Page 64 of The Unconventional Nanny
"Ohhh." I can see the wheels turning and the concern in her eyes. I want to slap myself upside the head for how that sounded.
"No, it's not a bad thing," I reassure her.
"Maybe you can tell me what it is and I can judge for myself."
Just great. Now I have her on the defensive, and that's not where I want her at all. I grab her hands and pull her so her body is flush with mine, her head tipped up toward me. This is normally when I would kiss her delectable lips, but I need to smooth things over first.
"I want to tell the kids about us."
"I know you said soon, but right now?" There is so much hope in her eyes that I can't believe I didn't think to do it this morning.
"Well, not right this second,” I laugh. “I know Livy already knows what's going on, but I think it's only fair to tell Zoey. I'm not sure Everly will understand, but she deserves to know as well."
"When do you want to tell them?"
"How about tonight while we’re all sitting around playing games?"
"Okay." Gracie sniffles, and I hope it's because she's as happy as I am.
Of course dinner takes forever, and the girls mess around more than usual while getting their baths and showers. By the time we’re sitting in the living room getting ready to play a kid version of Monopoly, I'm itching from not being able to blurt out my feelings.
"Zoey, Livy, Everly.” I steady my voice before continuing. “Daddy and Gracie would like to talk to you about something."
My eldest doesn't look the least bit surprised when I take Gracie's hand while I'm talking. And she shouldn't, she already knows. But I am surprised when Zoey doesn't say anything at the gesture. This must be the first time she’s not taken the opportunity to state the obvious.
"Would you be okay if Gracie and I were boyfriend and girlfriend?" I try to put it in terms I think my younger girls will understand, but I'm not sure if I'm making sense to them until Zoey speaks up.
"Does that mean you will kiss her like you used to kiss Mommy?"
The mention of my late wife brings tears to my eyes. I waited a full three years before I even considered looking at another woman. I didn't go out looking for someone new, and I would never consider what I have with Gracie as replacing my late wife. Instead, I like to think that my heart is big enough to love both of them as their own unique selves.
"Yeah, sweetie. That's exactly what it means. Would you be okay with that?"
"Will Gracie be our new mommy?"
The words get stuck in my throat as Zoey echoes the same question Livy asked not long ago. And thankfully, once again, Gracie is here to help me when I need it the most.
"Your mommy will always be your mommy. That's never going to change, and I'm not here to replace her. Just to be an addition to your family. Does that make sense?"
Zoey nods her head yes while Livy looks back and forth, just listening to what’s going on. Everly, on the other hand, is too busy playing with the Monopoly money to care about the conversation we’re having.
"Can we play Monopoly now?" Zoey asks, and both Gracie and I laugh at how quickly she bounces back.
"Yeah, baby girl. We can play Monopoly."
And just like that, all the nerves of having to talk to the girls about our relationship disappear, and we’re one happy family.
Epilogue
TWO WEEKS LATER
GRACIE
I'm sitting in the living room with Everly and Olivia, playing a board game, when Zoey walks in with something hidden behind her back.
"What do you have there, pretty girl?"
Zoey shuffles her feet, and for the first time since I've met the little girl, she seems nervous. That immediately has my attention.
