Page 63 of Thanking Her Brother's Best Friends

Ollie was in the throes of a huge temper tantrum. Toys lay scattered across the floor. In one corner of the room, his nanny sat, nursing her foot. "Lego damage," she muttered to me. "It's a war scene in here. Be careful where you step."

I nodded, resisting the urge to laugh.

"Ollie, please clean up your toys," the nanny pleaded. "You know how Mommy is about this, right?"

"YOU DO IT!"

Ollie had transformed from a sweet child to a mini devil, sans the red skin. Although, given that his face was flushed, we weren't too far from that stage too. He was breathing hard, and he'd obviously been shouting for quite some time.

Man, I knew Selene loved her kid. She carried a sword in her heart for him. But this wasn't okay, merely for the reasons that he'd grow up and think it was okay to treat people as he was treating his nanny.

The boys and I exchanged a look.

I knelt down on the floor beside Ollie. "Hey, little man. How about we make this a high-stakes game?"

Ollie stopped crying and looked at me, questions burning in his eyes. "What is that?"

"Well, let's say you have two choices. You can not clean up, but that means that the three of us won't think you're as cool."

"Really?" he asked, looking at all of us innocently. "But I'm cool!"

"We think so too. We think you're an absolute champ. So, if you clean up in here, we'll know for sure."

"And you'll take me out to get ice cream?"

I chuckled. The boy knew how to negotiate. It would serve him well.

"Sure, kid. We'll get you the best ice cream in all of Boston."

He nodded slowly. "I like to be cool. I’ll clean."

And then, he pottered toward each of his toys and began picking them up to put them in their baskets. He even patted his nanny on the knee.

"Sorry, Franny. You are good. Would you like some ice?"

"No, darling," Franny replied, still pressing her foot gingerly. "I'm fine. And you're doing amazing."

"Who taught you that ice heals wounds, Ollie?" Niall asked.

He tried to move to help him, but I held him back. "Let him do it," I muttered. "We'll know if he needs help. He will ask."

Niall inclined his head. "Man, he's so cute I feel like doing everything for him."

"Mom did," Ollie said. "I had to get ice for her sometimes."

We exchanged another long glance. "When was this?" I asked, unable to keep the slight hint of anger from my tone.

"Many years ago," he replied thoughtfully. "When Dad lived with us."

I inhaled sharply. "You're a good little man, Ollie."

He turned his face to me and gave me a ferociously toothy grin. He was missing one of his front teeth right now, and it just made him more adorable. I hated that he'd gone through what he had.

"Almost done," he announced, scrambling to pick up the last pieces of Lego.

We were standing facing the nursery door.

"Man, I can totally see why Selene spoils him as much as she does," I said, "given that he's absolutely precious."

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