Page 41 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“I recognize the tone of your voice,” she said. “It’s the same tone you had when you first started talking about Anya.”

“Mom…”

“I’m not implying anything. All I know is that you’ve hired a new nanny who has been caught a few times by the cameras out with the kids. She’s pretty. And she seems really good with them.”

“You’d like her. She reminds me of you.”

“How so?” she asked. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to find someone like your mother to date because you have one of those weird complexes.”

“With all due respect, I have a fine mother. I also married someone the complete opposite of her and it tanked.”

“Well don’t make it a complex. That could get hairy. I can babysit my grandchildren, but I’m not of the age where I could raise them.”

“Are you insinuating that my imaginary complex would put me in a mental institution?”

“I’m saying I’d put you there,” she said with a giggle.

“Always a spitfire,” I said with a smile.

“So what are the two of you getting into tonight?” she asked.

“I thought about taking her to dinner. I brought her to the theat

er on one of our opening nights on our first date, but things didn’t quite go as planned.”

“How so?”

“Well, it was more ‘we need to keep this platonic for the kids’. But now, things are a little different.”

“Sounds complicated. This is why I married your father. I no longer had to play those kinds of games once I was married.”

“Trust me, it’s a perk to being married,” I said with a grin.

“So dinner. Just dinner?”

“I thought about taking her to a movie. Maybe on a walk afterwards. Or somewhere after dinner for dessert.”

“Your mother doesn’t want to hear that kind of talk.”

“No, Mom. Actual dessert. With chocolate syrup and cake.”

The two of us shared a laugh as I leaned back into my chair.

“So, will you come watch the kids?” I asked.

“That’s never a question, honey. Of course I’ll come watch the kids. What time do you want me there?”

“How does six sound?” I asked. “Their bedtime is usually eight, but since it’s Saturday night they can stay up a little later.”

“So all night. Got it.”

“Mom.”

“What? I haven’t babysat in over two months. I’m going to spoil them while I can. I might not see them for another two years.”

“Melodramatic much?” I asked.

“Where do you think you got your acting chops?”

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