Page 39 of Grump's Nanny

“It’s kind of fun,” she said, and I smiled at her as much as I could.

“I’m glad you like it. Maybe that can be a chore you help me with.”

She nodded, and once she was done, I showed her how to empty the dirty tank.

“Okay,” I said, once the room looked good as new. “I need to go clean up. Do you think you can keep an eye on the younger kids for me?”

She looked thrilled to be given the responsibility, and she rushed over to pick out a book for herself. I watched for a minute, glad at least one thing went right today, then went to my room and shut the door.

I stripped out of my paint covered clothes, putting them carefully in my hamper. They wouldn’t stain since the paint was washable, but I still didn’t want it to get everywhere. Then I climbed into my shower, where I sank to the floor, and finally let myself feel the pain of losing someone I really cared about.

Chapter Sixteen

James

Haley and I had barely spoken since the incident after the party. I didn't blame her. I was being a total creep, no matter my intentions, and she’d seen me in the throes of my own ecstasy, moaning her name. To be perfectly honest, I was more embarrassed about that than anything.

The day had been long by the time I got home, with several things going wrong all across the resort.. Some pipes had frozen and burst, and the roads were horrendously icy making it near impossible for the plumbers to get out until well after noon.

Then if that wasn’t bad enough, some kid trying to do tricks that were way beyond his skill level, had broken his back halfway down a course. We had to get a helicopter in to get him out. I was just thankful that the only cameras there were people’s cell phones.

Not that those didn’t present their own problems as well.

When the day ended, I was totally beat, and also seeking a truce between Haley and me. I walked through the entrance, taking off my shoes and coat and kicking them both aside as a lovely cinnamon smell filled my nose.

I emerged into the kitchen to find a tri-level serving tray of cinnamon rolls had been set out with fresh treats cooling there. Haley had mentioned being able to cook but certainly not the ability to bake. They smelled and looked phenomenal.

I grabbed one and began to munch, suddenly realizing that this was the first thing I was eating today and walked to the living room where I found all three of my kids reading.

No Haley.

“Daddy!” Katie cried, reaching her arms up for me and casting her book aside.

“Hey, Bug,” I replied. “How was your day?”

“It was good,” she said with a grin. It was then that I noticed a dusting of cinnamon on her chin and a smear of cream cheese frosting on her nose. “We ate cimmonim rolls.” She said sweetly.

“You mean cinnamon rolls, right?”

“Oh yes,” she replied. “Those. Miss Haley helped us make them.”

“Did she now?” I said, eyeballing Ben and Leann. “And where is Haley?”

“I may have spilled a little paint on her and she started to cry and said to read while she had a quick shower,” Leann said. “But she’s been in there seventy-two minutes. Maybe she drowned?”

I could sense that there was more behind the story but wanted to be sure Haley was okay first. I felt my pulse speed up a little. What if she’d fallen and hurt herself? That bathroom was known to have shitty cell service due to the marble.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to the kids. “I want to be sure Haley is okay.”

I jogged down the long hallway to her suite and when I reached it, I tugged on the door handle to find that it was locked.

Thoughts of our uncomfortable encounter raced through my brain and I struggled to try and decide whether I should break in or try to call through the door.

“Haley?” I said loudly. “Haley?”

I got no response, so I took a deep breath and threw my shoulder into the door, breaking it open and stumbling inside. It was a mess in the neatest sense, with everything in a place but none of those places in order. Socks all piled on the armchair, her jeans hanging from her curtain rod.

“Haley?” I called out again, hoping I wouldn’t startle her by being in here.

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