Page 5 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

Amy widens her brown eyes at Ethan. "Really? You grew this big in just two days? You'll be a giant in a week," she jokes.

Ethan giggles and nods. "Yes, I won't be able to fit in this house," he says, and spreads his hands like a giant.

I shake my head and watch as they both walk with legs and arms apart into the living room, where Charles, Amy's husband, sits.

Ethan runs toward him and lands between his legs.

Charles ruffles his dark curly hair and gasps. "You've gotten so big!"

Ethan giggles and jumps up and down.

"You two indulge him," I say, taking a chair across from Charles.

"Do you want to help in the kitchen?" Amy asks Ethan, who jumps to her side.

"Yes. What’re we making? Cake?" Ethan asks in his tiny, hopeful voice.

"Not cake. Something even more delicious."

"More delicious than cake?" he asks, unconvinced.

"You'll see," Amy says, taking his hand, and they disappear into the kitchen.

"How's Long Beach treating you?" Charles asks.

I tap my hands on the arm of the chair. "Well, it's Long Beach." That's the best answer I can give for now. I'm still feeling it out.

He nods. "Any luck with the fitness gig? The last time we talked, you said you were looking for a place to get a fitness training job because you didn't want to be at home doing nothing now that you're retired."

"Yeah, I got a job at a gym. I start tomorrow."

Just then, Amy and Ethan walk into the room, Amy with a pitcher of iced tea in one hand and a plate of cookies in the other. Ethan holds a smaller plate of cookies with both hands.

"Oh, that's great to know. At least you'll have something to keep you busy," Amy comments as she sets the plate on the table.

"Yeah, but I only go in three days a week."

"It's fine. That way you can rest in between."

Ethan puts the plate in his hands on the table and looks up at Amy, who nods for him to take one of the cookies.

“Thank you,” he says, getting a pillow to sit on the carpeted floor.

"You've done such a good job raising him. He's so well behaved," Amy remarks as she pours a glass of tea for each of us.

I stretch to get a cookie and take a bite. "Our nanny in San Marino also did a great job. I wasn't really around much. And when Cassy was in the hosp—" my voice cracks, but I continue. "When Cassy was in the hospital, I was a mess, so the nanny kept things together."

"Won't you be needing one here? A nanny, that is," Amy asks.

I sigh and down the rest of my drink. "Ethan starts school tomorrow. We’ll see how well I can cope. But it shouldn't be that hard.”

Amy nods. "No problem. So long as you can handle it."

"It's not more delicious than cake, but it's close," Ethan says quietly from where he's seated on the floor.

Amy holds her stomach as she lets out a laugh.

"I need more snacks than that," Ethan expresses while staring at the packs of wheat crackers I’ve just plucked off the grocery store shelf.

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