29. Emmy
TWENTY-NINE
Emmy
Iend up sleeping most of the day away after our marathon sex.
I don’t think I wake up until after three, and it feels like the entire day is gone.
But I caught up with Ollie, who was speeding through the next Percy Jackson book.
I even joined him by reading on the couch for a bit.
Hattie, of course, was distracting me by flittering around the house in her ass-hugging pajamas.
Thankfully, I kept my gaze averted for the most part—even if I wasn’t focusing on my book at all.
Hattie and Ollie are in bed before me, which gives me time to leave Hattie a note.
I know I want to ask her out on a date, but it isn’t like I could ask her in front of Ollie.
I thought about texting her, but that seems so impersonal.
So, I finally settle on leaving her a Post-it.
We’ve communicated through my notes on the fridge and hers on my door.
So it just seems like the most likely option.
H,
Please do me the honor of being my date next Thursday night?
- E
I decorate the note with a heart next to my name, so it isn’t an overkill. Usually Ollie ignores any notes above his height, so I make sure to put it extra high.
I wake early, hoping to catch Hattie before Ollie wakes up, but he was also up unusually early for once.
He’s already eating cereal as I make my coffee and help Hattie pack her lunch.
She reminds me Christopher is coming over later and then leaves before I can talk to her alone.
I almost thought she didn’t see my note, until my phone buzzes with a text from her.
Hattie: I’d love to be your date
Hattie: I love that you stalked my calendar to see when I’d be free
Me: a perk of being your nanny girlfriend
“Why are you smiling like that?” Ollie asks, peeking up from his book.
“What?” I ask, almost dropping my phone.
“You’re smiling like you saw a funny video, can I see it?” he asks.
“No funny video. Just a happy text. A grown-up text,” I say, hoping he’ll let it go. He shrugs, looking back at his book, and I relax. I guess I’ll have to make sure my face isn’t so expressive when I’m texting Hattie.
“So, what do you want to do today? Your mom said we should do a craft so we can help with your art credits,” I say, remembering what else she told me.
“I don’t really like art.” He frowns.
“I know, but maybe we can make it fun?” I say, but he doesn’t smile. “Or we can get it done quickly and then do something more fun?”
“Okay,” he agrees.
It takes twenty minutes of going through Hattie and homeschool-approved art lessons in the book she left out to find something.
We decide to make a bird feeder by collecting things from around the house and from outside.
The goal was to only use things we can find.
I guess another goal was to support the environment by creating something from nothing.
We decide to ride our bikes to the forest, gather sticks and acorns, then bring it home to put it together. Since it’s now officially November, we both bundle up with our winter coats and tall boots. It’s something I bought recently, knowing I’d need to keep my feet and legs protected.
“Do you think it’ll take long?” Ollie groans on the bike ride over.
“Well, how many sticks will you need?” I ask.
He starts doing math in his head, and I wait patiently as he thinks.
It isn’t until we get there that he decides on fifty, depending on the size.
We agree to both look, while I’m the holder of the basket for them.
It’s a small bird house, so it’s not too complicated at first. Ollie’s finding sticks easily since it just rained and shook the tree branches loose.
“Do we need acorns?” He makes a face, looking around.
“Well, it’s up to you. It’s your bird house,” I remind him. I know Hattie likes to let him lead things, which is part of why homeschooling works so well for them.
“I’m not painting any of it though. I just want to get back to my book.” He stomps.
I laugh, thinking about how many times I’ve probably thought the same thing.
There’s a different kind of annoyance when you can’t get back to a really good book.
I let him finish his chapter before we left—I’m not a monster, after all.
But the chapter had ended on another cliffhanger, and he’s antsy to find out what happens next.
“What do you think is going to happen?” I ask, grabbing a few more smaller sticks just in case.
“I’m really not sure. The book keeps surprising me, which is good, but then I can never guess.” He sighs.
“That’s usually the sign of a good book, or a good author,” I point out.
“I guess.” He shrugs. “Okay, we got everything can we please go back?”
“Yes.” I nod.
We take the bikes back and Ollie negotiates with me to read the next chapter before we put the bird house together.
Since he’s a fairly quick reader, I agree and clean off the stuff we brought in, making sure there aren’t any bugs tagging along.
I make myself a snack and sip the rest of my coffee while he finishes his chapter.
I’m looking at photos of the three of us from Halloween when Ollie pops up behind me.
“Why do you look so happy?” he asks, sitting at the island across from me. I slip my phone in my back pocket and decide to play dumb.
“What?”
“You look like…extra happy. Like it’s your birthday or something,” he says, trying to figure out what’s different. I’m glad he’s only seven, or he might be onto me.
“Just a nice day is all.” I smile. “Are you ready to build? I was watching some Tik Toks and I have some tips if you need, but I think you can probably do this yourself,” I say.
“Yeah, I need help with the hot glue gun. Last time I burnt my fingers,” he admits.
“Got it! I can be the glue gun controller.” I grab it from the other room and plug it in next to the island.
As it warms up, Ollie starts piecing together the bird house as best as he can.
When it’s hot enough I help him by putting the glue where he tells me.
At first it’s falling apart, but after a few tries, he figures out exactly where it should go and how much is needed to make it strong.
I watch intently as he furrows his brow in a similar way to Hattie when he’s determined.
He has a lot of her features, including her dark curly hair.
“Done! Can I go read now?” he asks anxiously.
“If I ever say no, take me to a doctor,” I joke.
Ollie laughs and runs back to his book. I unplug the glue gun and clean up the rest of the remains, tossing the sticks and acorns in the backyard.
I make Ollie lunch and look at the time.
Christopher would be here in another two hours.
I thought Ollie might spend the rest of the time reading, but when he suddenly tosses the book across the room I know it’s time for a break.
Picking up the book, I look at Ollie. “Everything okay?”
“No!” He stands up angrily looking at the book. “They keep saying this thing is going to happen but it never happens! It’s so annoying! I can’t read anymore if they’re not even there yet!”
“That’s frustrating, why don’t we take a book break? Wanna do a puzzle with me?” I suggest. Resting the book on the coffee table, he starts to relax.
“Yeah, okay.” He nods.
I noticed he likes doing puzzles when he’s stressed or anxious, which works out for me because I find them calming too. He pulls one out, which is a variety of dinosaurs at 300 pieces. We tried a 500 piece once and it took us three days, so for now we stick to 300 or below.
“I’m collecting the edges,” he says as we open the box at the kitchen table. It just makes more sense to do it here so nothing gets in our way.
“You got it,” I say. “Why don’t you tell me the types of dinosaurs too? Because all I know are the flying ones, and I can’t even think of their name right now.”
“Pterodactyls?” he guesses.
“Probably?” I shrug.
But he goes on to name other dinosaurs, picking up pieces as he goes.
The conversation changes from puzzles to movies and to Thanksgiving.
He tells me how it’s his favorite time of year and his mom loves it, but he’s worried she’ll be too sad this year to celebrate.
I loved how intuitive he is when it comes to his mom, but I assure him he doesn’t need to worry.
I don’t know my plans for Thanksgiving yet, but I definitely won’t be leaving them alone.
“Your dad is coming by soon, do you want to finish this puzzle with him?” I ask Ollie as he places another edge piece.
“Is that okay?” he asks.
“Of course. I’ll need to make dinner, and it’s about to rain any minute.”
Ollie nods, and I hop up when the doorbell rings. Christopher is standing in the doorway, umbrella in hand, looking frazzled.
“I swear that rain came out of nowhere,” Christopher says to no one in particular. “Hi bud,” he greets Ollie.
“Hi dad.” Ollie smiles as he gives him a hug. “Wanna do a puzzle with me?”
“Sure.” Christopher comes in then turns to me. “Hello, Emmy. Is there somewhere I can put this?” He holds out the dripping umbrella.
“Bathroom down the hall. If you wanna open it and leave it in the tub until later that’s fine,” I instruct him. He nods and disappears down the hall. “Call me if you need me,” I tell Ollie.
He’s never once called me when his dad is here, but I like to remind him anyway.
I know Hattie and Christopher have a complicated history, so I usually try to keep my distance.
He’s a bit of an alpha male, which doesn’t sit right with me.
He’s driving the police cruiser today, which also leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Who is a cop this day and age? Especially when he’s old enough to have chosen something else.
I head into the kitchen and get a start on dinner.
I went shopping yesterday, so there’s a fresh chicken to be roasted along with baby carrots, potatoes, and some cheesy pasta.
I don’t know how much Ollie is going to enjoy this meal, but a gal can only have so much soup.
Plus, it’ll be good to have him try something new.
I’m placing everything in the oven when my phone starts to ring. It’s my brother’s ringtone, so I set the oven timer and pick up.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“I was worried you got taken into a cult. Where have you been?” he asks dramatically.
“What are you talking about? I’ve been texting,” I say.
“But it’s been at least two weeks since you’ve called. You move in with a woman you barely know and her child, in the middle of the woods, and you don’t call?! I was worried, Jess had to talk me out of flying there to see what was going on,” Eric says.
“Oh my God. Dramatic much? I appreciate you caring, big brother, but I promise I’m fine. I’m good even. And definitely no cult-like business going on.” I laugh.
“I take it, everything is going well with the hot mom then?” he asks calmly.
I glance back toward the living room. I didn’t think they could hear me from in here, but I wasn’t about to take that chance. “Everything’s going great, we had a really fun Halloween. I’ll be sure to send more photos.”
“Ah, the kid is around.” He catches on. “You owe me a phone call when you can actually talk.”
“Yep, I’ll be sure to send proof of life,” I joke before hanging up.