NORA #2
I smiled at my phone.
I didn’t actually know much about Popeye beyond the basics. A cartoon sailor. A can of spinach. Muscles that ballooned the second he swallowed it. My mom had used him as Exhibit A more than once when she was trying to convince me to eat my greens so that I’d be stronger for gymnastics.
For a split second, my brain supplied the image of Popeye flexing, forearms absurdly oversized as he hoisted something heavy with ease.
And then, without warning, that image shifted to a memory from Monday night.
Theo, at Romeo and Lia’s house, scooping up a very tired Charlotte with one arm like she weighed nothing at all.
The way she’d wrapped herself around him, perfectly content.
The solid strength in his forearms, as if holding her there was the most natural thing in the world.
I swallowed and forced my attention back to my phone.
Apparently, my brain had decided Theo Archibald was the real-life spinach success story.
I shook my head at the ridiculous thought and refocused on my laptop.
The last thing I needed was to daydream about how sexy my boss for the week was.
My phone buzzed again.
Theo: I’m glad things are going well. Thanks again for helping out. I felt bad that I had to rush out so quickly this morning. I don’t think I even said goodbye.
I glanced back at Charlotte, who was now giggling hysterically at the two boys on the screen wearing wigs and pink tutus.
Me: Don’t worry about it. I figured you had a big day. No need to feel bad.
There was a pause. Long enough that I wondered if he’d been pulled into something at work or decided to let the conversation end there.
Then—
Theo: Still. I appreciate you. I can’t tell you how nice it’s been knowing Charlotte is in good hands while I’m at work.
My fingers hovered over the screen for a second before I typed back.
Me: I’m happy to help. It’s actually been so much fun for me too. You’re raising a darling girl.
Which was true. Charlotte was pretty much the cutest little gremlin I’d ever encountered.
I set my phone down just as Charlotte scooted closer, her head tipping against my arm. The simple weight of her there made my chest feel too full in the best way.
I’d only been watching her for a few days, but the thought of Monday morning rolling around and not needing to come here anymore already made my heart twist.
I’d always thought working with kids could be fun. That was part of the reason I’d added an early childhood development minor in the first place. But there was something especially sweet about spending the day with this specific little girl.
Was this what it would feel like to work at a preschool? Or a daycare?
Or a preschool gymnastics program?
Maybe I should broaden my job search. It wasn’t like any of the other positions I’d applied for were falling over themselves to hire me. I might as well see what else was out there.
If I hated it, I could always quit, right?
With a quiet sigh, I opened another browser tab and searched for childcare job listings. A few results loaded almost instantly.
Assistant teacher. Program aide. Daycare support staff.
And then, my eyes snagged when I read the listing for a full-time nanny position.
Was that Theo’s listing?
Was he still looking for an official nanny, then?
I hadn’t asked him where he was in the hiring process since I figured he would’ve said something if there was news.
Still, my fingers hovered over the trackpad as I stared at the listing, chewing on my bottom lip.
Would it be weird to apply? Put it out there and see what he said?
Worst-case scenario, he’d see my name, delete the application, and I’d spend the rest of my life actively avoiding eye contact with him.
No big deal.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I filled out the application.
A few minutes after I’d hit the submit button, my phone buzzed.
My heart leapt straight into my throat. Has Theo already seen it?
Was he calling to tell me he’d gotten the application…?
But when I picked up my phone, the message was much less dramatic and much more in line with the conversation we’d been having earlier.
Theo: Thanks. Not sure how much credit I deserve for raising her since it’s taken a village to get us to this point. But she is adorable. The reason I keep going on the hard days.
My chest softened.
It must’ve been unimaginably hard. Being thrown into single fatherhood when Charlotte was barely one.
Navigating grief while learning how to keep a tiny human alive.
Suddenly having to do things on his own after having a stay-at-home wife to lean on while he’d been focused on being the provider and protector.
Meanwhile, I was having a hard time just getting a job.
“Who are you talking to?” Charlotte asked, leaning closer to peer at my phone.
“Your dad,” I said, tilting the screen so she could see the little circle at the top with Theo’s photo. My phone had filled it in automatically when I saved his contact earlier this week.
“Oh!” She scooted even closer. “Can I talk to him?”
“I don’t think we can call him right now,” I said gently. “He might be in a meeting. But I can send him a message from you if you want.”
“Yes!” Her big green eyes lit up. “And maybe a picture, too?”
I smiled. “Sure.”
She leaned in close while I typed, her cheek resting against my shoulder.
Me: Charlotte wanted to say hi, so this is a message from her: “Hi Daddy. I love you so much. I miss you and can’t wait to see you after work.”
She looked at the screen carefully. “Did you write it just like I said?”
“Exactly like you said,” I promised.
“Otay.” She straightened, suddenly very serious. “Now take the picture.”
She stood up and started posing, first with a dramatic smile, then immediately switching to a goofy face. Then another. Finally, she tilted her head and hugged her stuffed raccoon, looking up sweetly at the camera lens with her big, beautiful green eyes.
I snapped a few photos and sent them along.
While they were still transferring through the air, she took off down the hallway.
“Wait!” I called. “Where are you going?”
“Getting my painting!”
She was back seconds later, holding the artwork she’d painted with watercolors earlier this morning. Bright swirls of color covered the page, glitter glue catching the light as she lifted it proudly.
“Send this one, too,” she said, a little breathless. “So Daddy can see.”
I took the photo, smiling despite myself, and sent it off.
Me: And here’s today’s masterpiece.
Charlotte set her artwork down on the coffee table and then climbed back onto the couch beside me, mission accomplished.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.
Theo: Oh my. What beautiful pictures of the most gorgeous girl. And goodness, that is quite the masterpiece she created. Please tell Charlotte that I love her so much and can’t wait to see her tonight.
“What did he say?” Charlotte asked, knowing the text must have been from her dad.
So I told her.
Her smile softened, and she leaned into my side as the movie played on, pressing her fluffy pink blanket to her nose.
And instead of doing any more work, I set my phone down on the coffee table and smoothed a hand over her hair, letting the moment settle.
The couch was warm. The room was quiet. And even though I knew this was just a temporary job, for the moment, I felt happier and more content than I’d been in a long time.