Page 34 of DadBod

“That’s what I don’t get. There are lots of nanny services in this city. Why me?”

“My mom said you want to be a teacher. That you love working with kids––”

“But I’m not a teacher. Not anywhere near a teacher. I’ve never even taken a class.”

“Cal really likes you.”

“I––I feel the same about him.”

“See? You’re the perfect person, Elizabeth.”

She clears her throat. “There are going to be people at work who aren’t going to like this. It’ll be a shit show when they find out.”

I know who she’s referencing, and I don’t give two shits what my employees think. “You’ll have a credit card in your name in case you want to take the kids out to a museum, shopping, etc.”

“Rome––”

“What?”

“This is too much.”

“I read up on it. This is all standard for hiring a full-time nanny.”

“Ryann isn’t going to like having me around.”

This is the real reason I need her. Ryann. “She’s acting out. I can’t trust her to keep an eye on Cal.”

“She lost her mom.”

“Another reason why you’re perfect.” There are many. “You know what she’s going through.”

“I’m not a psychologist, Rome,” she scoffs. “I can barely handle my own problems.”

Part of me would love to grab her and wrap her up in my arms and promise her I’d take care of all her problems, but that’s not the right move. Not now, anyway.

“All I’m saying is you’ll understand since you know what she’s—what they’re both going through.”

“I understand it, but it doesn’t mean I know how to help them navigate all their feelings. They need a professional for that.” Her face changes like a lightbulb just went off behind those beautiful eyes of hers. My God, this woman sparkles. There’s no better way of describing it. She literally sparkles.

“What?”

“Have you considered therapy for the kids?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“They’ll be fine.”

Elizabeth sets the paper down on the small table between our seats. “I won’t even consider this unless you think about therapy for them. They lost their mother. Think about you at Cal’s or even Ryann’s age. What if you’d lost your mom?”

I’d have been devastated.

“They need to talk to someone who can help them understand their own feelings and how to handle their new life without her. And it’s even harder for Ryann. Fourteen is that age when everything changes.”

Elizabeth’s face looks determined. Like she does when we serve veal or lamb. She’s now sitting on the edge of her chair, her little hands in fists on top of her legs. She means this.

“Fine.” I sigh. “I’ll look into it.”

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