Page 3 of The Single Dad Dilemma

“No, not a live-in nanny. Just someone for Louise during the day. You could find someone who fits your schedule, and they could give Louise some one-on-one learning. Maybe she’s just not great in groups.”

I sigh, laughing slightly. “It’s something to think about.”

“Do be sure to, and let me know what you need in the meantime. Just let me help where I can.”

The pause after tells me everything I need to know. She wants to do more. But Lou already spends every other weekend with them, and they already give me money to help. With Vanessa not here, they feel it’s only right to help in her place. I’ve told them they don’t need to, but they insist. Most of the money they give me goes straight into a college fund I opened for Lou about two weeks after she was born. If I ever keep any out, it’s to treat her to something with her mother in mind. Sort of like her mom is paying for it. I don’t know, maybe that’s crazy.

And believe me, the free weekends to just regroup and have some alone time are so appreciated. Being a single parent is insane work. And I know what you’re probably thinking. That I use those precious kid-free weekends to go out and party and sleep with tons of women? You would be wrong.

The last weekend she was with them, I slept in, ate cold pizza for breakfast, and watched reruns ofThe Great British Bake Off. I also took like, three naps. Whoo, that bachelor life. Please. I can barely keep it together without a woman to disappoint. The point is, I use those weekends to completely abandon all theadult things I do every single day in favor of shutting my brain off and taking a breath.

After hanging up with Alma, my thoughts go back to her suggestion. How does a person even find a nanny? Are there agencies like in the movies? People don’t put wanted ads in newspapers anymore. Maybe there’s something in the single-parent group I’m in online. I don’t really comment or post in there, but rather just lurk in the background and read. Let me tell you, people can get snarky in there.

I return attention to my computer and type NANNY SERVICES NASHVILLE into the search engine. Four entries down, I see a website called NanniesRUs, which looks more like an intermediary between nannies and families. You can view nannies’ profiles or post your nanny job for them to apply to. That doesn’t seem so bad. And the website says they pre-screen every person who posts a profile, which is the only way they can apply to posted jobs too.

I look over at Lou in the corner, who’s entranced in an episode about the mating habits of the seahorse.That’s not porn, right?What a question to have to ask myself. Perhaps a nanny would be a better fit for her needs. Outside the confines of a classroom, maybe she will thrive more and be less rebellious. Plus, maybe it’s easier to explain to an individual that Lou is a special kind of kid and she’s definitely not watching fish porn.

I click the button on the screen to sign up and start filling out the profile. It feels oddly like the start of an online dating profile, and I have sudden flashbacks of when I was single and swiping this way and that and hooking up. That’s how I met Vanessa, actually. For the most part, though, it felt like a cesspool of surface connections and being ghosted and, well, there was this one time a woman took me back to her apartment and had a rather disturbing collection of foraged animal skulls. She’d hungthem all over her walls. I can’t actually confirm that they were all foraged, but it’s what I choose to believe.

I get to the main box where I’m supposed to write a paragraph about what kind of person I’m looking for. The words “kind and nurturing” come to mind, and again, it feels like a dating profile. Maybe the two sets of characteristics do contain some overlap.

My mouse pointer hovers over the submit button as I read through the profile one last time. Hesitation plagues me even though I know I need someone as soon as possible. The summer months are busy for the shop, and there are a number of tattoo conventions we’re scheduled to have booths at. At least it’s Friday, which gives me time to get some interviews lined up. Maybe someone could start as soon as next week. If I’m lucky.

I click the mouse and there’s a little whoosh noise on the screen, sending off my request. God, I hope that was a good idea. And I hope we find someone who fits us.

“Dad, did you know male seahorses will eat their babies?!” Lou sounds mortified.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I would never eat you.”

TWO

DARCY

I’ve done the math. Three times. There’s nothing I love more than a Sunday night number crunch. And in order to make enough money by the time classes start in the fall, I need to make about twice as much as all the jobs currently posted online. Being a server has its advantages, like cash tips nightly. But it doesn’t make up for the abysmal hourly wage. I guess I could get two jobs—something during the day and serving at night. But god, that sounds like the worst. I want to enjoy my summer a little.

The fact of the matter is, once I’m back at school, I’ll be so incredibly busy that I will have zero time for fun or friends or dating. My nose makes an involuntary snorting sound at the idea. Dating. That wouldn’t be at the top of my list even if I did have time.

Frustrated, I pull my phone from my skirt pocket and text my best friend, Lyric.

This is impossible.

LYRIC

No luck finding a job?

There are jobs, just nothing that’s going to pay my tuition.

LYRIC

I could see if I have something here?

I love Lyric. I really do. There isn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do for her… except work where she does.

As much as I would love to see you every day, we’re not built the same.

LYRIC

Well, if you change your mind, the corpses and I will be here.

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