Accidental Neighbor by Sharon Woods
Chapter 15
Jennifer
Mondays are the busiest days at Spring Side, so it’s lunchtime before I get the chance to talk to Helen.
I knock on the doorframe of her office, rubbing the back of my neck while I wait for her permission to enter.
The door is wide open, and I can see her from where I’m standing. Her gaze is focused on her monitor, her brows set in a straight line as she concentrates on whatever task she is absorbed in. Her finger clicks the mouse until my interruption ceases her focus, and she tilts her head to peer at me. “Jen, come in. Is everything okay?” she says, surprise lacing her voice.
My lips twitch in an easy smile and I enter the office, proceeding to sit down in the chair that faces her. The soft material feels so good against my back. It’s nice to sit down. The toddlers have kept me busy all day singing nursery rhymes, painting, and reading—the list is endless. The busy days make time go faster, but it's already lunchtime and Thomas will want to talk to me tonight about caring for the girls once a week. My leg bounces on the spot involuntarily. “Yes, this is nothing bad.” I chuckle at her curious glare. “I wanted to talk to you about Thomas Dunn, Rose's father.”
At the mention of Thomas, she sits up straighter in her chair, turning away from her monitor and releasing the mouse that her hand was just hugging, and her brows raise. “Yes, and what about them?”
“As you know he is a single dad with limited support, and he is new to the area. Well, on Friday night he came to the center a little late to pick up Rose. He was a little frazzled and he mentioned he needed a babysitter for one night a week for a few hours.”
She leans back into her office chair as I continue. I sit up a little straighter, my hands gripped together like a vise.
“I, uh, live next door to him so I said I could help out. But we agreed that you would need to approve that. This is my number one priority, and I will always put this job first. Rose is just jumpy and attached since her mother died, and I figured she feels comfortable with me, so it might help him out.”
I stare at her and wait. She nods and leans forward in her office chair, resting her forearms flat on the oak table, her hands clasped together. Swallowing at the movement, my body temperature rises with every second that passes, my palms sweating.
“Yes, he certainly has had a tough year and poor little Rose seems a little frightened of the world due to the event. But I’m a bit hesitant to allow this. I don’t know if it’s a great idea. Professionally and then on a personal level. I will have to think about it.”
My heart feels like it’s shrinking. What will he do? He said he doesn’t have any options. I will have to think of some way to help him even if that cannot be me.
I nod and let out a shaky breath. “I understand. He will be picking up Rose tonight so I can let him know your answer then.” I push myself up into a standing position.
“Okay, give me until your tea break and I will think about it. But are you sure it’s not too much? I don’t want you to work a lot of hours. I don’t want you burning out,” she asks.
I shake my head vigorously, “It won’t be a lot of hours.”
Even if it was too much, I don’t think I could pass up the opportunity; the bond I feel for Rose tugs at my heart. I want to be able to help her, offer her stability. And then there is Thomas. The raw desire he brings out of me, I haven’t felt before and I want more of him, which in itself frightens me. But the opportunity to be around him is tempting and something I know I cannot refuse. It would also give me the opportunity I need to get to know him.
“Go have your lunch and let me think about it. I’ll get back to you this afternoon. Come back to me during your tea break; I'll have an answer for you.”
“Thanks, Helen. I’ll see you then.” I moved away, my stomach growling, reminding me I need to eat some lunch before I need to get back to the kids. Walking to the break room, I enjoy the last ten minutes and eat my sandwich quietly.
The next few hours pass by and before I know it, it’s my tea break. I trek to the office but find it empty. I decided to stroll to the staff room to have my break first and then come back to find out Helen’s decision.
As I push open the door to the break room, I spot Helen here talking with Emma. Emma is in the baby room today while I work with Julie.
Their heads turn at the sound of the door, sharing a smile. “I just went to your office but it was empty so I thought I would have my break first and then come and talk with you.”
“It’s fine, Jen. I have thought about it and you can help Thomas out.” I hold my breath. Shit. Emma is here and she is already curious about Thomas and me. Emma's brows rise as she stands beside Helen who is sitting down, finishing her cake. I detect Emma’s mouth turning to a smug grin.
“Ah, thanks for letting me know.” Spinning on my heel, I walk over to the cups, averting my eyes away from Emma’s curious gaze. I'm sure my face is etched with guilt.
“Just if it gets to be too much, be sure to let him know.” I hear her voice louder in my ear, so I know she is behind me. I nod, not trusting myself to speak. I move around, making myself tea before shuffling away to sit at the table.
Keeping my head down, my hands are wrapped tightly around the cup, feeling the warmth on my palms.
Hearing the door open and close, I lift my chin. Emma is standing in front of me, a smug grin on her face. I groan. Here we go, the interrogation starts.
I wish I could hide right now, but there is no way I can avoid the next discussion Emma wants to have. I have to sound unaffected and uninterested in Thomas—which of course is the complete opposite.
“Helping Thomas out after work.” She winks. Her amused look is written clearly on her face.
“He needs help one day a week for a few hours after work. You’ve seen Rose. She is a scared little girl. And she knows me so I figured why not… but I had to ask first.” I shrug.
Her eyebrows rise. “Rose is the only reason you’re helping Thomas out?”
“What else would it be?” I keep my tone neutral.
The smile on her face grows larger. “Because he is older and hot. Don't say you don’t agree; that flush all over your face proves you have the hots for him.” She is pointing in the direction of my face.
I didn’t realize my face had changed color, and I stare back at her, tongue-tied before responding. “Of course I agree, he is attractive. I never once denied it. And I do not have the hots for him. You’re delirious, Em. He is way too old for me.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that. You’re the crazy one. If any of us had Thomas looking at us like a lovesick puppy, we would be on him like a rabbit.”
Chuckling, I glance away. A warm feeling spreads in my stomach and it isn’t just the tea. I haven’t noticed him peering at me differently than the other girls. I can’t ask her what she means because that would prove to Emma I care.
There are still five children to be picked up, including Rose. Every hour has dragged so slowly. I keep waiting for Thomas to enter. As I put on a clean sweater for another child who soiled his clothes, my back tingles and I jerk at the sound of his deep voice.
“Rose, baby,” he calls.
His voice is like butter, so smooth. My heart begins to pick up speed and I concentrate on my task and try to not get rattled by him. I can hear Rose squeal in delight when she hears him, and she runs to him, screaming, “Daddy.” My mouth twitches and a smile forms on my lips.
After changing the child’s clothes into dry ones, I rise and swivel to face him. I straighten my shoulders and clear my throat. He watches me with a flicker of warmth in his eyes and his mouth curves with tenderness.
“Hi, Jen.”
“Hi, Tom.” My voice is higher than it usually is.
“Bye.” Rose begins to wave as she is perched in his arms, her little arms locked around his neck, holding on. His gaze moves between us.
“Just a sec, sweetheart. Daddy needs to talk to Jen for a minute. Just a quick chat then we can go home, okay?” She lays her head down on his shoulder. He kisses her cheek before gazing back at me.
“Where is Lily?” I ask.
“Mom is here tonight so she took her home to get started on dinner.”
I smiled back at him. “That’s nice of her. I bet Lily was happy to see her.”
“Oh, she certainly was.” He snickers. “And so will this one when we get home. How did it go with your boss?”
“She was fine about it; she just doesn’t want me overworked.” I shuffle my feet from side to side as I relay the message.
His eyes darken at the comment, and I realize how that came out. My cheeks are turning crimson.
“I won’t do that. We can just do one night, and then if I have a late meeting, I will ask you if you're free. If not, there is no pressure. But I will just try to stick to one a week. I want to spend time with my girls and not work late every night.”
“One night works well. Maybe we could stick to the same day. It would make it easier for our schedules. And not a Friday. No one wants to work every Friday night. Here, we rotate it for fairness.”
“How about Wednesday? Would this Wednesday suit?” he asks.
My eyes widen at his suggestion. “Um, I don’t see why not,” I stammer.
“Are you able to pick up Lily from after-school care and take them home? I will have the house stocked with food for you and the girls.”
The urgency in his voice shocks me. I really didn’t think it would be this week. But I did offer to help so I can’t back out now.
“Of course. You will need to make sure I'm on the list to be able to sign her out of the school.”
Knowing how strict our rules are here, I’m sure schools would work similarly.
“I’ll do that tomorrow, and I’ll get a set of keys cut for you. I also need your bank details to pay you.” He juggles Rose onto one arm as his other retrieves his wallet from his suit pocket. My brows crease, uncertain of what he is doing. But I can feel a headache beginning at the back of my neck.
He pulls a card out from his wallet and thrusts it in my direction. “My number is on here, in case you need it.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, taking the business card from him and glancing down at it.
Glancing back at him, I stuff the card into my pocket, the phone number already memorized.
A tug on my pants has me tearing my gaze from Thomas. A little boy peeks up at me, and I bend down to pick him up and balance him on my hip.
“Sorry. I better get back to work. I’ll see you soon.”
His mouth twisting, he says, “Yes, I can see that. Sorry to take you away from work. Thanks for helping me. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” I bite my lip and turn with the little boy and wander over to the play area.
◆◆◆
After work I’m cutting up chicken for dinner with Mom. “I’m doing a babysitting job for Thomas next door. He was looking for someone one night a week to pick the girls up and care for them until he gets home. I offered, figuring it would be extra money and good experience.”
Mom continues chopping a pepper. “That's a great idea, love. Dad’s been over helping him out. I think the poor man needs help; it must be hard being a single dad to two little ones.”
“Exactly. When he came in tired and stressed about babysitters, I couldn’t help but offer. It won't be hard; the girls are so sweet.” I smile.
“Did you talk to the boss about helping Thomas? I don’t want you getting in trouble with work.”
I finish cutting the chicken, then wash my hands. “I did. I made sure to run it past Helen. She is fine with it, making sure I won't be pushing myself. But it's only one night a week.”
“Okay, that's great. Dad will be happy you're helping out too.”
“I’ll go shower quickly. I'll be right back,” I say.
“Okay.”
Talking about Thomas I remember the card and I pull it out. I open my phone and save his number in it.
I send out a quick text, with my bank details. I write out the message but delete it and try again, overthinking about how to write the text. Finally satisfied with it, I hit send, and a second later it's been read and I see the little bubbles jumping around.
Shit, he is replying.
Thomas:Hi, Jen. Thank you. Is $50 an hour okay?
My eyes bulge out of their sockets; that's double the amount I earn at the center.
Jennifer: More than okay. Seems a bit much; you don’t need to pay me that amount.
Thomas: No! You are helping me out, so that’s settled then.
I don’t respond to the message because I don’t have anything else to write back. I toss my phone down on my bed and hit the shower before relaxing for the remainder of the night.