Page 41 of Partner Pursuit
“I don’t think I can compete with you,” Audrey said, smiling.
They found Luna in her room playing with her Playmobil castle. Luna grabbed Jake around the leg. “UncleJake!”
“Luna, meet my friend Audrey.”
“That’s a great castle,” Audrey said. “I love playing with Playmobil.”
“Can you hold Thomas?” Jake asked. Audrey took Thomas from Jake, reveling in his sweet baby smell.
Jake squatted so he was at Luna’s height. “Luna, I get to bring you to school today. I’ll meet your friends. But you need to get dressed so we can go. Look, Mommy put out your clothes.” Luna glanced at her clothes on the bed but didn’t seem interested.
Jake suggested they get their final instructions from Fiona while Luna got dressed. Carrying Thomas, Audrey followed Jake back to the living room, where Fiona was packing her purse, the various bags filled with children’s stuff at her feet. Fiona told them what still needed to be done and explained that she couldn’t be late again to the morning staff meeting.
“You and Mom.” Jake rolled his eyes. “It’s as if I’ve never babysat before.”
“Trying to get them out the door on a deadline is entirely different,” Fiona said. She kissed Thomas goodbye.
“I gather. Mom called me last night with all this advice—saying I should sing if I get frustrated and tempted to yell. As if I would yell. Anyway, she said it would lighten the mood and get them to listen.”
“Oh my god, yes, she really liked that course that thepre-schooloffered. She thought it was brilliant.” Fiona yelled out, “Luna, Luna, Mommy is leavingnow.”
“Bye Mommy.” Luna came into the living room, wearing just a pajamat-shirtand underwear, her guitar slung on, overwhelming her small frame. She was singing a song and strummingoff-tune.
“Go,” Jake said to his sister.
“Yes, don’t worry,” Audrey said, bouncing Thomas on herhip.
“You can strap Thomas in the stroller, and then both of you can get Luna ready. You can give Thomas a book. His books are over there.” Fiona kissed both children goodbye, checked she had her keys and phone,andleft.
As the door closed behind her, Jake said, “Sisters, no faith. She doesn’t understand that getting everybody on board for a marketing strategy can be like herding cats. I can definitely handle getting two kids outthedoor.”
Audrey put Thomas down on the floor with a fire truck and started zooming it around him. Jake unfolded thestroller.
“Uncle Jake, teach me guitar!”Lunasaid.
“I can’t right now,”Jakesaid.
Luna pouted.
“We have to get ready for school. I see you started getting dressed,” hesaid.
“I hate school. I want to play with you. You told me you’d teach me guitar.”
“You love school. You see all your friends there.” He pulled out her chair. “Here, come finish your breakfast, and I’ll go get the rest of yourclothes.”
Luna climbed into the wooden slanted highchair, and Jake pushed thechair in.
Jake looked at the clock. “I’m sorry, I thought I’d just be picking them up. I don’t want you to be lateforwork.”
“I have time.” Some time anyway. “Do you have a workmeeting?”
“I was hoping to do a final prep before my meeting presenting to the entire label.” He lookedchagrined.
Luna asked for more milk. Jake poured some and then left to get Luna’s clothes. Audrey sat down at the table with Luna, holding Thomas on her lap. Luna eyed her warily and didn’t eather bagel.
Audrey picked up a little bunny in a pretty flowery yellow dress that was lying discarded on the table and said in ahigh-pitchedvoice as the bunny, “HelloLuna.”
“Bunnies don’t talk,”Lunasaid.
