Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Pete’s head hadn’t stopped pounding in days, he thought, and he didn’t foresee it stopping in, well, ever.
These kids were not ready to go to a funeral—they were having a closed casket, for fuck’s sake, why did they need to go?
He rocked the baby, keeping his ear out for any of the others.
It had been about three hours since Bay had excused himself to go check in with work, and he hadn’t heard anything from the bedroom he’d put the kids’ uncle in.
Belle was watching cartoons, Eric was napping with Merida, and he had Flynn, who was trying to figure out what the fuck was going on.
He understood.
He was going to fight to stay with these kids. He knew that part of the will stated that he was going to be kept on.
Or at least that was what he’d been told.
He had no idea what Bay had in his head. Hell, the man clearly hadn’t actually seen the kids in a while, even Belle hadn’t recognized him.
Bay came into the room, hair a little wild, like it had been slept on, the man blinking, dark bags under his eyes.
“Shit. Sorry. I fell asleep.”
“It’s all right.” Watch your mouth. “Everyone’s resting, pretty much.”
Everyone but his Flynn.
“I don’t know how you’re doing this with four kids on your own. You let me know what we need and I’ll hire the right people. Housekeeper, a second nanny, whatever. Just tell me.”
“I—I don’t know. I’m just trying to get through today. I’m not going to leave them, though. I love these kids.”
“Okay. Okay, good to know. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if you did. Leave, I mean.” Bay ran his hand through his hair, mussing it up even more. It made him look more vulnerable, less the sharp-edged business tycoon he’d seemed when he’d arrived.
“No. Never. These kids are my heart.” He’d never leave them. This was his family.
Bay nodded and sat, sighing. “So tomorrow…”
“I don’t think they should go. They are closed coffins. They won’t understand. We can talk about it, but it’s a bad idea.”
“You don’t think Belle’s going to want to go? I mean she wanted to go see their bodies so she could hug them goodbye.”
“She won’t be able to regardless. What happens if she has a screaming meltdown?” That would be a nightmare.
“People are going to expect them to be there, but if you really think it’ll be better for them in the long run not to go, then they don’t go. People can go fuck themselves if they have a problem with that.”
He bounced little Flynn. “I don’t think it’s in their best interests. I don’t think it will help. I think they need care and for things to find their new normal.”
“You’re the expert, we’ll go with your opinion.” Bay rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “I swear to god this is so fucked up.”
“It is.” He pursed his lips. “Please be careful what you say around the little ones. Eric especially tends to get in trouble at school for inappropriate actions.”
Bay frowned. “Inappropriate actions?”
“Yelling ‘s-h-i-t’ over and over because it made the other children giggle? Showing his backside to the playground…”
Bay chuckled. “Sorry, I know it’s wrong, and he shouldn’t do it, but he is just like his father. Tony got into so much shi-trouble when he was in elementary school.”
“That’s what he said. He said you were the good one.” And Tony had been his best friend. Both of them had, and he didn’t understand how they could be gone.
“Maybe, but he was the fun one.” Bay’s mouth quirked. “Everyone wanted to be friends with Tony. He could charm the underpants off a grandmother.”
“Yes. He was my roommate in college. He was very charismatic.” And the straightest man in history.
“Oh? You knew each other before you worked for him? That’s neat.”
He didn’t work for them. He cared for them, and they took care of him. “We’ve known each other since we were eighteen. I have my master’s in early childhood education.”
“That must come in handy, being a manny.”
“I guess so?” What did that even mean?
“You only guess so? I would have thought a master’s in early childhood education would be a great asset in looking after the kids.”
“Well, it helps with all the specific challenges, I think, but mainly, I love them.”
Bay nodded. “Okay. Good. Good. Do they have school or anything they’re missing? You mentioned Eric getting in trouble in school…”
“They both have another month in school, but… I didn’t know what to do about legal things and they’re both stressed…” He needed signing responsibility. He wasn’t even sure who was getting custody of the kids.
“I imagine it’ll be okay if they miss a couple days under the circumstances. So they’re what? Fifth and third grade? And the two little ones aren’t old enough yet?”
What? “Third and pre-K and no. Merida is two and Flynn isn’t walking well yet…”
Bay frowned. “Is there a problem with Flynn’s legs?”
He held the toddler up. “He’s eleven months old!”
“Oh.” Bay had the good graces to flush. “I didn’t realize… It’s been a busy few years.”
Pete nodded, trying to be decent. “You’ve been very busy. Tony was proud of you.”
“I should have made more of an effort to be here.” Bay’s voice came out rough. “You don’t expect to—” He cleared his throat. “I thought I had all the time in the world.”
“So did they.” He buried his face in little Flynn’s head, just breathing in the baby scent.
“Yeah, I imagine they did.” Bay looked out the window, face stony.
“Okay. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Would you like anything?”
Bay was quiet for a moment, and then he shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Yeah, me either.” He sighed. “I’m going to put the baby down. I’ll be right back.”
“Sure. I’ll be… here.”
He told himself that the kids’ uncle was exhausted, but he was too. He was shocked and scared and heartbroken.
But it didn’t matter, did it?
The kids needed the adults in their life to fucking adult and deal and make life okay for them. That was the deal.
He was the adult left in these little ones’ lives, so deal he would.
Pete headed back out, checking on the babies as he went.
They were half dozing in front of Brave, so he left them be, finding Bay in almost the same state in the living room. The guy jerked awake as he came in.
“Hey. Flynn go down okay?”
“He did. Do you need…You can go nap more.”
“Thanks, but Will is coming with some stuff for me to sign. I’d like you two to meet. If you ever need me and can’t get in touch, you contact Will and he can help.”
“All right.” Did that mean he was just… on his own with the kids? “How long are you going to be able to stay?”
“I’m looking into what I’d need to do to work from home.
Either way, I think we’re going to need extra help.
I mean, you can’t be on duty twenty-four-seven, right?
I’m sure you’ve already missed some days off you were supposed to have.
And I’m not exactly kid-friendly, so to speak.
What was your arrangement with Tony and Cindy? ”
“I had weekends off, but I know that they need super structure right now, so I can be here for when you need me.” If he could get a nap…
“Would it help to bring in another nanny to spell you off, or do you think that would be detrimental to the kids? I really am clueless when it comes to caring for kids, other than I know they need full time care. I don’t want them growing up to be serial killers because I didn’t do this the right way, you know?
But I want to be fair to you, too—and you being on hand all day every day doesn’t seem very fair.
” Bay shook his head. “I have a hunch it doesn’t matter how we slice it; we’re never going to find fair. At least not at the moment.”
“No. And I’m fine. I want to be here for them, to support them.” He needed it, even.
“All right. As long as you let me know before you burn out. And I’ll make sure you’re well-compensated.
Money isn’t a problem. At all. It’s too bad that money isn’t going to solve the kids’ problems.” Bay ran his hands through his hair again.
“But if there’s anything they—or you—need, just let me know. ”
“All right. I… thank you.” This was so weird. So wrong.
“Can you show me where the master is? If it’s got enough room, I might be able to use some of it as a home office. I know I’m not great with kids, but I feel like I should be here for them…”
His lips parted, and all he could do was nod. No one had cleaned it out. That didn’t belong to a stranger. That was Tony and Cindy’s room.
Bay’s phone beeped and he looked at it, then stood. “That’s Will. I’ll let him in.”
Pete went to sit with the kids. He couldn’t bear the thought of going to the master suite.
Not yet.
Bay appeared in the doorway to the media room and cleared his throat before asking quietly. “Pete? You wanna come meet Will?”
No.
No, he didn’t want to meet anyone else.
“Of course.” He stood, careful not to dislodge Belle, who was sound asleep.
He went out into the hallway where there was an older guy with Bay. Maybe in his fifties, which surprised him for some reason. He looked crisp and put together, and he held out his hand as soon as Pete got into the hall.
“I’m so very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” He almost lost it. He didn’t need anyone to be kind to him, not now.
“Pete, this is Will, my right-hand man at work, and Will, this is Pete.”
“It’s good to meet you, but I wish it was under better circumstances. I’d love to meet the little ones, but maybe later, when things are settled?” Will suggested.
“Yes, everyone is asleep. Finally.”
“But not you, hmm?”
No. That wasn’t his job.
“Well, if there’s anything I can do to help make things easier, just let me know.” Will’s eyes were kind.
“Thank you. I—” He swallowed hard, swaying a bit. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Will shook his head and put an arm around his shoulders. “Why don’t you go sit, and I’ll get you something to drink. And when was the last time you ate? You have to take care of yourself, if you’re going to take care of anyone else. Bay, haven’t you been taking care of him?”
“I just got here a few hours ago!” Bay protested.