Page 37 of Nanny for the Doctor

After the incredible sex, and I mean fucking incredible, I escort Mae to the downstairs bathroom, and we shower. The warm water feels great, and I’m so much more relaxed than I was before.

Having Mae here all the time would certainly make my days more enjoyable.

We get dressed and then head back to the kitchen for some water. Sitting across the table from her again, I smile, but Mae looks nervous.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know this is a weird time, but I’m not sure there will ever be a good one.”

Well, that’s ominous. I raise my brows. “A good time for what?”

“I want to talk with you about something that might be a little uncomfortable. Is that alright?”

I swallow hard, my gaze going to my hands, and I sit back in my chair. Is this the relationship talk?

It feels a little soon for us to be going down that road, but I understand why she might want to define things.

“Okay.”

“I’m worried about Henry.”

Oh. Never mind, then. Shit, I thought she was going to ask if we were dating. That’s a relief.

“It was just a little fall. He’ll be okay. I know exactly what he needs to heal.”

Mae shakes her head. “No, not that. I’m worried about how disconnected you guys seems to be. He’s always so disappointed when you don’t make it home when you say you will, but worse, he’s coming to expect it. When something like today happens, Henry isn’t sure he can rely on you to be there."

The emotional high I had been enjoying after the fantastic sex completely falls flat. I clench my fists as I cross my arms, huffing out a sharp breath.

Looks like I’ve been blindsided again, and I really don’t like where this is headed.

“I was there today. I got to Henry in seconds.”

“Well, yes, because it was the hospital, but what about when he has games or is going through something challenging at home? Henry has started seeking out other people to reassure him when dealing with big emotions. That’s why he didn’t want me to leave when you examined him.”

My blood rushes through my ears. I know Henry had been more responsive to Mae’s consoling, and I wasn’t looking for a reminder.

“So it’s my fault that my own son would rather have you around?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what it sounded like to me.” I push up from my chair, walking to the sink.

I donotwant to have this conversation. Things had actually started to feel better. Why is she even bringing this up?

Mae has no idea what I’ve been through or how hard I work. And I’m just supposed to sit here and listen to her call me a bad father?

“Reed.” Mae follows me, her voice pleading. “It’s just that he doesn’t spend much time with you. You’re constantly picking up double shifts and staying late at the hospital. Henry feels like he always comes second to your job, and that’s rough for a kid.”

I turn toward the sink, washing some of the plates Henry had used earlier this morning and trying to ignore Mae’s words.

“Reed, you can’t put this off. You need to be more present for him, for you both. You have time to get your relationship back on track, but not long. Trust me, I’ve worked with kids for years and studied a lot to help them as best I can. Everything points to Henry building up more and more walls to isolate himself from disappointment. That could really affect him as he gets older.”

Tossing the small plastic plate into the sink, I spin around, facing Mae.

“Studied? You’re ananny. I hired you to be a nanny. Not to diagnose my son with some made-up issue because I have to work or pretend like you’re his mother.”

Mae steps back, her hands fisted and resting on her hips. “That’s not what I was trying to do.”

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