Page 21 of Mr. Wolfe's Nanny

She’s staring at me and I’m staring right back, trying not to buckle under, when we hear footsteps coming our way. It’s Mia, my brother Jonathan’s girlfriend.

I give her a quick greeting and say I’ll tell the kids they’ve arrived to escape the kitchen and my mom’s probing look. The kids love Mia and their Uncle Jonathan. Just like they love the hot nanny living under my roof.

I find Jonathan alone with Dad which doesn’t happen often. The kids come thundering in having heard new voices and soon they’re asking to stay the night at the cottage where Mia and Jonathan will be for the weekend.

I can’t help smirking at my brother when he shoots me a plea for help with his eyes. I’m positive that Jonathan’s plans for him and Mia at the cottage don’t involve babysitting.

They’d asked about spending the night with Mom already so I tell them they’ll have to clear that with Grandma and their uncle both. Jonathan groans quietly. He knows Mom will let them do whatever they want and, judge or not, he hates being the meanie when it comes to them.

Two hours later, it’s dark and rainy and I’m driving home alone, trying not to obsess over the idea of Quinn possibly going out and meeting other men. She said she’d not done what we did before but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t do it again. I’ve got to stop thinking about this. Nothing else can happen between us if she’s going to be my nanny. The kids love her. I can’t screw that up for them.

Tired and unreasonably irritable, I’m distracted when a small black shape with a white stripe down its back appears in my headlights. As I’m jerking the wheel to avoid turning Lord Sebastian into roadkill, another car comes over the rise from the other direction and they’re over the centerline.

We avoid the skunk somehow but not each other. The horrible sound of the impact is all I remember before I lose consciousness.

10-Quinn

It’s no real shock that few things hit me so hard as automobile accidents, even minor ones. I saw someone get rear-ended last year on the way to work. Isa had to come get me. I couldn’t drive. I had to take the next two days off work to get past the memories.

So, when I say that Margaret’s phone call was the emotional equivalent of a piano being dropped on my head, believe me, it was.

But rather than crawl into a hole of darkness at my sister’s apartment, something draws me out and keeps me moving tonight.“Our daddy’s hurt. Jill needs you here.”

That had been Ryder who had asked to speak with me and clearly needed me as much as his sister did. What’s crippling anxiety compared to two children who’ve already lost their mother and whose father is currently hospitalized?

“You don’t have to do this. They have family who can take care of them tonight, Quinn,” Isa tells me as she drives us to the hospital. I did not feel strong enough to drive.

“I know. And yes, I do.”

I do. For Jill and Ryder. For Margaret and for Theo who I’m admittedly very worried about. And maybe I need to do this for myself, too. To prove that I can.

With Isa by my side, I make my way through the hospital’s emergency entrance. Just the familiar smell of antiseptic cleaning products, squeaking nurse’s shoes and harsh fluorescent lights are enough to make my pulse spike. I hate the memories hospitals bring.They need me.

I don’t see Margaret but I see the kids sitting with a couple, a dark-haired man and a stunning redhead. “Ms. Quinn!” Jill cries, jumping out of the woman’s lap and hurrying towards me with her twinkle-fingers beckoning and tears on her cheeks.

No, not even the awful memories of time spent in another hospital years ago could keep me away tonight. I pull this sweet girl into my arms and hold her tightly.

Ryder rushes in for a hug of his own, nearly tackling me in his urgency. “Easy, kiddo. Don’t knock her down,” the man behind him says. “Hi, I’m Jonathan, one of Theo’s brothers.” Ah, this is Judge Wolfe then. Very handsome but must favor his father more.

“How is Mr. Wolfe?” I ask after we shake hands.

“Mom and Dad went back a minute ago to speak with the doctor.”

He tells me that Theo’s stable but has a concussion before introducing me to his girlfriend, Mia. I introduce them to Isa and offer to take the children home. Hospitals aren’t ideal places for kids to hang out after all.

“I think that’s what Mom was hoping you’d do,” Jonathan says. “Mia and I would take the kids with us but she thought they’d be more comfortable in their own beds tonight and-”

“I want to stay with Dad!” Ryder cuts in angrily, stamping his foot. “We’ve not even seen him!”

Jonathan places his hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “I know you want to stay. But your dad needs his rest to get better and he can’t rest if he’s worrying about you stuck here worrying about him.”

Ryder still looks mutinous so I pitch in. “Ryder, how about we see if they’ll let you see him for a few minutes before you come home with me?”

Some of the fight seeps out of him. “You think they might?” he asks as his eyes dart to his uncle. “Granddad said they wouldn’t let kids go back there.”

“We can ask, can’t we?” I ask, looking to Jonathan who nods and goes up to the desk clerk. I duck down to whisper in Ryder’s ear, “Jill looks scared. I’m glad you’re with her.”

“I’m not scared.” He is. He just doesn’t want to admit it. Kids cope with things in their own ways, same as adults.

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