8. I Used to be Charming #2
“Mrs. Oxford? She does. She likes to people-watch.” She paused, kissing Henry’s head.
“Actually, I think Henry’s wearing her out.
She used to run a home daycare when her husband was alive and they lived in a proper house.
She’s retired now, but when she heard I was scrambling for childcare for the next few months, she volunteered.
” Ellie frowned, pulling the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth.
I tried hard not to stare.
“I think she might have forgotten about how much work babies are,” she said. “I try not to use her full-time, but sometimes work gets busy.”
“What’s happening in a few months?” I asked.
Ellie’s expression cleared. “Heartbreaker’s going to be running a staff and faculty daycare out of the trade college when I start there. On my suggestion, actually.”
She blushed, like she was embarrassed she’d mentioned that part.
“That’s amazing.”
“Yeah, well, take it from me—childcare’s a real barrier for single moms in trades. All moms, actually. In all fields. Anyway, now the school has an in-house daycare for students and faculty. Henry got the first spot.”
“That’s incredible, Ellie,” I said, meaning it. I also couldn’t help thinking that maybe I could be useful to her until that happened if she was stressed about her current arrangement. I filed that away for the time being, since Ellie had moved into the living room.
Where we stood was a small dining room filled with houseplants. Some of them sat on boxes. Conrad told me she’d only moved in a few weeks ago. I couldn’t believe how much she’d handled on her own, with a baby and teenager in tow. Compared to Ellie I felt like I could barely tie my own shoes.
I needed to step the fuck up.
In the middle of the long space was a cozy-looking living room area and at the other end was a massive play space hemmed in with a baby fence. Behind that, French doors led to a balcony that looked to mirror the one her babysitter had been grilling me from.
But damn, that play area. “That set-up is nicer than my place,” I said, eyeing the long shelf filled with toy bins, a tiny couch and a decked-out play kitchen, which honestly was nicer than what I had in my single-room condo.
“It’s a little ridiculous, I know,” Ellie said. “Winona asked if I needed anything when I first got here, and then kind of went overboard. She tried to tell me it was stuff she didn’t need for Delilah, but I’m pretty sure most of this was brand new.”
Henry started kicking his legs and straining to get out of Ellie’s hold. Ellie set him on the floor, where he crawled at a surprisingly fast clip through the opening in the fence to a pile of blocks. He babbled the whole way.
“It’s not ridiculous,” I said, watching as Henry flopped onto his bottom next to a pile of blocks. “I think it’s awesome. Like a whole little baby-town.”
Ellie’s lips quirked. She was quiet a moment, then stuck her hands in her back pockets. Unfortunately, this angled her breasts out, making me have to focus hard on Henry.
“Okay, well, are you good over here for a bit?” she asked. “I’m just going to be across the hall in the kitchen. I figure with you here I might be able to do some prep for the rest of the week.”
“Of course.”
“Do you want anything to eat or drink?”
I stepped into the play area and pointed at the kitchen. “We’re fully equipped. But thanks.”
That little tip of her lips turned into a smile. Christ, she was so pretty.
Then she pulled the gate into place and was gone, promising she was available for anything we needed.
For a moment I stared after her, touching my lips as if her smile had somehow flapped over here like a butterfly.
On the way to her place—and actually, throughout the two days since the market—I’d told myself I needed to forget about that connection we’d once had.
It was clear that was in the past, and this was now.
An entirely different situation which was only about Henry.
But seeing her smile like that—it was almost worse than how I’d felt inadvertently ogling her coming up the stairs a moment ago.
The feeling was something warm and fuzzy.
It felt like somewhere I wanted to live.
As she walked away, I refused to stare. I sat my ass down on the tiny couch, which barely contained me.
It was surprisingly comfortable, though.
I angled it sideways so I didn’t have a full view of the end of the kitchen I could see from here.
I didn’t trust myself not to look up there every other second like a lost puppy.
Besides, I really did want to spend some time with my son.
My son. Nope, still not over it.
I leaned my elbows onto my knees. “Hey.”
Henry looked up from his blocks, his little brow furrowed once more. I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I’m sorry for staring at your mom before.”
Henry smacked a hand down on his leg.
“Right.” I leaned back in the chair, trying to look chill. “So… Whatcha wanna do?”
Henry shoved a block in his mouth. Then he giggled, picking up another one and holding it out to me.
I shook my head. “Not for me, thanks, I’m full. But you go nuts.”
He giggled again. Then he babbled something at me like we were talking. Maybe we were, and I could figure out what he was trying to say.
“Me too, bro,” I sighed, leaning back in the chair. I felt myself actually relaxing. “Me too.”
Maybe this was going to go okay.