Chapter 10 All in a Day’s Work – Kerry
M y first day on the job isn’t going exactly as planned.
It started rough, with Vic and I clashing in a way that makes it clear we’re like oil and water.
However, retreating to the classroom with Syd and Ari proved to be a delightful escape.
They’re the kind of company that makes any day better.
“Ms. Kind, you’re so quiet over there. What are you up to?” Syd’s curious voice breaks the calm of my focused planning.
I chuckle, looking up from a stack of lesson plans.
“I’m plotting your summer learning adventure. It seems your previous teacher might have missed a few beats. We have a lot to cover to get you both up to speed with your grade-level work,” I explain, shaking my head in mild frustration but with a smile.
The girls giggle among themselves.
Syd leans over to Ari and whispers just loud enough for me to hear, “Did Ms. Kind just call Daddy dumb?”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Absolutely not,” I reply, playfully winking.
As the girls scatter to play with Tum Tum, I dive back into the lesson plans, lining up everything from math puzzles to language arts and even some covert ‘field trips’ that I’m pretty sure their dad would be hesitant to approve.
During a brief pause, curiosity gets the better of me.
“Girls, how often do you all get out of the house?”
Syd’s response is immediate and a bit disheartening, “Never.”
Ari ponders for a moment before answering, “Even back in New York, we didn’t get out much. Why? You planning something fun? ”
I nod enthusiastically, already imagining the educational excursions I could organize.
“How about a beach day? We can explore some marine biology hands-on. And there’s a small zoo not too far away that you’d love, Syd.”
Her eyes light up.
“Oh, Ms. Kind, that’d be so cool! But good luck convincin’ dad. He just shuts himself up in the office until the weekend.”
“And what happens on the weekend?” I probe, curious about their family life.
Ari smiles teasingly.
“It’s a secret, but weekends are the best. It’s our favorite time of the week and the only time Daddy doesn’t work. We get to have him all to ourselves.”
Feeling a mix of challenge and determination, I assure them, “Well, I’m going to make sure your dad agrees to every single one of my weekday plans.”
“If you say so,” Ari shrugs with a slight smirk.
“Dad can be grumpy. He used to yell at everyone back at his restaurants. Mom was the only one who could calm him down. She made everyone happy.”
The nostalgia brings a slight shadow over her face, but I quickly lift her chin with my index finger.
“Hey, I may not be your mom, but I promise to bring as much joy as I can to your lives, starting right now with an adventure in books!”
They happily cheer, and I usher them toward the library, but to our surprise, the door is locked, but we can hear muffled voices inside.
“Shit, that’s probably her.” I hear Vic’s voice.
Syd giggles at her father’s slip, “Daddy owes money to the swear jar!”
“We should see what he’s up to,” I whisper, and we all press our ears against the door.
“Go answer, but don’t let them see inside.” We hear through the door.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this. We haven’t built anything since high school woodshop. You’re an idiot, Vic.”
The girls and I laugh as the Grimes brothers go back and forth, but we nearly fall on our faces when the door suddenly opens, and Hudson stands before me.
“Hmm, it seems Ms. Kind is a bad influence on you, eavesdroppers.” He teases, blocking our view into the library.
“We’re just trying to read, but you’re hoggin’ up the library, Uncle Hud.” Syd whines.
I try to peek around him, but he playfully obstructs my view.
His flirtatious gaze makes my cheeks warm.
“No peeking, Ms. Fine. I mean, Ms. Kind. ”
Then, an annoyed shout from inside snaps us back to reality.
“Hudson!”
With a rueful smile, Hudson steps back.
“Duty calls. But this isn’t over,” He says with a wink before closing the door.
As the door shuts, the last thing I hear is a muffled, “Flirt with her again, and see what happens—” Leaving us all in suspense and laughter.
Since Vic and Hudson have cloistered themselves in the library with their mysterious project, I decide to take the girls outside for a bit of sun and play.
The backyard is lush and sprawling, a perfect canvas for little imaginations and unbound energy.
As we step onto the soft grass, I can’t help but admire how quickly Ari adapts to her surroundings.
Despite her prosthetic leg, her natural talent for playing soccer is unmatched.
She carefully positions herself and adjusts her body with a grace that belies the mechanical nature of her limb.
With a confident smirk, she lines up for a shot.
Her movements are calculated, and her eyes are fixed on the makeshift goal we’ve set up.
Then, with a powerful strike, the ball sails through the air and lands squarely in the back of the net.
Syd and I erupt in cheers, celebrating her impressive skill.
While Ari perfects her skill, Syd, with phone in hand, attempts to capture her dance routine on video.
But her movements are tentative; she struggles to fully extend her arm, and her frustration begins to wear on her face.
“I suck at this,” She mutters to herself.
“Why can’t I just be normal?”
I notice her self-deprecation and the embarrassment that seems to keep her from asking for help.
“You know I have an APE certification, right?” I gently state, stepping closer to her.
Syd looks up, puzzled.
“A what?”
I chuckle, kneeling beside her.
“Adapted Physical Education. I’ve worked with many superhero kids just like you before.” I explain, helping her adjust her dance steps to accommodate her arm’s reach.
As she follows my guidance, her face lights up, and her movements encourage her to become more fluid and confident.
“You’re doing amazing, Syd! Way better than me.” I praise, my heart swelling with pride.
Afterward, I massage her muscles, and she proudly practices her new dance routine over and over in unbridled excitement .
A wave of admiration washes over me as I watch the Grimes girls.
I’m so blessed to be able to work with such resilient, determined kids.
Observing their unyielding spirit, I find myself wondering where I’d be if I possessed even half their strength.
While playing with the girls, I catch a movement from the corner of my eye.
Standing in the shadow of the back door frame is Vic, clad in a tight white tee, broad shoulders stretching the fabric to accentuate his sculpted muscles, which I hadn’t noticed before, with a hammer dangling from his hand.
His intense gaze is directed firmly at us, more specifically, at me.
He’s such a prick, but he also looks so good, so damn good.
His expression is unreadable; I can’t decipher if he’s watching me in disdain or desire, but either way, it’s an intense scrutiny that I’m ashamed to admit makes me crave his physical touch.
Syd’s voice cuts through the tension, her innocence oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around us.
“Daddy, come and play with us!”
He clears his throat, drawing the girls’ attention.
“Not right now, okay? I...” He looks at me but quickly turns away.
“I need to get back to the library.”
Ari and Syd wave at him, giggling about their dad’s rugged look and bandaged fingers, but as he turns to leave, I roll my eyes, still angry, annoyed, and disappointed by his treatment just a few hours ago.
After an afternoon filled with laughter and outdoor games, I usher Syd and Ari inside to clean up before dinner.
As we enter the house, Syd tugs at her shirt, her nose scrunching up.
“Can’t we just eat right now?”
“And sit at the dinner table all stinky and dirty? No, ma’am!” I playfully chide, leading them to their bathrooms.
The girls giggle and race ahead.
Their energy is seemingly inexhaustible.
I follow, my smile lingering even as I peel away to my room for a much-needed shower.
Stepping into my steam-filled bathroom, I turn the taps, allowing the hot water to cascade down.
The heat seeps into my muscles, soothing the day’s exertion.
It’s not even officially my first day, and I’m already discovering that nannying demands a different kind of stamina than teaching in a classroom.
I’m exhausted, but as the water covers me, my mind drifts away to forbidden territory, to Vic.
Ugh, why does he have to be such an insufferable and sexy jerk?
His beard, his arms, his scowl, his rare smile, the way he looked earlier in those work clothes, muscles flexing as he moved…
I find my hands wandering to places they shouldn’t .
But I shake my head and force the thoughts away.
Focus, Kerry , I scold myself.
As soon as I step out of the shower, my phone relentlessly buzzes on the bathroom counter.
Wrapped in a towel, I check it, frowning at the screen lit up with notifications from an unknown number.
The texts aren’t just intrusive; they’re downright vile, each message more aggressive than the last.
Unknown : Answer your phone, Kerry!
Unknown : I know you know who this is.
Answer or I’ll make you answer.
Unknown : I need you back.
I can’t take this anymore.
Where are you?
Unknown : Are you with your new boyfriend?
End it now or I’ll end you.
I sigh, unafraid of his threats but still deeply disturbed.
“I’m too damn old to be dealing with this.” I fuss, contemplating yet another number change to escape Cory’s latest bout of harassment.
Rubbing my temples, I decide not to let the unnerving texts ruin my evening.
After getting dressed, I push aside my irritation and muster a bright smile for the girls.
Upon entering the kitchen, I spot Ari, Syd, and nearly the entire staff standing around, looking bewildered and a bit lost.
“Ms. Tina,” I ask, noticing her concerned frown, “is everything okay? Do y’all need help setting the table?”
She glances around nervously before leaning closer and lowering her voice.
“Well, we have a bit of a problem.” Her eyes dart towards the children and back to me.
Syd pipes up with wide eyes.
“We don’t have any food! Daddy always has dinner prepared and ready to eat at 6 p.m. sharp. No exceptions.”
Ms.
Tina, along with the rest of the staff, exchange anxious looks.
“Mr. Grimes has never missed preparing a meal. This is very unlike him.” She confesses, wringing her hands slightly.
Stepping forward, I place my hands on my hips and scan the room.
“Hmm, well, I know he and Hudson are tied up in the library, so instead of interrupting him, why don’t we handle dinner tonight?” I suggest with a hopeful lift of my eyebrows .
A staff member gasps, clearly shocked by the suggestion.
“We don’t do that here. Mr. Grimes cooks for us.”
I blink in surprise, my curiosity piqued.
“Huh?”
“It’s true, Ms. Kind,” Ms.
Tina confirms with a nod.