Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
KIKI EMMERSON
I sit next to Tobias and pick up my napkin so I have something to fiddle with. I messed up. I shouldn’t have given Skyler more sugar. I’m a terrible parent. I’m not a parent at all. I gave up my daughter at birth. Why am I even here?
I stare at Skyler’s little fat lip as she sucks on the Popsicle. I know nothing about Tobias besides what the internet told me. Is he abusive? Did he hurt my little girl?
“How did she cut her lip again?” I don’t mean to say it. It just pops out.
Tobias scowls at me. “She fell. She was climbing on the furniture. Kids tend to do that sort of thing.”
“My Johnny was always doing things like that,” Josephine says as she passes the dinner platter that looks like it’s been in the family for generations. My mouth waters as the smells of the roast beef envelop me. I haven’t eaten anything since that doughnut this morning.
“How many children do you have?” I ask Josephine.
“Two. Johnny’s my youngest, and Debbie is my oldest. Of course, they’re all grown up with children of their own now.” She smiles wistfully.
“Do they live close?”
“Oh, heavens, no. Debbie’s in Alabama and Johnny’s in Canada.” She picks up a wine bottle. “I rarely get to see them.”
And now I’ve completely depressed our host by asking about her kids. Way to go, Kiki. Next I should ask if cancer runs in her family and if she’s had any screenings lately.
“This is delicious,” Tobias says, lifting his fork. I silently thank him for changing the subject.
“Yes. It’s so nice to eat a home cooked meal.” I shove a large bite of beef in my mouth.
“Oh? Do you not cook, Miss Kiki?” Josephine raises one eyebrow at me as she pours wine into my glass.
I sink down into my seat. I might as well just tell them I’m practically homeless. “I do,” I say quietly, trying to come up with an excuse as to why I haven’t made a home cooked meal in forever.
“I bet you’ve just been so busy looking for work and everything. Ellie told me you’re job hunting. What is it you do again?”
What should I say? I have no degrees. I dropped out of high school. After I went to prison, I tried to straighten my life out. I got my GED. I worked after hours cleaning public bathrooms at the mall. That was the only job I could get with my record. I stare at my fingers trying to think of something smart to say. And then it dawns on me. This is the time when I should be pitching my abilities to take care of children. Tobias needs a nanny. I’m the child’s mother, after all. I should be showing him how capable I am.
I lift my head and plaster on a smile. “I actually work in childcare. I have an extensive resume. I most recently worked at a famous daycare center in Atlanta.” The lies tumble out like coins from a winning slot machine.
Tobias raises an eyebrow. “There’s a famous daycare center?”
I nod, going with it. I’m in too deep now to stop. “It’s the Montessori daycare on Peachtree. It’s always got a waiting list because it’s so popular. I taught there for three years.” The first rule of lying, give details. Even if he checks the internet later, he’ll think he got the details wrong.
“How fortunate!” Josephine leans forward. “Tobias is looking for a live-in nanny.”
He shakes his head, his eyes wide. “I filled the position.”
Josephine sucks in a breath. “You did? Who did you hire?”
Tobias squirms in his seat and I hide a smile. Caught in his lie. He forgot the first rule. I win the lying game.
“I uh…” His gaze flicks to Skyler as if she could save him.
She licks the empty popsicle stick and says, “Can I have more?”
Josephine scoops some potato and roast beef onto Skyler’s plate. “Here, have some of this. It’s yummy.”
Josephine fusses with Skyler, getting her to eat, and forgetting about the live-in nanny lie, which is disappointing. I was hoping she’d nail Tobias to the wall. She looks at me. “Tell me more about yourself, dear.”
I decide to lean into my childcare qualities some more. “I took care of my younger sister growing up. I learned a lot about caring for small children.” This is not a lie. My parents both worked, and we were often home alone.
“Oh?” Josephine asks.
“I taught myself how to sew. I used to sew the holes in my sister’s socks.” This is true. My family had no money, so I learned how to make the pennies stretch, although I was never very good at sewing.
“That’s an excellent skill to have.” Josephine gives Tobias a nod.
“I’m CPR certified.” At least I was when I was in ninth grade. I was in a junior achievement program in school where they taught us CPR. I remember most of it, so I’ll count it.
“Impressive.” Josephine puts more potatoes on Skyler’s plate.
“I love teaching kids,” I continue, laying it on as thick as I can. “My favorite thing to teach is science. I love running experiments. You know, baking soda and vinegar volcanos, and making homemade rock candy. That kind of stuff.” This is pretty much true as well. I watched a lot of Bill Nye growing up, and me and my sister would play science experiment all the time. We mostly made big messes, but no one needs to know that.
“I don’t know who you hired, Tobias, but you might want to reconsider.” Josephine gives me a wink and I realize she knows he’s lying as well.
We finish the meal, and Josephine takes the dishes to the kitchen. I hop up to help so I look useful. By the time we’re done, Tobias is standing in the living room with Skyler, looking like he wants to leave.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Josephine says. “It’s such a nice spring evening.” She opens the front door, and I follow her out. Tobias and Skyler trail after me.
Josephine heads south. “There’s a park this way.”
“The park!” Skyler yells as she runs ahead. Josephine grabs her hand and walks with her, leaving me and Tobias to trail behind together.
We walk in silence for a couple of blocks until I can’t stand it anymore. “Nice day.”
Tobias glances at me. “Sure is.” He looks at the sky. “How did quilting go?”
I bite my lip. I can’t admit to him that I stabbed my finger more times than I stabbed the fabric. I just bragged about my sewing skills. “It went well. I’m going back on Wednesday night.”
“Ah. I see.”
I tap my leg, trying to think of something else to say. “Skyler is an adorable girl.”
“She’s my world,” he says softly.
I’m surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. I try to think of something else I can say about her. “I love her spunk. She looks like she doesn’t take any guff from anyone.”
Tobias chuckles. “She lives with me and my three brothers. She’s learned how to hold her own, that’s for sure.”
I knew Tobias had three younger brothers, but I didn’t realize they all lived in that mansion together. “That…must be interesting.”
“What, living with my brothers?” He shrugs. “My parents died ten years ago. I’ve practically raised them. They’re good young men.”
A newfound respect for Tobias Barrett forms in my gut. I had no idea. “I know what that’s like. I practically raised my sister.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “Your parents…?”
“They both worked. I was left alone a lot with Kiera. I had to learn how to do all kinds of things on my own.” Sadness tugs at me. She was ten when I left. I miss her so much. I often wonder how she’s doing.
Tobias stares at me a moment before stepping off the curb. “I understand.”
“So, you’re a single dad, huh?” I cringe. What a dumb thing to say.
He nods as he undoes the cuffs of his dress shirt. It’s a warm evening and I can imagine he must be hot in his long sleeves. “Yes, ma’am.”
The way he says it, like the responsibility weighs heavy on him, makes me jerk my gaze to him. I’d read online that he was a wealthy investor, and I guess I just assumed that meant his life was easy.
“That must be hard,” I finally say.
“It is.” He rakes a hand over his hair. “Skyler’s a great kid, don’t get me wrong. I’d do anything for her. It’s just…difficult sometimes.”
Emotion cracks his voice, and I stare up at him, watching him struggle for words. It moves me. “You’re a good father,” I say on impulse, touching his arm. I don’t even know why I say it. It just feels right. His arm muscles tighten under my fingers, and I let go.
He looks at me, his gaze full of something I can’t read. “I try to be.”
I glance away, my chest heavy with emotion. This is the man who is raising my little girl. And I can tell he’s doing everything he can for her. Relief floods through me. I’ve worried for years about who was raising her. Were they meeting her needs? It feels wonderful to know Tobias is a good father to her.
He clears his throat. “You really know CPR?”
“Yes.” I say it quickly and stare up at him, even though it’s like staring into the sun. He’s so dang gorgeous, and his southern drawl is attractive. I hold my breath.
He slowly nods as we enter the park. Skyler is on one of the swings and Josephine is standing nearby, watching her. We walk closer, then stop a few feet away from them.
He shields his face from the sunlight and watches his daughter. “She wants the same book read to her, over and over.”
I laugh, a light feeling overcoming me. “Sounds like Kiera. She would make me read The Very Hungry Caterpillar so many times I wanted to rip that thing up.”
“And she insists on doing things herself until it drives you batty.”
A bit of pride worms its way into my chest. “Being independent is good.”
“And she will talk your ear off.” He rolls his eyes. “I’m not kidding on that one.”
I smile, knowing I’m getting the job. “That’s okay. I don’t mind. We can talk about all kinds of things.”
He sighs and turns to me. “I’ve never done this before. It’s…difficult.”
I love how protective he is of Skyler. My heart swells. “It’s okay. You can count on me.”
His gaze travels over me, his eyes grey like a summer storm. “How long are you planning on staying on Willow Shade Island?”
My heart soars. “I can stay as long as you need me.”
He swallows as he slowly nods. “I can pay five hundred dollars a week. You’ll have your own bedroom with attached bathroom. You get one day off, and you can pick Saturday or Sunday. Hours might vary, since I sometimes have to leave town. But when I’m home you can have evenings to do what you want.”
Five hundred a week? And I get to live in a mansion? I try not to scream. I’ve hit the jackpot. A small part of me feels guilty for lying to him, but I shove that back. “All right.” I keep my voice calm.
He rubs his hand over his chin. “Then can you start tomorrow?”
I hold my hand out to him. “I can start yesterday.”
Tobias laughs and I’m amazed at the transformation in his face. He looks human. And sexy. I shove that thought away.
He takes my hand, and I’m surprised at the warmth of his skin, and his firm grip. His skin is softer than I expected, and there’s a small zing of something that makes my heart flip inside my chest. He quickly releases my hand.
“You can move in when you’re ready.”
I shove my fists in my pockets, too emotional to speak. All I wanted to do was catch a glimpse of her. I never dreamed I’d get the chance to actually spend time with her. “I’ll move in tomorrow morning.”