CHAPTER FOUR
BODE
“What did you do?” I repeat the question to Beth for a second time.
The moment that the doorbell rang, and her friend arrived without me knowing anything about her coming to visit, I should have known Beth was up to something.
Not that I mind Alyssa being here, because let’s face it, she’s stunning, but now that Beth won’t meet my eyes, I know she’s cooking something up in that sneaky brain of hers.
When Alyssa turns to set a large platter of veggies on the stove, I step in between her and Beth and get right all up in my sister’s bubble. One hand on the counter, and the other holding the fridge door open, I have her trapped with nowhere to go until she comes clean.
With a huge sigh, I watch as Beth builds her inner-warrior badass persona to go to battle with me. She may be a pixie compared to my height, but her inner-warrior is a giant and I know whatever she is going to throw at me right now, I’m probably not going to like it.
“I’m moving in with Michael next week.”
“What?” My voice echoes with Alyssa’s. I turn to look and based on the shock on her face, this is news to her as well.
“I know this wasn’t the plan,” Beth starts as she nudges me back a few steps before shutting the fridge.
She braces her hands on the edge of the island counter and volleys her gaze between me and her friend.
“We weren’t supposed to move into the house yet, but the contractor got the renovations done early and I really want to get everything in and be settled before the wedding.
That way, after we get home from our honeymoon, we can just unpack and relax and not have to worry about packing and unpacking and all that mess.
I want us all to be unstressed and for the wedding to be fun for everyone, not all scattered about worrying about what is where. Please tell me you guys understand?”
“Well, I guess that makes sense.” I get where Beth is coming from because moving is stressful enough as-is, let alone adding everything happening in the upcoming weeks before the wedding, but this change of plans leaves me in a bit of a pickle.
I guess she was right. “But what about Hazel? I can’t ask you to watch her if you’re going to packing and moving and unpacking everything at the other house.
She may be our princess, but let’s face it, she’ll be two extra little feet and in your way the entire time. ”
“And while I hate to sound like a whiny baby, but what about me?” Alyssa looks as lost as I feel. “If you would have told me you were moving, I could have gotten a hotel and been out of everyone’s way.”
“No no no. I want you to be here.” Beth rounds the island and wraps her arms around Alyssa for a quick hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the move, but when you called to say you could start your visit early, I got so excited and forgot to share my own news.”
“It’s okay.” Alyssa pulls her cell phone from her back pocket and swipes the screen. “I’ll just find a hotel.”
“No.” My one word shocks all three of us.
I clear my throat and lean back against the counter to try and look like everything is cool and my heart isn’t racing a thousand miles an hour with what I’m about to suggest. “Beth is right, you can stay here. We have the space and that way you don’t have to waste money paying for a hotel.
Pitch in for some groceries if we don’t have something you want and we’ll call it even. ”
“I can’t stay here for free,” she starts to argue. “That wouldn’t be—”
“Not that we’d care if you stayed here for free,” Beth throws up double air quotes, “because we don’t, but what if I had an idea for you to work while you are here?”
“Doing what?” Alyssa and I say the same thing at the same time—again.
“Jinx,” Alyssa claims a millisecond before I can.
“Look at you two, being in sync already,” Beth says with a smile and a quick fast clap. “This is gonna work out great!”
“What are you talking about, Beth?” I don’t mean to be snippy with her, but if she doesn’t get to the point in her roundabout crazy idea, I’m going to pull her into a headlock and give her a noogie like I used to do when we were kids.
Beth locks eyes with Alyssa, pretending like I’m not even here. “Since I’ll be in and out, moving my stuff to the house, and Bode will be at the shop, would you be okay to watch Hazel during the day?”
“Do what now?” she asks Beth for the both of us.
“Bode works crazy hours during the week because he’s penny pincher and refuses to hire another mechanic to help lighten his workload—”
“Hey now—” I try to interrupt but get cutoff.
“You know I’m right,” Beth points a finger at me, “so shut your piehole.”
“I can’t ask your friend to watch my kid when they’ve never even met until today. That’s just crazy,” I argue. “And wouldn’t you want her help getting things settled into the new house? Or with the wedding? She’s here to see you, not be a nanny for Hazel.”
“I know for a fact that she has years of childcare experience.” Beth glares at me with the look that tells me I’m about to eat some crow.
“Alyssa grew up in foster care and was raised around kids of all ages. Then even when we were in college, and she had a full class load, she worked two sometimes three jobs at the same time. On top of bartending, or a receptionist job, or whatever else she could find to fit her crazy schedule, she babysat nights and weekends for several families. She is Red Cross first aid certified and has a reliable SUV. Shit, it’s newer and nicer than both of our vehicles, so I know it’s perfectly safe for her to take Hazel somewhere if need be.
I’d trust her to watch Hazel more than the guys at your shop, and I know for a fact that you’ve had them keep an eye on her the couple times you’ve taken her to work with you.
But this is not one of those times you can do that.
It’s summer vacation and the daycare center is full, I called and checked, and you need help. ”
“Can I pipe in here for a second?” Hand raised like she’s in school, Alyssa’s words break the stupor I’m in from Beth’s speech.
I try to hold back my smile, but I feel the corner of my mouth raise in a small smirk. “By all means.”
“While I appreciate what Beth is saying,” her glare makes Beth shrink back just a smidgen, “but I think I can speak for myself.”
She’s not wrong. I think this is a perfect opportunity for me to get a moment alone with the woman who has put some kind of spell on me, so I take it. I grab her hand and head for the front of the house.
“Beth, go out back and watch Hazel. I left her out there with Amy and Todd, but I see more guests have arrived. We’ll join the party in a minute.”
Not bothering to watch and see if my nosey sister listens to a word I say, I pull Alyssa into my empty office and shut the door.
“Look, this all just came out of left field for me too,” Alyssa starts talking so fast, her words spin through the room like a hamster on a wheel, “but you don’t have to do this.
While I’d love to take care of Hazel, because she seems like a great kid, I’m not here to step on anyone’s toes.
If you’d prefer to find someone else to watch her, I totally understand.
But I’m not gonna lie, I love kids and I’m all in, if that’s okay with you.
I think me coming here was meant to be.”
Whatever comes over me hits me hard and metaphorically knocks me on my ass, because what I do next is so not me . . . at least it never was until this ray of sunshine appeared on my front porch and woke me up for the first time in way too long.