Page 33 of The Nanny and the Don
I let the kids help me decide what to make for dinner, and they had unanimously decided on spaghetti. I could make a mean baked spaghetti so that sounded good to me. Once I got dinner ready and put Evie in the highchair that I’d gotten Sicily to order, I went to Mr. Gray’s office door and knocked.
“Come in,” he announced.
I’d expected him to come to the door, so I was apprehensive about going in his office. He probably thought that I was Sicily since I had never ever knocked on his office door. Then again, she had been gone home for close to an hour now. I was sure he knew her schedule well. Opening the door, I stepped inside cautiously. I hadn’t decided what I would say to get him to come out and eat with us. Instead of overthinking things as usual, I just spoke from the heart.
“I made dinner. The kids would like for you to join us at the table,” I stated.
His eyes moved up to mine from whatever had his attention on his desk before roving over my body. His gaze caused heat to crawl up my neck as I waited for his response.
“Let me wash my hands. I’ll be right out,” he said, pushing back from his desk.
I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as I turned to head back to the kitchen.
“Did you wash your hands?” I asked King when I saw him climbing up in his chair.
“Yes, ma’am. See,” he said, holding up his clean hands.
“Great job. Are you ready to eat?” I asked as I continued over to the stove to make his plate. I had already fixed Evie’s plate and set it aside to cool.
“Yes. I was a good helper today. Wasn’t I, Ms. Devy?”
“Yes, you were. You made sure that all the bread got plenty of butter on it.”
“Do I have to eat the salad?” King asked as I placed his plate in front of him.
“You don’t have to eat all of it, but I want you to try it. You liked the carrots and tomatoes.”
“What about the green stuff?” he quizzed.
“Just try it. You don’t have to make yourself sick.”
“OK.” He nodded.
I was satisfied with his response, so I went back to the stove and made both Mr. Gray and myself a plate. When I turned to walk back to the dining room table where the kids were, Mr. Gray came around the corner.
“Uncle Steel, are you eating with us?” King asked enthusiastically.
“Yes, sir. Something smells good.”
“It’s spaghetti. I helped Ms. Devy cook. Right, Ms. Devy?”
“That’s right, King. You’re the best helper a girl could ask for.”
“See. Sit by me, Uncle Steel,” King suggested.
“OK.” Mr. Gray laughed, causing a swarm of butterflies in my stomach.
It warmed my heart to see King and his uncle interact. Although Mr. Gray was hesitant to engage with the kids, I knew it would be good for all parties involved for him to spend more time with them. Hopefully, this was the first of many shared dinners.
“Here you are,” I said, placing Mr. Gray’s plate in front of him.
I moved my operation down closer to Evie before getting her plate and putting it in front of her. She was pretty good with feeding her own greedy self, but I liked to be close to encourage her.
“Do you have superpowers, Uncle Steel?” King asked, breaking the short burst of comfortable silence.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, King,” I reminded him.
“Oh yeah, but do you, Uncle Steel?” he asked again.
