Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
“Sure. That works.” I tucked the Post-it into the back pocket of my shorts, boosting Marley on my hip when I was finished. “Does she have any allergies to anything, or can I feed her whatever she’ll eat?”
“No allergies. I do know that.”
“Okay, great.” I smiled at Marley. “Do you want to go eat? Are you hungry?”
“Eat!” Her legs kicked out excitedly.
I began to turn away with her but stopped. “Oh.” My hand shot out. “I’m Jenna, by the way. Sorry.”
“Nathan.”
His grip engulfed mine. This guy could probably palm a basketball, no problem. Wow. What a weird thing to think, Jenna.
I cleared my throat as we separated, checked the floor behind me for toys, and then backed up toward the door. “Okay. I’ll get her fed and let you get some work done.”
“Thank you. I…” He closed his mouth with a pained expression, as if he was afraid to speak or even hear his next words. His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily in his throat.
I froze.
I wanted to hug him, or at least promise everything would be okay. He looked like he desperately needed to hear that. And the desire to do more than what I was offering already stole my breath.
“I really appreciate this. Thank you,” he said quietly.
Before I made this awkward and actually initiated an embrace, I settled on an honest “anytime” while holding in the anything that wanted to follow.
I’d help Nathan however I could.
Chapter Four
NATHAN
I didn’t deserve her help. I didn’t deserve help from anyone anymore. Taking care of Marley was my responsibility. It should fall on me.
But fuck, I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. And whatever I was doing wasn’t working.
I was pretty sure my daughter hated me.
Not that I could blame Marley. What had I ever done for her? If she thought I was a dick for letting her mother die…yeah, I deserved that. Sadie’s suicide was my fault. I should’ve helped her and I didn’t. I left Marley without a mother, and then I completely checked out as a father. I couldn’t stand myself for it.
Every word I spoke to her tasted like regret. I wanted those twenty-two months back. I wanted to fix this, to be better.
God, I needed to be better.
The last two weeks had been a nightmare. I’d tried getting Marley in at every day care in Dogwood Beach, but everything was booked solid for the summer. Every babysitter Care.com had to offer in my area already had a job lined up. All of them. The only option left was to bring her to work with me.
I was fucked. Between Marley sneaking out and getting into shit and her constant screaming whenever she actually remained in my office, someone was close to calling the cops. I had prepared myself for that and for unemployment. One or the other was happening. I couldn’t see this working out any other way.
Then Jenna walked in and saved my ass. That entire conversation felt like a dream. I didn’t know this woman at all, and she was offering me the lifeline I desperately needed.
Jesus Christ, I could’ve kissed her. Did she have any idea what she was giving me? A day later and I was still shocked by her kindness.
I pushed my arm through the sleeve of my shirt and fixed my collar. Just as I checked my watch to note it was nearly eight thirty, the doorbell rang. I’d been half convinced our conversation had been a dream. A part of me hadn’t expected her to show up.
God, this woman is a saint.
I rushed downstairs and paused in the buttoning of my shirt to open the door.
Jenna stood on the porch with two young kids flanking her. I recognized the boy from the restaurant on Memorial Day. That was definitely the strangest conversation I’ve had to date. Based on the tight, uncomfortable smile he was giving me, I’d guess he felt the same way about it. The little girl, on the other hand, couldn’t have been grinning at me any bigger.
“Morning,” Jenna said. Her eyes fell to my open shirt and she frowned. “Sorry. Are we early?”
“No. No, you’re perfect. Come in.” I stepped back and held the door open. The little girl moved inside first, tipping her head back further when she stopped in front of me.
“Hello.” Her voice was soft and a little shy.
“Hey.” I gave her a polite nod.
She stared up at me and kept grinning.
“Olivia, scoot over, baby.”
Hearing that request, the girl stepped over and got beside me. The duffle bag she was carrying hit the floor at her feet with a thud. The boy came inside next. His mouth dropped open as he peered around the room.
“Whoa. Your house is huge. Mom, this is almost as big as Uncle Jamie’s house.” The boy looked up at me then, his hand gripping the strap at his shoulder. His bag appeared to be just as full. “His house has, like, twelve rooms. How many rooms you got here?”