27. No Big Deal

27

NO BIG DEAL

" S ounds like you had a great time with Raine yesterday," Aster said to Daphne at breakfast on Monday morning.

"I did," Daphne said. "I like her. She's a sweetheart."

"She is," he said. He turned to break the eggs into a bowl. Daphne wanted to make breakfast and he'd told her no. She was on vacation and she never got to take a day off and relax, always waiting on people or kids. She wasn't allowed to do it for a few days.

"I can tell she loves you," his sister said.

"She does," he said. "I'm a loveable guy."

Daphne grinned. "You are, but you never let people know that."

He was scrambling the eggs and reached down to get the pan with his other hand and when he went to pull it up it fell out of his hand.

Fuck.

He shook his hand off and flexed his fingers and then picked it up quickly. "Sorry about the noise."

"What happened?" she asked. "Why are you flexing your hand?"

"Nothing," he said. "I slept on my arm funny last night. Every once in a while some of my fingers go numb when that happens. I had to shake it off in the shower too."

Daphne didn't look as if she believed him, but he went back to making breakfast like it was no big deal and purposely used his left hand to show it was fine.

Which it was, but he couldn't stand that every once in a while if he bent his arm just right he got a shooting pain in his chest or shoulder; other times his fingers lost their feeling. It wasn't that he couldn't move them, but he couldn't feel that he had a grip on something.

"How often does that happen?" Daphne asked.

"I don't know," he said. "Not enough to even count it."

"Maybe you should get a pillow to prop your arm up or something."

"Or just not sleep on that side," he said, laughing. "I slept hard and that's a good thing. Do you know how long it's been since I could close my eyes and not worry about having to jump up and deal with danger?"

"Thank God for that," Daphne said. "Though you might get called into a fire."

He let out a sigh. "There aren't many calls," he said. "And by the time I get there it's under control or nothing. I'm just outside, I told you that. Even Raine doesn't bug me about it too much, so don't you do that."

"I don't think she likes you to do that either," Daphne said.

"Did she say anything about it?" he asked. It'd never come up with them other than the one time Raine slipped and told Daphne.

"No," Daphne said.

"Then why say that to me," he said. "Don't try to guilt me into things."

"Sorry," Daphne said, smirking. "But you know I worry."

He let out a sigh. "I know."

"How do you even have time with your job?"

"Zane has told me to do what I need to. Lily too. They love this community and know there is a lack of volunteers. Don't you think it's a nice thing I'm seeped into it here for the long haul?"

"Trying to convince me to come and that you're staying, aren't you?"

"Yes to both, but I'm not lying to you either." He finished with their eggs and put them on plates with the toast that had popped.

"I know you're not. It's just such a big decision. I've never lived anywhere else."

"So you're scared?" he asked. He wasn't sure why that never occurred to him. "Change is hard, I know."

"It is," Daphne said. "But it's not a hardship either. It's so nice here and quiet. I'm really worried that I won't find a job and then just be sitting around feeling like more of a failure than I do now."

He took a deep breath. "You're not a failure. You're a hard worker and stubborn as can be. Let me ask you this—Mom and Dad are putting the house up for sale in a few weeks, right?"

She'd told him that last night. He'd been shocked to hear it'd be that soon, but his parents were ready to move out and didn't care that there were things to fix in their house hoping a buyer wouldn't care as much.

"So they say," Daphne said. "Though it's not even close to ready and they don't seem to be in a hurry."

"Once it sells you're going to have to move out on your own. You know you can't afford it. Not without a roommate. Do you want someone you don't know or your brother that you've lived with before and know you don't have to worry about killing me in my sleep because I'm a slob?"

Daphne laughed. "I might be more worried that you'll do that to me because I'm not as clean as you."

"I won't," he said. "Never. I'm not that OCD. Raine likes things a certain way in her house which is different than I do. I do them her way in her house; she does them my way in my house. I'm adaptable."

"You're wearing me down slowly," Daphne said. "I was looking on my phone at jobs here. There aren't a lot. Maybe because it's not tourist season so I didn't see any restaurants needing help."

He couldn't argue that. "In the summer there will be all sorts of jobs here I'm sure."

"Raine drove to the casinos yesterday. I asked her to so I could see how far or how easy it was to get to them."

He frowned. "Why?"

"They are looking for people there. Lots of them. And full time. The pay was decent and it had benefits. I mean if I'm going to work in the hospitality industry, it'd be nice to have a full-time job with benefits and get tips."

He didn't like hearing that but would never tell her no. It was her choice where she worked, but he wouldn't want her doing that and working late nights. Not leaving alone at night either.

Rather than get worked up over it since she still lived in Texas, he said, "See, options."

"It's so funny to watch you bite your tongue on what you want to say."

He only squinted one eye at her and continued with breakfast.

When they were done, she cleaned up and told him to cut the crap, that she didn't need to be waited on.

"Let's go check out the shop. Don't argue with me if I want to get you something there. It will embarrass me in front of the staff."

Daphne slapped his arm. "That's low and you know it. Does Zane know about the money you got from Carrington's father?"

"Yes," he said. "I'm not sure if he told Lily or not. I trust them. I only told him so he didn't try to give me some lowball rental amount."

"Oh, why is that?" Daphne asked sarcastically. "Because you don't want anyone to think you can't take care of yourself?"

"Brat," he said, laughing at her. "And no. I just didn't want Zane to think he was doing me a favor. Lily is paying me damn good. I hadn't expected it but understand too."

"I'm happy for you," Daphne said.

"You can be happy too," he said. "Give it a chance."

"I'm listening," Daphne said. "I promise."

They drove to downtown Mystic, he parked his truck in the back, but they walked around the front rather than going in the back door employee's entrance.

When he opened the front door to the retail shop, Ivy was standing off to the side with Daisy by the jewelry counter.

"Aster is here," Ivy said, moving forward. "And you've got to be Daphne. I'm marrying Raine's brother Brooks."

"Ivy," Daphne said. "I've heard about you."

"All good things, I hope," Ivy said. "But knowing Raine, it would be. She's always nice to everyone."

Aster introduced his sister to Ivy and Daisy, then Ivy brought them over to the flower shop. He wanted his sister to meet Trace's wife. Jasmine was out on maternity leave.

"Are Rose and Poppy here?" he asked. "I was told by Poppy I had to introduce Daphne to everyone."

Ivy giggled. "They are all upstairs in a meeting."

"I don't want to bother them," he said.

"It's not a bother," Ivy said. "Come on."

He followed her up the stairs with his sister, and before they got to the conference room, had to sidetrack to Dahlia who struggled to get out of her chair.

"Wow," he said. "You look very uncomfortable."

"I am," Dahlia said. "Any day now and don't be sexist and tell me I should be home. If one more man says that to me I'm going to let them know how I feel."

He held his hands up in surrender. "You're Hugh's problem."

Ivy giggled. "I love it, Aster. You tell her. But Hugh is giving into everything Dahlia wants...kind of. She's getting more of a lecture from me and doesn't like it."

"No," Dahlia said, then turned to his sister. "You must be Daphne. It's so nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Daphne said, moving forward to shake hands. "Please sit."

"I will," Dahlia said, flopping back down.

He cringed and backed out fast, fearful that move might make the baby pop out, then introduced Sage to his sister and found himself sticking his head in the conference room.

"Aster," Poppy said. "Just the person we were talking about. Do you have your sister with you?"

He frowned. "I do," he said.

"Come in," Rose said.

Poppy wasn't as big as Dahlia, but she was due in a little over a month. Rose was starting to show more too.

"I told Poppy there is a magic baby-making flower everyone is sniffing," he said, "but she didn't believe me."

Lily grinned. "Do you know how much money we could make if that were true? Think of the marketing for it."

"Aster, you could be onto something," Poppy said. "I'm going to have Heather look into any herbs."

Aster cringed. "I don't want to be part of this conversation," he said. "It's a girl thing."

"At least you didn't say it's a chick thing," Lily said, grinning.

His shoulders dropped. Guess Zane told his wife that. "You guys wanted to meet my sister. This is Daphne. Daphne, Lily, Poppy, and Rose."

His sister walked around and shook hands.

"Have a seat," Poppy said. "Let's chat. How do you like the area so far?"

He didn't know what was going on but wasn't going to tell his bosses no.

"It's very pretty," Daphne said.

"Aster said he's trying to convince you to move here. Is that true?"

His sister turned to look at him and he shrugged. "I'm thinking of it. Did my brother try to recruit you guys to convince me too?"

"I did not," he said. "Only Raine."

Poppy giggled. "I decided to do this on my own."

He hoped it wouldn't make his sister decide not to but couldn't see how that was possible.

"You work at a daycare?" Lily asked. "Zane's sister owns a daycare and always needs help."

"Aster did mention that to me a few weeks ago."

"Have you ever thought about being a nanny?" Poppy asked.

Aster frowned. He knew that Poppy and Rose shared a nanny right now for their two kids, but with two more coming, that might be an issue.

"I haven't thought of it," Daphne said. "I mean, I could do it. I've cared for every age from birth to ten. They've got all age groups where I work now and I fill in everywhere they need me. Why?"

He saw Poppy and Rose look at each other. "You started this," Rose said.

"I did," Poppy said. "And she's got a flower name."

Damn, they were interviewing his sister and Daphne didn't even know that.

"What am I missing?" Daphne asked.

"As you can tell, my sisters are both due soon," Lily said. "Poppy has a two-year-old daughter and Rose an eighteen-month-old son. By the time she comes back to work, Colin will be two. They share a nanny who isn't happy at the prospect of watching four kids."

"Oh," Daphne said. "Four is nothing. I've normally got a room of six. It's supposed to be four to one ratio, but that never happens."

"Perfect," Poppy said. "So, let's say you decide you want to move here. Would you be interested in being a nanny for two kids? I think Rose and I are trying to figure it out. Maybe one for each of us. My husband is a woodworker and he's a great father and spends a lot of time with the kids and even brings them into the workshop, but it's not easy with one, two might be impossible."

"You're interviewing me?" Daphne asked.

Poppy laughed. "My husband would want to meet you. Thomas, Rose's husband, who is an attorney, would want to do it too. As I said, we aren't sure what is going on. I think as long as Julie stays on, one of us would take her and the other take you. But we have to figure it out sooner than later. I'm having this kid in another month and Julie will be watching my daughter less since I'll be home, so she'll be more with Rose."

Daphne looked at Aster, who said, "I knew nothing about this. I swear." But he was damn well going to thank them after.

"I put this together," Lily said. "Our families mean everything to us. I know we don't know you well, but we know your brother. We trust him and Zane says he'd trust Aster with his life. So in a matter of speaking, we know you more than we would anyone else we'd interview that we'd just met."

"I don't know what to think," Daphne said. "When would you need someone to start? If I decide to move here, I think I'll end up having to do it before you're back to work full time."

"Not a problem," Poppy said. "If you're interested and want to meet our husbands before you leave, we'll work it out. I know you can stay with Aster and that is fine. But my house is massive. We had a gardener that lived on one end of the property, but he retired at the end of the year. We were sad to see him go but understood. He and his wife are moving south. That house will be vacant. This position would be days, not like you have to live in the house with us. We are home at night. Reese is on the property most times."

He hadn't expected that to happen. "I'd have a place to live?"Daphne asked.

"Sure," Poppy said. "If you want. That is something we could talk about after. I mean even if you decided maybe you like Rose better, you could stay there. But I think you'd like me better. I'm the fun sister."

"Hey," Rose said. "You just don't like that Julie doesn't laugh at your antics."

Poppy waved her hand. "I like Julie and all, but yeah, she's boring. More in line with Rose. Either way, what would be ideal is both nannies being familiar with the kids to switch and cover if need be."

Aster just sat back and watched his sister field a bunch of questions and then agree to meet Reese and Thomas tomorrow for dinner.

"That was just crazy," Daphne said to him when they were in his truck. "What was the thing about the flower name?"

"Poppy feels it's fate to hire anyone with a flower name. I didn't know anything that they had planned."

"I believe you," his sister said. "Should I do it? I mean, I still have to meet their husbands. They might not like me."

"Don't worry about Reese and Thomas. They are good guys."

"I can understand why you said you're staying here. Why the hell would anyone want to leave when stuff like that happens when you least expect it?"