Page 50 of The Nanny and the Hothead
“Have you spent much time in the wilderness?” he asked gently, not wanting to poke the auburn-haired beast, but he needed to know if she was utterly clueless when it came to roughing it.
Defiance flashed in the woman’s eyes. “While I did grow up in Colorado, I can’t say that I spent much time in the mountains. But I like being outside, and the scenery is beautiful,” she added, gesturing to the landscape like a game show hostess. “Also, my friend Libby, who is a very Zen yoga instructor, often tells me that she takes off her shoes to feel connected to the earth.” Charlotte lifted her foot and brushed a few pine needles away. “On that note, we are going to bond with the land and find some wood to make a campfire.”
“There’s a bag with—” Oscar began, but Charlotte lifted her hand and silenced the boy. A damned good trick! He’d have to try it out next time he and his son went head-to-head.
“This is a group activity. No excuses! We’re doing this together,” she continued.
Oscar scratched his head. “Is she serious, Dad?”
“I am serious, Oscar,” Charlotte answered for him. “This will be great! We can forage for wood, then build a fire.”
“But, Charlotte, we don’t need to—” Oscar tried again. Andagain, Charlotte used the hand thing.
Sweet Jesus, it was genius! It turned the volume on the kid right off.
Oscar raised his hand in the air as if he were in school.
“Yes, Oscar?” Charlotte answered.
“May I keep my shoes on, ma’am?”
Mitch’s eyebrows shot up.Ma’am!His kid had some manners when he wanted to use them!
“You may, Oscar. The shoeless part is optional.” She trudged over to her bag, stopping every few yards to flick dirt and dry needles from her feet, then removed her camera. “We’re also going to document the experience,” she added, holding up her camera like exhibit A in a courtroom before taking a shot of the RV.
Oscar caught his eye and shrugged. He shrugged right back. Was he still concerned his nanny had gone off the deep end? Yeah, he was. But this was the first time it felt like he and Oscar were on the same side.
“And when we return triumphant in our quest for wood, it’s only proper that we also make a fire—like the cavemen did—after they figured out how to make fire with flint or lightning,” she continued. She waved her hands like someone who had no idea how cavemen came upon fire but wanted to sound knowledgeable.
Oscar raised his hand again. “Um…Charlotte?”
“Yes, Oscar? Do you have something to add?”
The kid kicked at a mound of dirt. “It would be easier with a match. I saw some in the—”
“All right, then,” Charlotte conceded. “We can use a match unless someone has some flint.”
“Do you know how to start a fire with flint?” the boy pressed with a crease to his brow.
Mitch cemented his lips to suppress a laugh. The kid was just as confused as he was.
Charlotte twisted her camera strap. “No, I don’t knowexactlyhow to start a fire with flint.”
“It’s not easy,” Oscar said under his breath, with another kick to the dirt mound.
“Okay, we’ll use a match. But we can scavenge around for wood like the cave people did. And as previously stated, shoes are optional,” she finished with a resounding nod.
He peered at her tote. “You don’t have any to-go margaritas in there, do you?” he asked, unable to stop himself.
Her jaw dropped. “Of course, not! Why would you even ask that?”
He dusted off his hands. “Because you sound a little out of it.”
As soon as the statement passed his lips, he instantly regretted it.
“I’m notout of it. This is an important trip for you and for Oscar—for your family, Mitch,” she answered, her voice cracking as she said the wordfamily.
Family?
