Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Yep. I was definitely confused.
I drawled out, “Okay?”
“She doesn’t have a lot of experience, but she is good at one thing.”
“Oh?” I asked cautiously, “What’s that?”
“She’s great with kids.”
And my heart sunk. “Julius—”
But he cut me off with, “Think about it, Lex. You’ve wanted to go back to work for a while now but said the hours make it too hard to juggle A.J. and a job.” He quickly uttered, “Molly can help with that. You’d be able to work again, whatever the hours.” After a silent moment, he vowed, “A.J. will love her.”
I didn’t want to hurt Julius’s feeling, but this did feel like overstepping. “Her name’s Molly?”
“Yep. She’s twenty-one and looking for something permanent.”
I sighed softly.
My maternal worry came into play. “Do you trust her?”
“Lex,” was all he said, and I knew it was a stupid question. As if Julius would let anybody untrustworthy around his godson.
The thought of working again sounded amazing. I couldn’t help but consider the offer.
“Well, I can’t promise permanent, but—” I let out a long drawn out sigh. “—maybe she can come down for a day or two next week so I can get to know her a little.”
Julius was okay with that. “Of course, I wouldn’t jump into anything until you meet her. She’s, uh...” He paused. “She’s different.”
The following week, when I met Molly, I understood what “different” meant.
When I answered the door and found the petite, olive-skinned girl standing there, wearing black skintight jeans, a loose mesh long-sleeved top, and combat boots, I balked. She wore thick black eye shadow around her wide hazel eyes, and her big, pouty lips were painted an aubergine color. Her dark hair was short and curly, parted in the middle, and she had bangs, which she wore straight. Her short trimmed nails were painted black and she had tattoos. When she opened her mouth, I didn’t expect to hear the sweetness her voice provided.
“Ms. Ballentine?” When I continued to stare at her, her eyes darted around slowly and she reached up to scratch at her shoulder. “Uh, I’m Molly.” But I couldn’t speak. Her eyes widened as she clarified further, “Julius sent me.”
The last statement came out sounding like a question.
It took me a moment to reboot, and when I did, I shook my head as if to clear it. “I’m sorry,” I told her, opening the door and stepping aside. “Please, come in.”
She did, but she hesitated. I didn’t blame her. If I’d received the same welcome I’d just given, I’d hesitate too.
Once inside, I led her into the kitchen and smiled politely. “Have a seat.” The moment she was seated, her knee bounced erratically and I just knew I’d ruined my first impression with this girl. I tried to make it up. “So, you’re a babysitter?”
“A nanny,” she illuminated. “I was an au pair, actually.”
She did not look it. “Oh, really? Whereabouts?”
“In London.” Molly looked around the kitchen until she spied A.J.’s class photo on the fridge. It sat next to the one and only photo I had of Twitch. She looked at my beautiful boy and a small smile played at her lips. “That’s A.J.?”
I turned to look at that photo and smiled. “Yeah. That’s him.”
“He’s cute.”
“Oh, he knows it.” My smile widened.
A brief moment of silence passed between us, and I watched as Molly’s face fell. She stood and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She forced a smile and tried again. When she spoke, her voice held an understanding to it. “I don’t think this is going to work out.” I stood and attempted to speak, but she shook her head. “It’s okay, really. I get it.” As she backed out of the kitchen, she averted her gaze, and said, “Thanks for meeting me.”
That young girl felt alienated, and I had done that to her.
I felt like the lowest piece of scum to have ever been born.
By the time I found my feet and started after her, she was already in her bright red muscle car. I rushed out of my house, barefoot, and just as the car started with a low rumble, I stepped out in front of it, and she blinked at me as if I were a crazy person.
I motioned for her to turn off the engine, and when she did, she continued to sit in the driver side, looking cautiously at me and lowering the window. I walked the few steps over and bent at the waist, looking in. “Why don’t you come back inside?” She side-eyed me but didn’t make to move. So I tried to mend what damage I had done by saying, “A.J. will be home soon. If we’re going to do this, I’d like for you to meet him.”
The silence between us lasted a while.
Reluctantly, she stepped out of the car, and then we were back in the kitchen, waiting for A.J. to come home from his play date. Conversation was sparse, and Molly didn’t make eye contact after that, but the moment the doorbell rang and I let A.J. inside, waving off his friend’s mother, Molly was resurrected.