Page 60 of The Unconventional Nanny
Zoey, on the other hand …
"Yay! New friends," she squeals as she dances her way up the sidewalk and into the house.
By the time I get inside with Livy, Zoey is already hogging Owen's attention. And, to his credit, he’s listening to her describe her school day like it’s the most important information in his world.
"And Nicholas—he's the mean one—told Jenny that her hair looked stupid and made her cry," she exclaims, her hands flailing dramatically around her.
"Sounds like Nicholas needs to be put in his place," Owen tells her seriously, all the while deftly avoiding being smacked in the face by a wayward flail.
"That's what I said." Zoey throws her hands up in the air in a triumphant gesture. "But Jenny said we need to tell the teacher," she adds with a huff.
I've met both Jenny and her family. It's hard not to in such a small town. They’re a quiet family, and I'm afraid my outspoken little girl is going to corrupt her at this rate.
"Jenny sounds like a smart friend." Owen's words say one thing but his tone says another. I can practically see the wheels turning and can only imagine what plan he’s concocting.
Livy and I walk up to where Owen is standing with Zoey. "I see you've met my middle child, Zoey."
"I did," Owen answers. "And already I've got beef with a kid named Nicholas. You don't by chance know who his parents are?"
I shake my head and smirk. One minute alone and already Zoey has Gracie's big brother wrapped around her little finger.
"As a matter of fact, I do." And Nicholas's father is the kind of man who needs to be put in his place—along with his son—so I have no problem sharing those details with Owen.
After giving him the information he asked for, I introduce Livy. "This is my eldest, Olivia." Unlike Zoey who talks a mile a minute, Livy barely says hello before hiding behind me.
Owen isn't the least bit deterred by her behavior, though. His voice softens when he talks to her. "It's nice to meet you, Olivia. I just so happen to be the oldest of my siblings as well."
This gets my little girl’s attention. "Really?" she peeks out from behind my leg to ask.
"Yup. I'm the only boy, though. I've got five younger sisters.”
Livy steps out a little further and holds up one hand, her fingers splayed wide. “Five sisters?” she says, a bit of wonder and disbelief in her voice.
Owen nods. “Yep. You know Gracie, and Annie is around here somewhere."
We both look around, but don't see Annie. Or Nolen, for that matter. It makes me wonder if maybe their initial greeting was all for show and they really couldn’t stand to be in the same place together.
Owen continues to talk to Livy, only now he's down on her level and it seems to work because she's no longer hiding behind my leg. Instead, she's quietly explaining her day, much like Zoey did, except with far less theatrics.
Once I'm sure both girls are comfortable, I go in search of Gracie and find her getting a snack for Everly.
"I'm probably just going to order some food from the diner since everyone seems to be sticking around." I don't want her to think I expect her to make food for everyone.
"If you feed them, they will stay," she chuckles in return.
"It's the least I can do for the system they put in today."
It's state of the art and probably costs a fortune. I would know, as clients have had me look into installing them for the properties I built in the past.
"I guess you're right." Gracie looks back down at the strawberries she's cutting into small pieces for my daughter. "Maverick said they went to serve Jeremy with the PFA, but he wasn't at his apartment. Not that we expected him to be but they had to try."
I run my hand along the stubble of my jaw. I'm overdue for a shave.
"So he could still be here in Willow Creek." The thought of Jeremy so close to my family makes my skin crawl.
"If he's smart, he's not."
"Why's that?"
