Chapter 7 #2
“Yeah, they came by the lodge the other day. Let’s just say Carol wasn’t pleased that she found out about Remy from someone other than me.”
Dilynne cackles. “Damn. I’m sad that I missed that.
” Before I can say another word, Dilynne is pushing herself up from the grass.
“Well, I just wanted to come over and say hello. Laney is putting me to work tonight, so I’d better get back to it.
The girl is lucky she’s my best friend. I wouldn’t do this for anyone but her.
” Looking at Elodie as she begins to walk away, she says, “Text me tomorrow. Laney and I usually have dinner one night a week and you’re more than welcome to join us. ”
“Thank you. I will.”
“Hey, I’ll be right back,” I tell Elodie, not bothering to wait for her reply as I launch myself from the grass and catch up to my sister. “Dil—”
“What’s up?” she asks while casting a glance at me over her shoulder.
I pull her to a stop. “Hey. Stop for a minute, will ya?”
“I told you. I need to help Laney.”
“Well, I don’t appreciate you saying shit like that to Elodie.”
“What shit?”
“About me and my—” I clear my throat before continuing. “Issues.”
My sister plants her hands on her hips. “First of all, you’re the one that alluded to something going on between the two of you, not me. And second, I was just warning the woman you barely know that’s now living with you that you’re a grenade that might explode at any given moment.”
“That’s not true.”
She places a hand on my shoulder. “Henley, I love you, but your emotional intelligence is…under construction.”
“So you think I’m immature?”
“I think you’ve avoided a lot of shit from our childhood,” she fires back. “And now that you’re a dad, I think it’s going to come back and bite you in the ass.”
Irritation is flooding my chest because deep down, I know my sister is right. But that doesn’t mean I like hearing it from her. “Well, I don’t appreciate you talking about my personal business to my employee.”
“Why is it such a big fucking deal? She lives with you.”
“Because she doesn’t need all of the details, and she’s leaving anyway. She’s leaving just like everyone else does.” The moment the words leave my lips, my sister’s grin grows into a full-blown smirk.
Yeah, I’m the one with zero emotional intelligence.
“God, it’s already happening.”
Pushing a hand through my hair, I let out a growl. “Nothing is happening.”
My sister softens her voice. “Not everyone leaves, Henley. The boys haven’t left you, right?
I haven’t left you. Carol and Nick haven’t left you.
” I shoot her a glare but remain silent.
She takes that as permission to keep talking.
“And besides, Elodie’s living with you and taking care of your daughter.
She deserves to know you in some capacity, and if you’d take the time to get to know her too, you just might find she’s pretty amazing.
I mean, she was in Los Angeles trying to make it as a singer and songwriter before she moved here.
Did you know that?” No, I didn’t, but that definitely explains her vocal talent she showed me the other night.
“She’s funny and kind, and I’m pretty sure I’m developing a girl crush on her, and the last time that happened was with Laney. ”
“You were eleven.”
“Exactly, so that should tell you something.”
My frustration is starting to subside, but something else is filling my chest instead—yearning, curiosity, and a need to get back to my girls.
My girls? Where the fuck did that come from?
“All I’m saying is, one, I’m not going to apologize for warning this poor girl about who she’s living with and asking her to keep an eye on you.
And two, maybe it’s not the worst thing that you’re not alone right now.
Lord knows I wouldn’t be any help with Remy, so count your blessings and treat the woman with some respect, okay?
And that starts with getting to know her and vice versa.
Just please don’t sleep with her,” she pleads.
“I like her, and that would just make things awkward for everyone.”
“Trust me. I have no intention of doing that. Which is part of why I’m pissed at what you said.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, staring at me like I’m a lying sack of shit. “Then stop staring at her ass.”
“I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. I don’t blame you, it’s very nice. Round and voluptuous. But there’s no good that can come from you crossing that line, Henley. Keep it professional. Make a friend of the opposite sex, for once, and I think you’ll find it’s something you’ve been missing.”
“So are you saying you have guy friends I don’t know about?”
Her glare is alarmingly effective. “I work in the automotive industry. You already know the answer to that.”
I mimic her stance, crossing my arms over my chest now. “You know, if memory serves me correctly, you once mixed business with pleasure too.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, and look at how well that worked out for me.” Patting me on the chest, she says, “Now go back to your daughter and nanny, and try to enjoy yourself, okay?”
A detail I’ve been meaning to share spills out before she can walk away. “By the way, the paternity tests came back yesterday, confirming what I already knew. Remy is definitely my daughter.”
My sister flashes a soft smile up at me. “Well, we already knew the ears locked that in, but good to know it’s official.” A curt nod is all I can muster at the moment. “Now, unclench your shoulders, stop stressing about something you can’t control, and embrace this new life of yours.”
Rolling my eyes, I grumble, “Yeah. Fine.”
Dilynne might think she’s healed, but I know there are still demons she fights too.
No one handles what life throws at them without a scar or two.
And even though it’s not Elodie’s fault that I’m in this predicament, I still think it’s best that I focus on the fact that she works for me and keep that line drawn in the sand.
I trek back across the grass to find Elodie feeding Remy a bottle as I take a seat back on the blanket, the opening credits to Toy Story playing through the speakers around us. “Sorry about that.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just sibling stuff.” Sighing, I watch Elodie adjust Remy in her arms.
Silence rests between us until she says something that only further fuels my irritated mood. “So, you had foster parents?”
“I was wondering when you were gonna bring that up,” I mutter, reaching into the diaper backpack for a few bottles of water I brought for us, unscrewing the cap on mine and taking a drink.
“Honestly, I was waiting for the right time but realized there probably isn’t one.”
“You’re right about that.”
Shaking her head, she looks down at Remy. “I couldn’t imagine not having my parents in my life. Even though they both had their faults, I was lucky to be raised in a home with a mom and a dad, a brother that I got along with for the most part, and I never felt unsure of what the day would bring.”
“Yeah, well, some kids are better off without their biological parents.” Jutting my chin toward Remy, I say, “Her mom didn’t want her, and I’m going to make sure that I do everything in my power to make sure she doesn’t ever feel like she’s missing something because of that.”
“Carol and Nick seemed pretty great.”
“They are. Honestly, I’m not sure where we would have ended up if it weren’t for them.
I had to write a letter to the deputy district attorney, pleading for us to be able to stay with them when they moved us.
Carol was the first foster mom we had that Dilynne connected with.
I didn’t want her to lose that, and luckily, the DA listened.
We got placed back in the home and were able to stay with them until we both turned eighteen. ”
Our eyes meet, hers glistening with unshed tears.
“Remy and Dilynne are so lucky to have you, Henley. I know your life has completely changed in the past week or so, but this little girl has a family here—her aunt, Laney, your friends.” Tilting her head, she asks, “Family doesn’t have to be blood, does it? ”
A wave of contentment rolls through me. “The only family I have besides Dilynne isn’t related to me at all, El.
And frankly, I think chosen family is the best kind.
There’s no obligation, you know? No guilt for cutting things off.
Toxic people are toxic, regardless of if they’re related to you or not.
” I reach out and stroke Remy’s tiny arm, her soft skin making my chest grow tight with a protective instinct that’s only growing stronger by the day.
“I get that,” she replies, but doesn’t elaborate further.
And it’s at this moment I decide it’s time to turn the tone of the evening around. I opened up a bit, even though I didn’t want to. But Elodie makes me want to fucking talk. It’s like every time I talk to her, her sunshine sucks the darkness from my soul.
Too bad Dilynne wasn’t around to hear it, though.
Emotionally immature, my ass.
Standing, I say, “I’m going to get us some popcorn before it’s all gone. Any flavor requests?”
Looking up at me, her gray eyes shining in the orange sunlight, she flashes me the most annoying smile—annoying because it makes me want to smile right back at her. “I told you. I want them all. Don’t let me down, Henley.”
And as I walk across the courtyard to the popcorn cart, my stomach twists with the reminder that I could let her and my daughter down in more ways than one—especially if I act on this attraction to my nanny that’s growing stronger with each passing day.
***