Page 10 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
“After dinner,” Becca shouted and then turned and dashed out of the foyer.
“She’s full of energy,” he said. “Let me take your jacket.”
Alana slipped her burgundy parka off, his hand coming out to reach for it, their fingers brushing by mistake.
She didn’t flinch or look at him. Hmm. That sucked.
“I’ll try to tire her out for you. What time does she go to bed? Let me know the nighttime routine.”
“Oh, I’ll be home long before that,” he said. He’d make sure of it.
“Okay,” she said.
“Come in and I’ll show you around. Excuse the clutter.”
He picked up as many toys as he could, but Becca was always right behind him pulling something else out.
At least he could contain most of it in this room.
“Kids make messes. That’s how you know they are enjoying themselves.”
“That’s a nice positive way to think of it,” he said. “This is her playroom. Much better to give this to her than take it as an office. I can shut the door when I need to but most times it’s open.”
It was across from the living room and allowed him to monitor her while she played.
“My parents had a room where we stored all of our stuff,” she said.
“Did you grow up on the island?”
“No,” she said. “In Boston, but I spent a lot of time here.”
“I was here a few times as a kid. My mother loved it. She finally got her dream home in the retirement community this fall. She’d been waiting over a year for it.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said. “I’m assuming that is why you moved here? For the help.”
“I did,” he said. “She was my backup in Boston and then when my nanny took another job, I was in trouble. The thought of finding another was more than I could handle. Thankfully, my mother suggested I move here and see if I could transfer. I hadn’t thought it would be possible.”
“It’s hard for them to fill staff on the island,” she said. “I’m sure Karen and Kelsey were more than thrilled you were interested.”
“That’s exactly what they said. Anyway. There you go. Kitchen this way.”
He moved down a hall, passed the half bath he pointed out, then the dining room off the kitchen, that also flowed into the living room.
“And there is your office,” she said, her eyes on his desk in the dining room.
They didn’t need a large table since it was only him and Becca. The only other person would be his mother and they went to her house for most gatherings.
He’d shoved a desk in the corner and it allowed him to watch Becca in the living room if he had things to do.
“I try not to do too much work at home, but that isn’t always the case. Becca is good at letting me go while she’s playing or watching a movie.”
His daughter was piling toys in a row on the floor. He knew what was going to happen but would let Alana experience it.
“Not all kids will,” she said. “I watch my cousins’ kids. The boys need attention nonstop; otherwise who knows what mess they’ll get into?”
“My mother said I was the same way.”
Alana looked over and saw the line of objects increasing on his living room floor.
