Page 2 of Harvest of Love
Tommy groaned.
I left my bag by the foyer and walked as quietly as possible toward the kitchen, where I could see Tommy and Daisy sitting at the breakfast nook.
Tommy’s head rested on his forearms, defeated. But what left me speechless was the way Daisy rubbed his back, patiently waiting for him to sit up.
My first instinct was to make my presence known and sit down to help him work it out. But I knew there would be times when I couldn’t come home early to help him. And I wanted to see how Daisy handled it.
And she did. When Tommy finally lifted his head, the beaming smile she gave him hit me straight inthe chest— warm and reassuring, telling him without words that she was proud of him, that she had his back.
She was phenomenal with him.
Daisy pulled out her phone and quickly found a video explaining the steps to solve the math problems Tommy was stuck on. After watching it a couple of times, he picked up his pencil and started working through the assignment, Daisy leaning over his shoulder, quietly letting him know she was there for him.
When he finished, she let out a delighted screech, and Tommy fist-pumped the air.“I knew you could do it, kiddo. I’m so proud of you,”she said, pulling him into a hug.
“Maybe we could go for ice cream once I finish the rest of my homework?”Tommy asked, his brown eyes wide with hope.
Daisy’s smile didn’t falter, but I could see her thinking it through.“Maybe when your dad comes home we can tell him how good of a job you did, and then we can all go for ice cream after dinner. Sounds good?”
Tommy nodded and moved on to his next assignment.
Daisy rose from the table, releasing a long breath. When her gaze caught mine, she froze, eyes widening. Igave her a reassuring smile, letting her know I was more than okay with the way she’d handled things.
“I didn’t realize you were home already,”she said when she finally came over to see me. Her lashes fluttered in that delicate way that melted something inside me.
“I’ve been here for a while, but I wanted to see how you two handled homework.”
She bit her bottom lip, and all I wanted to do was kiss her and thank her for being this extraordinary woman so perfectly in tune with my son. But I held back. I couldn’t go there. She was his nanny, not my girlfriend.
Instead, I said,“You have a gift, Daisy. The way you handled all this was perfect. It’s like you’ve known him forever.”
Her smile grew, a faint pink rising in her cheeks.“I don’t know about a gift. I just did what my Mom would’ve done with me,”she said with a shrug.
I wanted to tell her to take her flowers because she deserved them. But before I could, Tommy noticed me and came running from the table.
I swept my boy up into a hug as he proudly told me how he’d finished his homework and how all that thinking left him starving. Daisy and I both chuckled, but she busied herself plating dinner while Tommy put away his books and I set the table.
We moved in unison, like we were a family. And that thought terrified me. What if Daisy found a boyfriend? What if she decided to leave town?
The memory tugs at me even now, but Ruin’s voice slices through it, pulling me back before Daisy can spill details about Granny and Gramps.
“Allegedly,” Ruin cuts in.
“Ruru, come on. Allegedly?” Rain arches a brow, her tone no bullshit. “I get it, you’re trying to keep Granny’s business private. But anyone with eyes can see how much she’s changed since she and Gramps got together.”
“Dr. Gutierrez, here’s your order. I apologize for the delay, but the muffins just came out of the oven,” the barista says.
I wave him off with a smile and drop a twenty in the tip jar. “Ladies, enjoy your post-workout coffee. I’ll see you around.” I give them a quick wave and head toward the door.
“Doc.”
That soft voice stops me in my tracks.
“I didn’t realize you were staying home this week. I had planned to stop by your place and clean the basement like we talked about the other day.”
I lift my gaze and meet Daisy’s eyes, a smile tugging at my mouth before I can stop it. She’s a ray of sunshine breaking through a foggy autumn morning, and somehow, not even thirty, she has more patience with Tommy than people who’ve been parents for years.
In addition to caring for Tommy, she’s determined to make my house feel more like home and less like a bachelor pad.
