, helping Sasha around the house, and the games they’ve been playing.
“Sasha made up this cool game, too!” Xander says.
