Page 3 of The Third Girl

Lucy’s been my backup for childcare, but now with her bakery open and running again, she’s not the best option either. I get that. And I go round and round in my head trying to come up with another solution, but frankly, the single-dad-working-graveyard-shift gig has me so fucking exhausted that I’ve put it off.

I take a few seconds to smooth my napkin out on the table while I think. To their credit, they’re not nagging, not even bringing it up. But I know it’s time to discuss it again. “I don’t know what I’m doing about Sailor yet. I’m trying to figure it out.” My jaw clenches, and I close my eyes for a brief second.

Mom sighs. “You know I’ll keep her right up until the surgery. But that’s not far off.”

I know damn well Dad wants her to rest, so it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest when he works his jaw back and forth but says nothing. He’d never argue with her. Not in front of us, anyway.

Mick, who’s been mostly silent until now, speaks up. “Lucy’s burning the candle at both ends with Aidan and the bakery. I’m there to help at night, too, but she needs a break. When we have Sailor, Aidan sometimes wakes her in the middle of the night, then—” He clears his throat roughly, and I can tell from the discomfort in his expression that he hates to have to say anything about the situation. “We’d love to still help in emergency situations, but we can’t bethe plan.”

I’m very aware that Lucy can barely keep up with her own obligations. “Yeah, I know. I get it. And I wasn’t banking on it. I just don’t know where to look for someone or how it would work.” I rub both hands over my face as my heart rate goes up.What the hell am I going to do?I have two and a half weeks to figure this out.

My sister cringes. “Um, so I don’t know if this is something you’ve considered… but have you thought about hiring someone to stay at the house overnight with her?”

“You mean like a nanny?”

“Yeah, why not?” Lucy shrugs.

“Do people even do that anymore?”

“Well, sure. If the need arises. It’s not that much different than a babysitter, only one who stays overnight. Or however long you want her to. You still have the guest bedroom set up, right?”Yeah.I used it myself for a short period, unable to handle sleeping in our bed alone.

My forehead pinches. “I don’t know how I’ll find someone in time.” I slap my palms on my thighs and stand up, taking my empty coffee mug with me into the kitchen. I need more coffee for this conversation. I quickly pour myself another cup and head back in to rejoin my family.

They’re absolutely silent though the unspoken questions and comments fly around the room. I take a seat again, clearing my throat. “I’m desperate. But I don’t want to leave her with just anyone, you know?”

“Maybe there are agencies for this. You know, I could do some research tomorrow. See what I can come up with?” Mom tilts her head kindly at me.

“Wait.” A smile tugging at her lips, Lucy holds her hands up, which brings the conversation to a crashing halt. “What if someone you already know could do it?”

“I hope you don’t mean Laney and Logan. No way am I asking that of them. They’re finally settled down together. I’m not fucking that up.”

Lucy shakes her head. “No, not Laney. Um, this may be out of left field, but what about Laney’s coworker? The one who’s young and single. She’s a teacher, and you know they’re always short on money. She’s looking for a summer job, but what if she could start sooner?”

I frown. There are a couple of Laney’s friends who’ve been attending the self-defense classes at the Brookhaven Wellness Center that I’ve assisted my buddy Jackson, a fellow police officer, with. How he ever got me to agree to do those, I still don’t know. Skeptical, I arch my brow. “It’s not one of the women from the self-defense class, is it?”

Lucy sputters. “Oh, shit. Total mom brain. Yes. It’s Skylar Wood. The redhead.”

Like someone’s punched me right in the gut, all the air rushes from me. Of course it would be the pretty one with the sparkling green eyes and the sassy sense of humor. “I, uh— I dunno, maybe. I’ll text Laney and see if she can talk to Skylar for me. See if it’s something she’d be willing to at least try.”

“It’d be a couple more months that she’d have to be at school by eight, but I’d be happy to watch Sailor for an hour in the mornings if that would help make it work for you.”

Dad slaps his hand on my shoulder. “It’s definitely worth looking into.”

We could do it on a trial basis—at least that’ll give me more time to find someone else, if necessary. “Yeah. I appreciate it. I’ll shoot Laney a text right now.”

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