“Sorry about that,” I step into the back but Deirdre isn’t there. Instead, Larry is trying to get Cam to eat. Half of the bottle is gone but the food is still in the bowl. This was the third time I’ve tried this brand and not once has Cam eaten it. Time to toss it and try something new.
“Where’s Deirdre?”
“She left. Said she had things to do.”
Shit. I was kind of hoping she was using the bathroom and not gone completely.
“Got out of here as soon as I came back downstairs. Like she was in a hurry or something.”
I should have known she’d bolt. Can’t really blame her.
“Mind if I run down and get a sandwich from Sullivan’s before you leave?”
My head snaps to Larry. “You didn’t get lunch yet?”
She sheepishly smiles. “I couldn’t just leave Cam alone and he needed to eat.”
“I’m sorry.” I take my son from Larry. “If I had known, I would have come and got him. I thought Deirdre was here and you’d already left.”
“It’s fine,” Larry assures me and pats my arm.
I hate it when she does that and have asked her not to more than once, but I’m not even sure she’s aware she does it. Some people are just touchy. At least it’s innocent enough and it’s kind of in a mothering way and the reason I keep her around. Not that I need a mother, but she’s good with Cam.
“I’ll be right back because I already called it in.”
“Thanks.”
After she leaves I lock the front door and take Cam upstairs to change his diaper. “Well, Little Dude, looks like she left us.” I’m referring to Deirdre. “I liked her and she seemed to like you.” He’s grinning at me, like he always does. “That’s okay though. We don’t need no woman. We’re doing just fine, right?”
I grab the Cheerios on the way back down stairs and put Cam in his highchair. I don’t know why Larry hadn’t put him in it before. Maybe he’d have eaten better there than on her lap.
After unlocking the front door again, I add a few Cheerios to Cam’s tray and return to the inventory I was doing before Deirdre showed up. I guess I will be making more pots over break, instead of taking a hot girl to lunch and dinner.
I know I shouldn’t be disappointed, and I hardly know her, but I am. A lot disappointed. But, it’s not like I can change my circumstances and I wouldn’t trade Cam for anything in the world.
“I brought you a burger, just the way you like it,” Larry says as she comes in the back door carrying a large sack.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“You need to eat too,” she reminds me. “Can’t have you getting sick.”
I roll my eyes. Larry is like a mother, but I don’t need one. Especially not someone who is sixteen. “Here.” I take a ten from my billfold. “Thanks.”
She smiles up at me. “You know I’d do anything for you.” Her eyes soften and I take a step back.
What the hell? “Well, I appreciate you taking care of Cam.” I grab the carryout container and head upstairs. “Please keep an eye on him and the shop while I get ready for school.”
As soon as I’m upstairs, I stop in the middle of my kitchen. I could have eaten down there but Larry’s words disturbed me, and that look in her eyes. Surely she doesn’t mean anything by it?
I shake my head. I’m reading too much into the situation. She’s a kid and has no idea what she’s saying.
But, there was a tone.
No. She’s just being nice and concerned.
Still, maybe it’s time to lessen her hours. Not that she works that many. Just on Friday night, Saturdays and Sundays, and when I need a sitter on occasion. Cam has a regular afternoon sitter that I take him to on the way to school. But, Sally’s kids will be home on break and I saw no point in adding to her household when I could keep Cam home and Larry could sit. I mean, what high school kid doesn’t jump at the chance to earn extra money, right? But, why should she have to give up her Spring Break when I’m going to be around. She’s probably just being too nice to tell me no, or is afraid that she’ll lose her job. And, I kind of just assumed she’d be free.
Larry already works every weekend and it isn’t really fair to ask her to work all week too.
Yep, that’s what I’m going to do. Give her Spring Break off. It isn’t like I’ll need a sitter or someone to watch the shop because I won’t be taking anyone to dinner after all.
I quickly change, eat half the burger, and put the rest in the fridge to have for dinner tonight and head back downstairs. Cam is in his playpen and Larry is standing at the front counter waiting for customers to come in.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking.”
She turns and smiles. “Yes?”
“Since I don’t plan on doing anything next week, why don’t you take Monday through Friday off and enjoy your break?” I turn the sign on the front door to “Closed”. I don’t like having a kid watch the gallery and Cam when I’m not close and Baxter is about twenty minutes away. Larry’s attention needs to be on my son, and I’m never open at this time during the week anyway.
Her smile dims. “You need me here.”
I shrug and turn the locks on the door and head to the back. “Not really. I don’t have class and can take care of everything. Have some fun for a change.”
I stop in front of Cam and kiss the top of his head. “Be good for Larry, okay Buddy.” Why wasn’t she happy I didn’t need her to work? Most kids would be thrilled with the freedom. Didn’t she
