Chapter 11

Gabriel

I’m feeling better about things when Skye leaves. Everything seems to be lining up perfectly. She’s nice to look at, and she had an excellent resume with appropriate qualifications and experience. Plus references. Not that I feel the need to call those, but I will out of protocol. When I sit back down in my chair, I take a moment to ponder the events of the last twenty minutes or so. The fact she’s even Travis’ sister — and I had no idea — is still a shock to me. I quickly shoot him a text now that I’m thinking about it.

Me

Hey Trav, I had no idea your sis was in town. I just interviewed her for the nanny job.

A message quickly flies back.

Trav

Shit, didn’t I mention it?

Me

Clearly not

Trav

How did it go?

Me

It went well. I hired her

Trav

Way to go. She’ll be good for you and Trin

Me

Pity she’s not here for long, but that’s my problem to worry about

Trav

Thinking of having beers at Moose’s this Friday if you want to catch up?

Me

Sounds good. I missed you at the Bake’ n’ Shake.

Trav

All good. I’ll see you at Moose’s, if not before

Me

Better you than me. See you then

I rest my phone down and get back to work. Or try to. There’s a certain peony-smelling redhead that my mind keeps rolling over. I’m very glad I’ve found someone before Geraldine officially finishes up in another week. But more so I’m happy that there was a good feeling between us. If one thing is true about all the crap Georgia spouts; it’s the fact that you have to have the vibe. You have to be feeling it.

And the vibe was good with Skye. She seems sweet, very smart, and the fact she has a nursing background is a bonus… I don’t want to count my chickens yet, but if only she were staying here for longer, it’d be a perfect scenario.

I spend the rest of the morning going over end of month figures with Beau before he gets everything off to the accountant. We had our weekly family meeting earlier, before Skye’s interview. Then I have to catch up with Grayson in the afternoon to see how the export deals are going. He’s been liaising with new suppliers and, while that’s good, it also makes me nervous. It means more pressure on Brooklyn and the team in production, but if we want to grow our exports and ship internationally, this is the way things have to be. I know he’s been in contact with companies in Australia as well as the United Kingdom. It’s the next level for our business and I’m here for it.

I’m also looking forward to catching up with Trav properly as we haven’t had a drink since his arrival. He stopped by the distillery when he rolled into town to say hello the day he got here, but we’ve both been so busy. I’m sure we’ll fall into our old camaraderie like we always do.

All in all, it’s been a successful Monday. I’m very much looking forward to Skye starting on Wednesday. I hope that she’s as good as she seems, and that Trinity continues to like her as her caregiver. My kid would melt the coldest of hearts, and she’s not a brat, but I have to see the two of them together, so I can be sure.

When I get home, I make my little princess mac n cheese with a side salad.

She’s learned to love her greens, though it’s taken a bit of time. We grow some produce in our garden, and Trinity loves helping me pick things when they’re ready. What we don’t have we go over to Brooklyn’s and help ourselves as he has a fully-fledged self-sufficient hobby farm over at his place. He grows all his own herbs and vegetables and even started experimenting with fruit trees.

Brook is also a good brother to have when I’ve needed childcare at the drop of a hat. He’s helped me out so many times when I’ve needed someone to watch Trinity. Because he can pick his own hours in production — as he’s not on the main floor — it works well when he’s also needed to be home before and after school for Blake. He’s on a week on/week off arrangement with Eden. I’ve done the same for him too; when he’s needed me to watch Blake, he drops her off at our place. I’m lucky Blake is a good kid and adores Trinity.

I know my mom is vying for more grandkids. She would absolutely love it. I have often wondered what it would be like to have more kids one day. But I always come back to the same thing; my heart is guarded. The divorce hurt me and I don’t know how I’d break down the barriers in order for me to let someone in again. I can’t judge every woman on what Tiffany did, but it sure puts the scales up on the trust radar. It’s been extremely hard — if not impossible — for me to let my guard down fully. I never have.

I know it’s a problem, and I have to work on it sooner or later, otherwise I’m going to end up alone.

Trinity sits at the kitchen counter coloring in her Paw Patrol book while I work. No longer the CEO at home, I make dinner in my sweats after using the home gym and running on the treadmill for half an hour.

I have to work off all that bourbon tasting somehow. I’m also cooking barefoot and I feel, for once, like I have no cares in the world.

Maybe it’s because I’m not stressing about childcare anymore and the welfare of my daughter when I’m not here. It’s taken the load off for the moment.

“You alright there, darlin’?” I ask as I work around the expansive kitchen. I made the island bench top double the size when I renovated and completely moved the kitchen around. My parents thought I’d gone completely insane until they saw the finished product. I love nothing more than to cook while I can see my daughter playing or coloring.

“I’m good, Daddy.”

I smile. “What did you do today at school?”

“We painted, and sang songs, and played games and made sounds.”

“Wow, you did all that?”

“Yup.” She nods.

“What sounds did you make? Moo like a cow?”

She giggles. “No, Daddy! No moos!”

“What then? Woof woof like a dog?”

She waves her hands over her face, laughing. “No! We put pictures with the letters like ‘I’ for ice cream.”

“Oh, so not meow like a cat?”

“Daddy, no cats!” She can’t contain her giggles, and I love the sound of it.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“So just ‘I’ for ice cream?”

“Do we have ice cream, Daddy?”

It’s my turn to chuckle. “Maybe after you eat all your dinner. Does Daddy make the best mac n cheese?”

“Yes!” She bounces on her chair excitedly.

“And that’s all we need to know, angel. You tell me what other sounds you made today at school. Was it bahhhh for the sheep?”

“No sheep!”

“Fine then, there must have been a naaaaay for the horses, at least?”

More laughs ensue. “Yes! There was a horse sound! ‘H’ for horse, and the picture looked like Bandit.”

“Ah, well, there you go then. That’s excellent. What else?”

“D is for Daddy!”

I walk over and give her a kiss on the head. “You really are something special. Do you know that?”

She smiles up at me. Bunnykins sits beside her waiting for his dinner, too.

I fucking hope it’s always like this. I hope I’m still cool when she gets older, and she wants to go out with her friends. I hope she never forgets moments like this.

“Remember how I told you Geraldine is retiring and her and Hank are going to take a big vacation?”

“Yeah.” She looks up at me.

“Well, how would you like it if Skye came to watch you from now on?” I know we’ve chatted before about this, and Geraldine has talked to her too. But kids’ minds can be fickle. I want to make sure she understands and doesn’t get upset.

“Skye, like the blue sky?”

I laugh, turning back to the macaroni. “Yes, like the blue sky. But Skye has green eyes, they’re pretty eyes, too. She said she met you at the Bake’ n’ Shake.”

“Yes! I ate wocky wode with Blake.”

“Rocky road? I didn’t get any.”

She laughs again. “Yes, and Bunnykins ate some too!”

“And did you and Bunnykins like Miss Skye with the pretty eyes?”

“Yes!” She presses her crayon into the paper, happily coloring away.

“Maybe we could make her a picture for Wednesday. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“I can color her a picture, Daddy. Maybe horses?” I swear this kid always has animals on the brain.

“Of course you can, angel. I think she would like that.”

“Will I see Gerwaldine again?”

“Of course. She promised to come and visit after her vacation.”

“Yay!”

I hope it’s as easy a transition as that, and that she won’t be too upset about Geraldine leaving. Maybe the distraction of us getting a dog might take her mind off that.

Which reminds me, I need to check with Skye that she’d be okay with having a new pup in the house while she’s here. It’s not like I expect her to walk the dog or anything, more so wanting to check if she’s allergic to them.

Maybe getting a puppy isn’t the greatest idea in the world. I need to check down at the shelter and see if there’s any young dogs that might suit our situation.

“Daddy?” I realize I’m daydreaming as my daughter snaps me out of it.

“Yes, darlin’?”

“Can I get a glass of water?”

“What else is with that?”

“Pwease.”

“Sure you can.” I grab a glass out and walk over to the fridge where I always have some filtered water.

“And our puppy?”

I smile. It’s like this kid can read my mind. “What about our puppy?” I hand her the glass as I turn off the stove and get ready to plate up.

“When are we going to see the puppy?”

“Soon. Maybe even on the weekend.”

She shakes Bunnykins excitedly as I place a few spoonful’s of the mac n cheese in her bowl and take it over to her with her salad with some of Mom’s homemade ranch dressing. “Blow on it, it’s hot,” I tell her.

“I will.”

“And while you and Bunnykins are eating, you can think of some names for our puppy.”

“I already have one!”

“Like what?” I turn back to the stove and plate up a larger serve for myself, and pour a glass of red wine because what the heck. It’s been a day.

“Gizmo!”

I laugh, “No, that’s Emma’s dog’s name, remember!”

“Okay, then, Sunny!”

“That’s Uncle Callan’s dog,” I remind her, pushing my plate across the counter with my salad and walking around to sit next to her at the island.

She gives me a cheeky, wide grin. “Noodle!”

I shake my head. This kid. “You’re being silly.”

“Okay, I’ve got a new one.”

“What is it?”

“Skye!”

I almost splutter my wine. “I don’t know if Skye would appreciate us calling our new dog after her.” But it sure is cute.

“Hmm. I’ll think of something else,” she assures me.

“Well, you eat your dinner while you think.”

I take a sip of my wine. Though I love our bourbon, sometimes it’s nice to just have a change. 2 Cellos play low in the background from the built-in speakers and I can’t help but think how much I love this house and being here with my daughter. It’s so comfortable and relaxing to come home to this.

“Yum, yum.” She digs her fork in and blows like I told her, taking her first bite.

* * *

Everything is a blur in the lead up to Wednesday. The next day I text Skye the directions to my house after she accepts the offer. It’s not hard to get to if she follows the right dirt road. She’ll be able to find it with the signposts.

My message fails to mention the part I’m really thinking about; I’m really looking forward to seeing you.

I hope she brings all the paperwork with her so we can have everything ready and I can give it to Beau, who organizes the payroll. This will come out of my pocket, obviously, but I don’t have time to keep track of her hours and remember to pay the woman. My trusty finance geek brother can do that.

Trinity was working on a picture last night to give to Skye. It was all love hearts and rainbows when I saw it last. Lord knows what she’s added to it by morning.

Today Trin is wearing her school uniform; it’s a navy-blue dress with red stripes. She’s very proud to wear it.

I help brush her long, dark hair and tie it up in a ponytail, then wrap a navy-blue ribbon around it. I’ve gotten better at bows too, as time has gone on. I’m not the best at braiding, but she’s five, it’s not like she’s a fashionista.

Skye will do the drop off with Geraldine today and get a feel for the route. Geraldine runs a few errands for me in town too when I need them — usually groceries — so I’m hoping Skye will be accommodating with that as well. Usually, I’ll do the morning drop off, but if ever I need to get Skye to do it, it’s probably good for her to know our morning routine, too.

“Now, what’s the secret password we’re going to tell Skye today for school pick up?” I say as I’m securing her floppy ribbon for the second time.

“Cupcake!” she yells.

“That’s right. But remember, it’s a secret password, Trin. So you can’t go yelling it out.”

“Yes, shhhh.” She presses her forefinger to her lips.

“You can’t tell anyone, remember? Tell me again who knows the password?”

She thinks for a second. “Aunt Georgia, Uncle Gray-Gray, Gran!”

“Yes, and Gramps too. And your Uncle Beau and Brooklyn.”

“What about Aunty Hart?”

I give her a chin lift. “Yes, Aunty Hart, too.”

It was something Georgia pointed out to me before she started pre-k. If ever a stranger shows up to collect Trinity, she has to ask them the secret password which I would have given the person in my absence.

Not that I, or the school would allow it to happen. They’re strict with that kind of thing, but you can’t be too careful.

They’ll need my consent for Skye to be able to do the future pickup when Geraldine leaves. But Trinity knows if it were ever to happen, if a stranger shows up that’s not anyone in our family, or her nanny, she asks them the password. And if they don’t know it, she goes to the teacher straight away. It’s a safety measure and a stranger danger thing I thought was worth instilling in her for when she gets older.

I make a coffee and finish getting ready while we wait for Skye to arrive.

Do I take a little extra care when I look in the mirror? Yep, I sure do.

Do I style and gel my hair within an inch of its life? Yup, that too.

And do I spray on an extra splash of cologne just because I can?

Guilty as charged.