Page 227 of The Nanny and the Beefcake
“Well,” Sebastian said, then sighed like he was gearing up to take on the world. “We’re on fruit duty, right, Louise?”
Fruit duty?
“You certainly are,” the woman answered.
“Did Augie give you the hairnet?” Sebastian asked.
“I’ve got it right here,” he answered, holding it up.
“They’re almost ready for snacks,” Sebastian explained, but he didn’t have the first clue what the boy was talking about.
“Who’s almost ready?”
His son took his hand and led him into the gym as Louise gestured to the space.
“The Cress Family Foundation purchased every piece of equipment. They’ll be installing a ring in a few weeks,” Louise explained as they entered the massive room. “Thanks to your family’s donation, we’ll offer classes and run an after-school boxing program.”
He surveyed the gym. Heavy bags and speed bags dotted the training area. Plenty of lockers lined the walls. A state-of-the-art weight-lifting area with shiny new equipment sat across from a cleared area with yoga mats on the ground. It was packed with boys and girls, working in groups of two and three. He couldn’t have designed it better himself.
“This is a proper boxing gym,” he said, awe coating his words. “Granny Fin did this?”
“I helped a bit,” Aug added when a lanky boy waved to them.
“Hey, Aug! I’m hitting in small circles like you said to do. Can you check my form?”
“Do you mind, Erasmus?” Aug asked, watching him closely.
“He’ll be fine. He’s with me,” Sebastian answered, taking his hand.
His son guided him toward a sink next to a table laden with fruit and cutting boards. “This is the snack station. First, we wash our hands,” Sebastian announced as they lathered up. He grabbed a paper towel, then scanned the gym. “Isn’t this place great? Granny Fin said Mum used to help places like this. She liked helping kids.”
“She did,” Raz answered, his voice thick with emotion.
“I think it’s a banger of a thing to do. I want to help people, too,” the boy mused, then glanced at the table. “We better get to it. Like Aug would say, no lollygagging. There’s work to be done. Put on your hairnet, Dad. You’ve got plums.”
“Plums?”
Just hearing the word made him ache to have Libby with them.
“I’m cutting up the apples, and you can cut the plums. We’re making fruit salad for the kids to have as a snack after they’re done in the gym.” Sebastian leaned in. “Some kids don’t get many snacks at home. Louise said it’s important we cut up the fruit for them. It’s called helping the community,” Sebastian finished, taking a plastic child-safe knife and slicing an apple in halves, then quarters before adding the fruit to the bowl.
He had one amazing kid.
He fitted the net on his head, stared at the plum, missing his plum more than ever. He picked up the knife, pitted the fruit, and cut it into wedges. They worked quietly for a good fifteen minutes before he spoke. “You’re a lot like your mum, Sebastian.”
His son focused on the work. “You don’t have to talk about her. I know it makes you sad.”
That comment cut like a thousand slashes.
“It used to,” he admitted, emotion building in his chest. “But seeing this place and knowing that it was your mum who started the charity that makes this possible doesn’t make me sad. It makes me remember that we had lots more happy times than sad times.”
“Happy times like when you and Mum would push me on the swing in the garden?”
He held his son’s blue-green gaze. “Just like that.”
Sebastian grinned up at him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
He blinked back tears. “Me too.”
