Page 19 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

9

NOVA

My little car sputtered up the long driveway to Bryan and Amelia’s mansion. It was just so large, I couldn’t begin to contemplate what the square footage was. I was pretty sure my parents’ house, their neighbor’s house, and the house next to that would all have fit under the roof of this mansion. I knew the kitchen was larger than my entire apartment. Granted, my apartment was tiny and that kitchen was huge.

It was spacious and it was a delight to work in. So much counter space and all top of the line appliances. The dishwasher was a dream. I didn’t have to pre-wash everything. I rinsed the dishes and set them in, and the garbage was in a drawer, not a garbage can behind a cupboard door, but in an actual drawer. When I had asked Bryan about it, he told me not to worry about the garbage, that it would be taken care of.

I parked around back near the kitchen entrance. I had a key code that let me in without setting off any alarms. When I walked into the kitchen, Bryan was there drinking coffee and slowly scrolling through his phone.

“Good morning,” I said.

He grumbled something. I guess he wasn’t a morning person.

I set my bags down on the counter and went straight to the garbage drawer.

I slid the drawer open. “Amazing,” I said. He was right, there was no garbage. It had been taken care of as if the house had garbage fairies.

“What’s amazing?” Bryan asked.

“The garbage is gone,” I announced.

“And that’s amazing?” he asked without looking up from his phone.

“I’m pretty sure you didn’t take it out. Did you?”

He laughed. “Do I look like I take out garbage?”

“No, and I didn’t take out the garbage and it’s gone. That’s why I said it’s amazing.”

“The house cleaner took out the garbage,” he said with a shake of his head.

“I figured you had a cleaner,” I admitted, but I hadn’t seen anyone, so I didn’t know for certain. And making assumptions always turned out poorly.

I pulled out my laptop and some extra arts and crafts supplies that I had brought for Amelia, now that I was doing double duty as cook and part-time nanny. I wanted to make sure I was fully supplied for my day.

“Any special requests for lunch or dinner tonight?”

Bryan shrugged. “That soup you made yesterday was good. I’m sure we’ll be fine with anything.”

“Is Amelia up yet?” I asked.

“Probably not. If she were, she would be demanding all of your time.” He set down his phone and watched as I moved the art supplies over to the table before carrying my coat and bags to a small closet where I could hang them.

The fact that there was a coat closet in the kitchen for the back door was nearly mind-blowing. My mother was always complaining about never having enough closet space, and here I was hanging my stuff in a closet for the back door. Or I should sayaback door. I was certain there were more ways in and out of the house. I had only been shown this one.

“She doesn’t seem to want any more attention than any other kid I’ve met,” I said when I stepped back into the kitchen.

“That’s all she wants, attention,” Bryan said.

“Of course. She’s a kid. They all want attention.”

“Yeah, and yet, you were able to get your work done with her around,” he said. “How did you do that? If she wasn’t demanding of your time?—”

“I didn’t say she wasn’t demanding of my time. I was able to do both. There’s a balance,” I said. “For starters, I’m not her parent. You are. She wants to know she matters to you. Look, not to butt into your business, but if her mother isn’t around, she is going to want more attention from you. You’re her father.”

“I don’t think that’s it. I think she just wants attention.”

I had to bite my tongue. Amelia sounded like she was starved for attention and affection. Her grandmother had dropped her off without letting Bryan know. And from what Bryan was saying, Amelia needed more attention than he could or was willing to give her.

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