Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Before Layla could reply, the loud buzz of the oven timer interrupted whatever she’d been about to say and offered the perfect distraction.
Both females squealed excitedly and bent over at the same time to peek inside the oven.
“Do you think it’s ready?” Layla’s question was equal parts hesitant and excited.
Toni turned to her and even from my spot at the edge of the kitchen, I could see her cheeks spread into a smile. “There’s only one way to find out. Do we risk it or be responsible and give it another few minutes?”
“Risk it!” Layla jumped up and down, smiling when Toni did the same.
“Okay girlie, back it up so I can get this beast out of here.”
My niece gasped when the dish came out of the oven, her eyes as wide as her smile. “It’s so big, Toni! It worked. It actually worked.”
“Of course it did,” she answered with an easy smile that drew me in as much as Layla. “We make a great team.” With the dish in her hands, she set it on the cooling brick and that’s when Toni spotted me. “We made a veggie and nut meatloaf. Hungry?”
“Starved,” I admitted with a frown. “Are you vegan or something?” Nothing on her resume said she was, and I didn’t really care, but Layla might not want to eat food without meat or dairy.
“No,” she sighed as if she was disappointed in me. “But I do like vegetables and I think it’s important to show the tiny humans just how great they can taste.” Her gaze slid in Layla’s direction as if to remind me of my charge.
“I love vegetables,” Layla admitted. “Mom and Dad said that vegetables are better for the environment so we only ate meat a couple times a week.” Her eyes landed on mine, the accusation heavy in them and I couldn’t blame her.
She’s been here long enough that I should know those details. “Of course. Your mom made us all eat vegetarian for six weeks when she was fifteen.”
“Are you joining us for lunch?” Toni arched a brow when I shook my head.
“No, I should get back to work,” I said just as another loud roar sounded deep in my belly.
Layla laughed first and then Toni joined in as she grabbed another plate and handed it to Layla. “Broccoli and sweet potatoes on the side,” she said easily as if I hadn’t just refused her offer. “Sit.”
I frowned. “You’re bossy.”
“Goes with the job,” she said, handing me a big bowl of sweet potatoes and nodding towards the small table in the middle of the room.
“This looks good. Thank you for letting me crash your meal.”
Toni shrugged like it was no big deal and Layla rolled her eyes, just in case I was starting to think things had changed between us. “It’s your food, and I’m pretty sure you haven’t eaten in a few days. Have you?”
“Uncle Brady is too busy and important to eat,” Layla offered in a snide tone.
“Oh yeah? How important?” She arched her brows and a playful smile formed on her lips as if she was teasing me.
“Not important,” I rushed to answer before Layla told her who I was or what I did for a living. “Just incredibly busy right now.”
Something that looked a lot like disbelief flashed in her bright green eyes and she turned her attention to her food. “Whatever you say.”
“How long have you been a nanny?” Layla asked, seemingly content to pretend I don’t exist.
“Six years, maybe seven at this point?” Toni thought about each answer as Layla fired them at her, it was a rare thing with most people. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
The best part was that Layla’s friendly interrogation gave me a chance to learn a lot about Toni without any effort. She obtained a master’s degree in childhood development and early education in New York before she came to Texas for her first nanny gig. She’s originally from the east coast and has a strained relationship with her parents. It wasn’t much, but for some reason I was desperate to learn anything I could about her.
“What about you Layla, what do you do in your free time?”
She looked away, uneasy with the focus on her as she answered in a quiet voice. “I like to draw and I like to write stories.”
“Like comic books or graphic novels?”
Layla’s eyes went wide with excitement. “How did you know?”
“Writers who draw are a rare breed, my friend. I think it’s incredibly cool, and if you ever want to share, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.” She stabbed a spear of broccoli and shoved it in her mouth, knowing that her easy acceptance of this hobby took the pressure off Layla.
She was, in a word, amazing. And more than that, her skills highlighted my own failures as I sat and listened, realizing that my niece was a complete stranger to me.