Page 18 of Give Me a Reason

Finn shrugged like it was no big deal. “She asked for a dollhouse.” Then he moved toward the kitchen, presumably to do whatever he needed to before he left for the night.

Like it wasn’t expensive or something only privileged kids had. “You’re so lucky, Paisley.”

She looked up at me like I was silly. “You can play with it too.”

“I’d love that.” We sat next to each other as she showed me her dolls, naming them one by one.

“I’m going to head out,” Finn said a short while later.

“Have a good time,” I said to him, unsure what you were supposed to say to someone who was performing.

He flashed that megawatt smile again, and everything inside me melted. “I definitely will. You have my number, and I put her mother Naomi’s phone number on the fridge.”

“Hopefully, I won’t need to call. We’ll play, eat dinner, and get ready for bed. Easy peasy.”

Finn growled as he lifted Paisley into his arms, blowing raspberries on her neck. She squealed and giggled. When he finally put her down again, he said, “That’s what you think. This one can be a bear when it’s bedtime.”

“Kids are usually more cooperative with me.” Parents always asked how I managed when they struggled with things like food and bedtime. I assumed it was the new person effect. They never listened to their parents but did listen to their teachers.

Finn squatted down to Paisley’s level to give her a hug and a kiss. “Be good for Aria, okay, baby girl?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m always good.”

“Sure, you are,” Finn said, making me think that wasn’t the case. “But let’s be extra good, okay?”

Paisley nodded, and he kissed her one more time.

I stood and followed him to the door, where his guitar case rested against the wall.

“Don’t worry about anything. We’ll be fine.”

He turned, running a hand through his hair. “I called your references, and they all had glowing reports about you.”

I remained silent because I’d had a lot of clients just from word-of-mouth referrals. Other teenage girls were too busy with sports, jobs, and boys to be reliable.

“They all agreed that you’re great with kids. I can’t ask for anything else.” His deep voice wrapped around my shoulders like a blanket.

“Thanks for the opportunity.” Most of the other kids didn’t need sitters anymore, and I was a little too old to be finding babysitting jobs. Most parents wanted a teenager so they could pay less.

He lifted the guitar case and opened the door. “You’re saving me.”

Something about those few words sent my heart soaring. I wanted to do far more than watch his daughter.

Then he closed the door, leaving me alone with his daughter, in his house, which smelled like him. I took a deep breath and got back to my job.

We played house for a little while before I got dinner ready. Finn had left a note out about what was in the fridge and pantry. After asking Paisley what she wanted, I cooked spaghetti, enlisting her help.

She was interested and engaged the entire time. She was a joy to be around, intelligent and thoughtful.

While the noodles boiled, I asked her if she had any homework to complete, and she ran toward the front door where her book bag hung on a hook. She returned with her worksheets and sat on the island stool.

I let her work independently unless she had questions. She completed it easily and returned the finished work to her book bag.

As I drained the noodles, I asked, “Does your dad make your lunch the night before?”

She shook her head. “The bread gets soggy when you do that.”

“Can’t have that,” I said with a smile. “Do you like listening to your daddy play guitar?”

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