Page 28 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

"So, what are you going to do? You can't quit. You know how long it took for you to get this job."

"That’s because I was looking for another teaching job. I could quit and get another nanny job. I'm sure there are people who need a nanny."

"And you think that’s going to be easy? Connor is family. You don't know what other people are like. You already know and love Ethan; some kids are really difficult to deal with."

I sigh. "I just don't like how he talks to me."

"So tell him that."

"What if he fires me?"

"I don't think he will. Ethan likes you. Just see how it goes, okay? It's only your second day. There’s always an adjustment period. Cheer up! It'll get better."

In the afternoon, I take an uber to go pick Ethan up.

"Aria!" he screams, and runs to me.

I ruffle his curls and open the door for him. When we’re settled and the car is in motion, I ask him how his day has been.

"We drew our family today!"

"Oh, you can draw?"

He nods. "Yes, Ashlyn says I'm the best drawer in the world."

"People who draw are called artists," I say to him.

"Artit," he says, omitting the s.

I laugh as he brings out the drawing.

He hands it over to me. "Oh, it's beautiful," I comment at the picture of three people. Three unrecognizable people.

"Who is the third person? If the little one is you and one of them is your daddy?"

"You," he answers, grinning. “That’s you.” He points at one with three strands of red hair.

"Oh,” I say, staring at the drawing that looks nothing like me, the three red strands of hair standing on its head.

I want to ask him if this is how he sees me, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

"It's beautiful?"

"It is," I say, still looking at my three strands of hair.

The drawing of his dad has a full head of hair, but the hair had been drawn as if a gust of wind had just passed over his head.

"I'll draw you again tomorrow. You'll put it on your wall in your room."

I laugh out loud and gather him into my arms. "You bet I will."

When we get home, Connor isn't home yet, and I thank God that he isn't. I don’t need his negative energy spoiling our good mood.

"What should we eat?" I ask Ethan as I change his clothes.

"I want ice cream."

"For dinner?"

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