Page 20 of The Last Thing
It sucks that anyone would come in and take advantage of working here. Leo and Noah are flexible about people calling off. They were both single dads and understand life happens. They get hard shit and value empathy and compassion when dealing with their employees. That said, Leo Barone is just about the last person you want to play fuck around and find out with.
“All right, well, keep us updated if anything changes. Otherwise, it’s looking good,” Leo says, patting my shoulder as he walks by me toward the door. “Oh, hey. Any luck finding a sitter?”
I sigh and rub my chin. “Working on it, but not yet.”
He nods in understanding. “Well, Lara is happy to keep helping out until you find one.”
“Thanks, Leo. Take care, guys.”
He and Nick wave as they leave, and I sigh and check the clock.
Just under an hour until we wrap up for the day.
Moving was a great plan minus the fact that I don’t have anyone to look after Sophia now that school is in session. In the summer, she spent the days with my mom. I’d drop her off in the morning before work since my mom is always an early riser and pick her up after. It was out of my way, but it worked well enough for the last month while we got settled in our apartment.
Now that Sophia is in school, though, it’s been harder to manage. Having my mom drive out and back twice a day to watch for a couple of hours—less in the morning—is ridiculous.
Leo’s wife runs a daycare, and though it’s meant for younger kids, she’s had Sophia act as her helper in the mornings and afternoons for the last few days since school started. I’ve got to find something soon, though, because that’s not an ideal situation for Sophia. Plus, I need some help with food prep. I hate eating out, but I’m exhausted by the time I get home.
Marion’s Café just down the road from our apartment is a staple, but it’s not a substitute for me cooking my daughter the meals she deserves.
Single parenting is hard as fuck.
But other than my mom, I’ve been in this alone since the beginning, so I’ll do what I always do—put my big boy pants on and get on with it.
When I climbout of my truck at Lara’s daycare, Sophia is in the backyard, showing Leo’s five-year-old granddaughter Harper how to do a perfect spin while Lara—who used to be a dance teacher—laughs in the background.
“Hey,” I call.
“Hi, Decker, how are you?”
“I’m good. Busy as usual, but that’s life.”
“Isn’t it, though? Sophia, your dad’s here!”
Sophia gives Harper a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then runs over and jumps into my arms, knocking me back a step with the force of her hug.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Hey, sweetheart.” I look into her sparkling green eyes and see nothing but happiness. She is joy personified and I couldn’t be luckier that I got her for a kid. “How was your day?”
I set her down and rub my sore back.
“It was good. I think a girl I met could maybe be a friend.”
“Nice.” I give her a high-five. “How come it’s just a maybe?”
“Well, we’re still getting to know each other. You always say I shouldn’t trust people until I know them.”
Damn.She’s always paying attention. And sometimes takes my words a little too literally.
“That’s true, but if you don’t give them a little trust to start, they might never feel safe enough to get to know you.”
Her little brow furrows. “Oh. Okay. I’ll spend more time with her tomorrow.”
I catch Lara’s gaze, and we both laugh.That easy.
To be a kid again.
