Page 28 of Cross My Heart
The ride homefrom Tate’s school is quiet, both girls have fallen asleep in their car seats. Dexter, having lost his temper in the meeting with the principal and Mrs. Williams, seems to be lost in thought as he pulls the car up to the house and turns off the engine. Slowly, he turns to me with a pained expression.
“I had no idea. I’m his father, and I had no idea this was going on for so long.” He has tears in his eyes.
During the meeting, we found out that Jake had been tormenting Tate and a few other children all year. Mrs. Williams did the best she could to keep them all separated but couldn’t always succeed. It turns out Jake’s father is also a bully. He has been called into the school numerous times before he started threatening Mrs. Williams.
“Tate is a smart kid. He probably didn’t want you to know. Listen, part of me feels bad for his teacher, but a bigger part feels like the suspension is justified. She is tasked with keeping children safe in her care, and she failed. As for Jake and his dad? All I can say is Karma. US Senator or not, Karma has a way of catching up.”
As the story unfolded in the school office today, I saw so many expressions cross Dexter’s face. Luckily, Jake and his father were not present because I think Dexter would have ended up in jail.
I gently place a hand on his. “There are several reasons you didn’t know, but you do now. How we handle it now is what matters.”
“How am I supposed to go to London? I can’t leave him now. I’ve already failed him so much.” Dex’s voice breaks and he looks away.
“I meant what I said to Tate today. I am here now. I promised him I would make sure he is alright and I will make good on that promise, you can trust me. We will fix this together. Isn’t this trip something you can’t put off? It’s imperative for your company, right? You said it has to be successful so you can continue to provide for your family and employees. Not to mention, continue to pay me,” I say with humor in my voice.
He cracks a smile but silently agrees with me.
“Well, then let me do what you’re paying me the big bucks for. You take care of what you have to do and trust me to handle all of this. I promise I’m not going to let Tate, or you, down.” I reach across and place my hand on his forearm. “Do you trust me, Dex?”
Dex turns in his seat, angling his body towards me. We are so close I can feel his breath on me. The smell of him, clean, crisp ocean, and all-male instinctively makes me want to squeeze my thighs together. I am so nervous about what his answer will be that I feel myself begin to sweat.
Real classy, Lanes, ugh!
“For some reason, I do trust you, Lanie. I can’t thank you enough. You’ve been here for less than two days, and I already feel like I’ve known you my whole life,” he admits. “How is it you come into our lives and make us all feel like you were supposed to be here all along?”
My throat is thick with emotion. I have to swallow it away. Dexter seems to be leaning even closer like he wants to kiss me, and oh god, how I want him to kiss me. It’s been a tough morning, so I go for humor instead, trying to break the tension. “Just call it the Mary Poppins effect.”
The bark of laughter that falls from him is so surprising because it seems to happen so infrequently. It startles the girls who both burst into tears, and our moment is lost.
Dexter heads to his home office while I tend to the girls. The rest of the afternoon goes reasonably quickly. Before I know it, I’m packing the girls into the car Dexter insists I drive when I have the kids and head back to the school to pick up Tate.
When I arrive in the pick-up line, I am relieved to see Tate sitting with a little boy and smiling. I can do this, after all. I can make a difference for this family even if it may end up breaking my heart when I have to leave them.
* * *
The next coupleof days go by in a blur. Dex is working a lot, getting ready for his trip, while I settle into a good routine with the kids. Mrs. Williams has been suspended with pay while the school advisory committee looks into the complaint we filed. Jake has received an out-of-school suspension for the time being, and the change in Tate is remarkable. I’ve never seen him so calm and carefree.
Jake will likely be back to school in a week or two, but the school has promised us he will be placed in a different classroom. I would have preferred a different school, but I’ll take what I can get for now. I’m still picking up Tate from school every day, arriving fifteen minutes early to make my presence known.
Today is a beautiful day, so I’m sitting on a bench outside the school. The girls are sitting in their stroller with some teething cookies. They are a mess but happy, so I let the mess go.
“Excuse me? Are you Tate’s nanny?” Someone asks me in a deep, rumbly voice.
Instantly, my spine straightens and I push the girls’ stroller behind me. I’m not expecting to see Jake’s father, but since I don’t know what he looks like, I have to be prepared.
I stand up and cross my arms over my chest. “I am. Who are you?”
“Sorry, I should have started with that,” he laughs, putting me at ease. “I’m sorry if I startled you. My name is Jamie. I’m Connor’s manny,” he says with another hearty laugh. “Connor and Tate are friends,” he frowns. “Well, they used to be. Connor said Tate hasn’t played with anyone for a long time and hadn’t wanted to talk to him anymore. I told Connor that Tate had a lot going on, but he came home yesterday and said Tate sat with him at lunch. He was hoping they could start playing together again. I used to pick them up from school a couple of times a week before his parents got divorced, and I’m happy to do that again. I know his mom never wanted to take them to their house, and that’s fine, but I know Connor misses his buddy.”
I’m so shocked it took me a minute to answer. “Um, yeah, I’m sure Tate would love that. If it's okay, I’d like to talk with him first. He has had a tough week, so I just want to make sure he’s up for it. Did you say his mom never took them herself?”
“Yeah, between you and me, she never seemed very friendly. My boyfriend and I thought he would be better off when she left. Then he had this string of self-obsessed nannies, to be honest, I’m not sure which was worse. I don’t mean to pry...oh hell, yes, I do! I love the gossip,” he laughs. “Connor told me what went down with Jake a few days ago. Props to you! I’m glad Tate has someone on his side. I would have loved to take that little prick out myself, but it seems like you handled it much better.”
I laugh out loud and immediately know he and I are going to be friends. “I think you and I are going to get along just fine. Let me talk to Tate tonight.If he is up for it, why don’t you guys plan to come over after school one day next week? It sounds like it is our turn to host a playdate anyway!”
“We would love that, thanks. And yes, I think we will be excellent friends!” He winks at me and we exchange numbers.
When Tate and Connor come walking out of the school together, Jamie nudges my shoulder with his. I can’t help the happy feeling that takes over my heart. Tate is going to be just fine. I can feel it.
