Page 54 of Holding You
Ruby looks at me.
I mouthit’s okay, but I can see in her eyes that’s not enough.
“Can I watch a YouTube video or something first?” My daughter's face lights up as she nods.
“Dad, show her the ones you like.”
Ruby’s little side smile makes my heart skip a little.
I like it when Ruby smiles at me.
It makes me feel like I did something right, and that’s a rare moment in her eyes.
“I’ll text you a couple of links,” I say.
“I’ll go change while you look at them,” Susie announces and races down the steps.
My phone alerts me just then.
Shit. I forgot I had this call this morning. I meant to get Susie up earlier to be ready to go to the library where I could work and she could play or take her tablet as backup. I was clearly distracted.
“Is everything okay?” Ruby asks.
I hold up my phone.
“With all the changes in the last week, I forgot about a Zoom meeting I have in thirty minutes. It’s probably going to take an hour or two.”
Ruby doesn’t miss a beat.
“What does Susie do when you’re working?”
“If she is not with Max, she’s watching TV. Sometimes we go to the coffee shop or the library and she colors or?—”
“What if she came with me and Max today? We are just going to be out for a couple of errands and then to The Marina to hang out with Shay on the beach around lunch. We debated hiking the trails at one point, too. She’s more than welcome to join us.”
Her offer cuts off my train of thought.
“You want to watch my daughter while I work?”
She waves a hand in front of her face. “Oh, please. Once these two get going, it’s hardly watching anyone. They entertain each other.”
She’s right, but still, that was not my intention with this arrangement at all. But the temptation of all the work I could get done knowing Susie is taken care of and having fun is big.
“I … I didn’t move in here for you to become my babysitter.”
“I know,” she says before I can say more. “But I know what it’s like to juggle a work-from-home job and a kid all on your own. Take it while you can.”
“I’d love to, but it’s boys’ night, too, and I would feel awful asking someone to watch her for this and then ask someone else again for tonight. It’s?—”
“Fine with me. I’m here anyway, Declan. Relax.”
My phone buzzes again—my lead manager back in Chicago reminding me of the meeting and asking whether I have the reports he sent me.
“Okay, yeah. If you’re positive.”
“We are,” Max answers for her and then pushes away from the table. “Susie!” he yells as he races down the stairs.
“You might have your hands full today,” I say and stand up.
