7. Emmy
SEVEN
Emmy
It’s safe to say that I’m shocked when the email from Hattie pops up right as I’m vibrator-deep in my pussy.
I usually turn on do not disturb, but I forgot, and Hattie’s email popping up is a bigger shock than a random text popping up.
I turn off the toy and click on the email, reading about Hattie offering me the job and asking when I can start.
She wants to hire me? I guess there aren’t too many qualified applicants if she is going with the woman she hooked up with. I’m overcome with so much joy that I toss my vibe aside and put my clothes back on. I email back that I can start as early as tomorrow and that I’m excited.
Hattie replies a few minutes later with her phone number and asks if texting is okay.
Then she provides a list of books for me to pick up before tomorrow, if possible.
I glance at the list, realizing most of them are young adult fantasy, so I figure the best place in town is Literary Leaves.
I grab my keys and head to town, ready to take on my first task.
Gigi greets me when I walk in, smiling. I make my way to the back with a basket on my arm.
This time I’m prepared to leave with more than a handful of books.
I look over the list on my phone and grab all the books I assume are for Ollie.
Then I glance at the romance books for a few moments before heading to the register.
“You know, I didn’t see it last time, but you look a lot like a regular we used to have in here. Always reading and taking advantage of the library program. I haven’t seen him in weeks now, but damn. You look just like him,” Gigi says, looking me over.
“It wouldn’t happen to be Edward Reid, would it?” I ask.
“Yes! Do you know him?” she asks, smiling.
“He was my dad. He unfortunately passed away a few weeks ago,” I say.
“Oh shit, crap, pretend I didn’t curse. But I’m so sorry. I had no idea. He was such a sweet guy.” Gigi frowns, pausing her scan of the books.
“Thank you.” I offer a half smile.
“I’m serious. Most men his age come in looking for Trump-loving MAGA stuff, but with him, he was picking up biographies of important women in history and the occasional fantasy. He was always asking me for recommendations; he said he wanted to impress his daughter,” Gigi goes on.
“Yeah, he, uh, would call every so often and we’d talk about books. I didn’t realize that he was reading fantasy for me.” I can feel the tears bubbling in the corners of my eyes. I haven’t felt this connected to my dad since we lost him.
“I’m really sorry to hear that he’s gone. He was such a light in our community, and he was always a joy whenever he walked in here.” She smiles like she’s remembering a specific memory.
“It’s been weird since I’m staying in his house, so this is actually really comforting to hear,” I admit. I grab my books, getting ready to go when Gigi stops me.
“Look, I know we don’t know each other, but if you ever want another friend, or just someone to talk to about books, here’s my number.” Gigi scribbles the number down on the back of a business card.
“Thanks, I really appreciate that.” I take the card from her and slip it in my back pocket.
I head back to the house, unloading the books onto the counter and finish cleaning up. I was cleaning earlier in the day when I was daydreaming about Hattie again and had the urge to take care of things.
I can’t help it. She’s so sexy, and it felt amazing being with her.
But I can’t keep thinking of her in that way.
She’s my new boss, and even if I want to hear her moaning my name, it isn’t appropriate anymore.
Plus, Hattie has enough going on with her ex coming back into her life; I don’t want to get tangled up in that.
Hattie’s email explained that he’s getting to know Ollie and that she’s hoping that her ex can come over some of the days I’m around. She doesn’t want to send Ollie to his place after being apart for so long, but she isn’t legally allowed to deny him visitation without a good cause.
I can’t imagine abandoning your child and showing up when he’s seven, but I’m not a man. She just asked that I keep a neutral stance on things.
I sign the contract she sends over, all pretty standard stuff, and she sends a screenshot of the pending payment.
It’s more than I expected, and it’ll pay for my first semester’s books.
At least that’s a weight off my chest. I still have to finish cleaning up the house and make it sellable, but I’m getting there.
As soon as I manage to clean it up, the real estate agent said we can schedule showings and hopefully sell it.
I don’t know how long things like this take, but I’ll figure it out. The money from the sale will either pay for an apartment or for school. It can’t hurt to have a savings account grow for once in my life.
I take out the card Gigi gave me and add her number to my phone.
It feels nice to know someone who knew my dad.
Maybe she can give me a little insight into who he was before he died.
At least he wasn’t secretly republican; I mean, isn’t that what we all worry about our white fathers?
It’s a relief to know, even privately, that he supported me.
My phone rings just as I put it down, and I know who it is. Every Sunday night my brother calls like clockwork, making sure I’m okay and that I don’t need anything.
“Hello, brother,” I answer.
“Quoting The Vampire Diaries doesn’t work when I can’t say ‘hello, brother’ back to you.” He chuckles. I hear baby sounds through the phone, and I gasp.
“Is that my niece or nephew?!” I squeal.
“It’s Rosie, of course, because it’s bedtime and she’s apparently nocturnal,” he says grumpily.
“Oh, she just wants to have fun because she hears Auntie Emmy on the phone! Put her on.”
“Em, she’s six weeks old. She’s not going to talk back,” he says, deadpan.
“Excuse me, I’d like to speak to my niece; she might be sick of hearing from you,” I tease.
“Whatever, at this point, if it gets her to sleep I don’t care,” he grumbles, and I hear the baby sounds grow louder.
“Hi, Rosie! It’s Auntie Emmy. Your dad says you haven’t been sleeping. Good job keeping him up, but you should get some sleep because sleep is fun, okay? I love you! Keep teasing your dad in other ways, goodbye,” I say, and I hear her little sounds before Eric takes the phone back to his ear.
“Really? Like having newborn twins who are on opposite sleep schedules isn’t enough torture?” Eric says grumpily.
“Hey, you’re the one who called me.”
“I know, I’m regretting that now. But I wanted to see how you were doing,” he says.
“I’m okay. It’s weird being here without him, but at least he has a guest room. I don’t think I could sleep in his bed. It would be too weird.” I shiver.
“Yeah, and you texted something about a new job? Are you really thinking of living there?” Eric asks, surprised.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but yeah. I just got hired as a nanny; I start tomorrow. The kid’s seven and seems pretty chill, and it pays extremely well.”
“Are you sure you should be making a commitment like that impulsively? Doesn’t it take a lot to be a child’s caregiver?” he asks, not hiding the judgment or concern in his tone.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure there’s a rom-com that starts exactly like this,” I joke. “But I don’t know. It doesn’t feel heavy like the rest of the things in my life. It feels like it will be something good for me and that’s what I need right now,” I explain.
“Okay, I just didn’t expect you to want to stay in a small town for longer than needed.”
“I know, but I think Sapphire Falls is growing on me.”
I’ve changed my outfit and packed my bag an obscene amount of times. I’m not going to the wilderness or being judged on what I wear, but I’m still nervous. This is not only the first day of a new job, but also my third time seeing Hattie while trying to convince both of us I can be professional.
It’s not like I am going to take her on the couch in front of Ollie, but taking her again in general has definitely crossed my mind. Shaking the thought from my mind, I cross the yard from where Hattie asked me to park next to the house and head to their front porch.
Knocking, I wait for someone to answer, and this time, Hattie opens it for me.
Her hair is neatly pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head, and she’s wearing light makeup and a pair of dark blue scrubs. I have to ignore looking into her deep brown eyes—and the urge to kiss her.
“Good morning.” She smiles. “I’m running behind, but please come in. Ollie is on the couch. He’s a bit grumpy that I’m going to work.”
“Ah, well, don’t mind me.” I close the door behind me, and Hattie disappears back upstairs.
I take off my shoes before walking farther into the house.
Finding Ollie, I realize he’s lying upside down on the couch in a pair of Spider-Man pajamas.
He glances my way but doesn’t smile or say anything like the last time he saw me.
I get it, last time I was a cool stranger; this time I’m the one in charge when his mom has to go.
But I try anyway; I mean, it isn’t like I can let him stay like this all day.
“Hey, Ollie, how’s it hanging?”
He stares at me, but after a moment looks my way and shrugs, which is pretty impressive because it doesn’t cause him to fall off the couch or anything.
“Hey, Emmy? Just a few quick things,” Hattie calls. I follow her voice to the kitchen where she’s packing a lunchbox and grabbing a black thermos.
“What’s up?” I ask with a smile.
“I appreciate you taking this on. I know it might be awkward at first, but I do hope this works out for us all. Christopher is supposed to come over today around four, if you can be back or at least home by then. I don’t mind if you take him for a drive, but please use the car seat by the door and let me know where you’re going.
Ollie doesn’t have any work, but if he can read the first two chapters in one of the books you brought, I’d appreciate it.
I won’t be home until after he’s asleep, unfortunately, but if you can make Ollie dinner around six so he doesn’t get a stomachache before bed.
” Hattie looks around the messy kitchen with a sigh.
“I’m sorry for leaving it like this. He’s having a hard time knowing he can’t come to work with me all the time.
But it would really be better for everyone if he didn’t. ”
“No worries, I’ll keep you updated throughout the day. Is texting okay? If there’s any emergency, I’ll call you, but is there anyone else I should call besides 911?” I ask.
“Uh yes, the emergency numbers are on the fridge here. It’s Tilly and Lina, my best friends, and they're like our family. They’ll be here quicker than I would, but please call me first,” she explains.
“Of course. I don’t foresee us leaving the property today, but if we do, I’ll give you a shout. Don’t worry about us. Ollie and I will be good.” I smile, hoping to relax her a bit.
Hattie nods, clearly not quite believing me. She heads into the living room and says goodbye to Ollie before she leaves.