Page 60 of Mr. Wolfe's Nanny

“Say, kids. Let’s look at the menu so we’ll know what we’re ordering when the server arrives.” I put away my phone and hope to see a server coming our way. Distract, distract, distract.

Instead of a server though, I see another woman wearing a thong, here in the flesh. She’s intercepted Theo returning from the men’s room. And they’rehugging?

Theo keeps his hands well above the danger zone and the hug is brief but it doesn’t stop my stomach from closing up and my whole mood from spiraling in a heartbeat. Who is she? How does he know her? What are they saying?

She’s blonde, toned and gorgeous. Bikini, scrap of a see-through coverup, high-heeled sandals and a pair of sunglasses. That’s it. Don’t they have a dress code here?It’s a tropical resort town, Quinn. Be cool.

But I can’t be cool not knowing who this is or who she is to Theo.

She’s talking animatedly, gesturing with her hands and I can tell Theo’s struggling to get a word in edgewise. He finally indicates the table where we’re sitting and she clasps her hands together excitedly, hurrying towards us.

Oh God. He’d said Nadine was his only steady lover after Kathy’s death until me but what if…

“These are your children, Theo?! O. M. G! They’re adorbs!” the woman squeals in a gratingly high-pitched voice.

O. M. G? Adorbs? This lady clearly isn’t a teenager. What adult speaks that way?

“Um, yeah. Kids, Quinn, this is Sara Newhouse.”

“Sara with no ‘h’,” she adds, using air quotation marks. “That’s my Insta handle. Maybe you’ve seen me on YouTube? Flying High with Sara, lifestyle guru and exercise enthusiast.” She does one of those sweeping arm movements like the models on game shows. Is she the prize?

“My dad got me this trip to Cabo as a Christmas gift. It’s so spiritual here. Too bad more people don’t speak English.” Is she serious? We’re in a foreign country.

“I’m currently working on a full self-makeover series: ‘Me, Beautifuler.’” Is that a word? “It’s a new beauty regime to help me cope after… you know.” She turns towards Theo and pouts like a toddler at bedtime.

“Yeah, Sara was engaged to someone I know.”

Sara promptly bursts into tears. Maybe I’m wrong but they seem a little artificial to me. And she even cries pretty. I’m an ugly crier. “Tom told me we’d have babies and grow old together!”

She literally throws herself against Theo who’s forced to wrap an arm around her to keep her from falling over in those ridiculous heels.

“It was a real shock for all of us… when he got caught embezzling,” Theo finishes bitterly. The blonde in his arms wails and clutches him a little too tightly to suit me.

But wait! Tom, the embezzler! Theo’s mentioned him and how he was set to get married before his crimes were uncovered. They’d been friends. He’d even asked Theo to be in the wedding, I think. Damn. I do feel bad for Sara with no ‘h’ now.

Tears forgotten a moment later, Sara straightens again but keeps a grip on Theo - maybe I’m not feelingtoobad for her - and turns back to us. “And what’s your name, little heartbreaker?” she asks Ryder who’s eyeing this woman with the same narrowed eyes I was a minute ago. His aren’t green with misplaced jealousy though.

“What happened to your swimsuit?” he asks Sara, ignoring her question about his name.

Sara blinks and smiles, not understanding so Jill decides to help explain. “I’m sorry to tell you this, ma’am, but part of it has gone missing. We can see your bottom,” the child whispers, her little cheeks growing pink.

Bless Jill, Theo and I are struggling not to laugh. Sara doesn’t struggle. She throws her head back and guffaws as if Jill’s told a funny joke.Hoo boy. “You’re so precious! Let me use her in a video and I’ll tag you, Theo! Kids are so refreshing!”

Theo’s giving a very firm no to his daughter being in any video online when the server arrives, not a moment too soon.

When Sara moves on at last, I can’t seem to stop myself from saying, “She was friendly,” a bit more chillier than warranted.

“Were you jealous?” he teases in a whisper.

I glare at him. But, yes, I was.

“You’ve got zero reason to be,” he tells me, digging into some nachos.

Meanwhile, between the food and entertainment, Ryder and Jill have forgotten all about being tired and grumpy.

To top off our smoothie break, Jill asks her dad if men ever wear thongs.

“Ew, gross. No one needs to see more butts,” Ryder says, sipping his smoothie.

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