Royally Benevolent (Resplendent Royals #4)

4. Back out the Town

4

BACK OUT THE TOWN

WYATT

“ S o, bedtime is at eight,” I said. “Start winding him down with a cuddle and a book at seven-thirty. He needs time with some lower lights. We struggle with sleep otherwise. He may need you to stay in there with him for a bit. I usually sit with him for ten minutes until he nods off.”

Janette, the new nanny, looked at me like I had two heads. She was younger than the others I’d hired but similar to all the stiff-upper-lip German and British nannies filling the books of Neandian childcare agencies. I gathered that Neandians found their fancy credentials too attractive to ignore. Theo struggled without me. To date, these caregivers called him “whiny” and “ill-adjusted.” Without compassion, Theo returned to introversion. I’d have to rebuild him every time. He was four. He didn’t need to qualify his needs beyond that he was a child and necessitated love and comfort.

I bent to eye level with Theo. His blonde curls were a disaster from running around like a madman upstairs while I got ready. He used the hallway like a track. He recently learned how to somersault and now did them all the time.

I hugged and kissed him. “Be good for Janette, alright?”

Theo nodded, unconvinced and slightly suspicious.

“I love you, little man. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Love you, too, Papa,” Theo said.

I backed out, knowing he’d cry and throw a fit if I drew it out. My mother taught me it was better to leave with little fanfare. So far, so good. I exited the waiting car, closing the side door. I waited, hoping not to hear him collapse into tears. Thankfully, nothing. My guilt didn’t completely subside, but lessened.

“Mr. Worthington,” Hugo, my driver, held the door.

“Thanks. How are you tonight, Hugo.” I sat in the back.

Hugo settled in his seat. “Brilliant, sir. How are you?”

“Uh… you know how it is leaving Theo.”

“I do, sir,” Hugo said. “Hard when they’re little. But you’re going out. It is a good evening for an event.”

“I suppose.”

I took a deep breath, panicking slightly as we headed into the city centre. Still unsteady, I called my mother.

“Why are you calling me, Wyatt?” Mother asked.

“Mom… I’m going. Before you worry, I am going.”

“Good. Are you behaving yourself?”

“Yes, mother. I’m freaking out.”

“Deep breaths. I know this is new again, but you must get out. Also, I shouldn’t need to remind you, but this is a cause you care about a lot.”

I did. The Vision 360 board was near and dear to me—perhaps too important—which made it so difficult.

“I know. Theo didn’t want?—”

“Theo is four. He doesn’t know what he wants. When you ask, he can barely choose between apples and oranges. He has to learn how to separate from you, Wyatt. If you go out and meet people, it might be good for you.”

People . “People” meant women. Mom knew better than to say that much.

“I am trying to step out in a tux and not feel awkward without Isla. Can we focus on that without me needing to do more?”

“I am only saying if you did meet someone, it wouldn’t be bad. It shouldn’t be.”

“Fine,” I sighed .

I wanted it to stop. More than three years passed since Isla died. It felt like yesterday. As if on two simultaneous timelines, my life rolled on—forever a single father raising an ever-growing child on one and as a husband living with his college sweetheart in perfect bliss. Moving on wasn’t in the cards—at least not for a long time.

Moreover, the type of women you met at charity events weren’t what I wanted. They were exhausting society types who were already divorced from Neandian millionaires or would soon be. My new, well-tailored suit didn’t give insight into the things I did most value. I wasn’t much of a social butterfly.

“It’s a muscle,” Mom said. “You have to move it to make it work. It gets easier. I promise. Just give it a shot.”