“No.”
“Are you actually pissing your pants over the idea that you think you sexually harassed the nanny? Dude, you have watched way too many classic Lifetime movies. Although those sitters were usually eighteen and blonde and plotting to steal the mom’s life. Anyway—”
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I don’t know, what are you talking about? With the afterschool special you’re reciting about sexual harassment. There is nothing illegal or unethical going on here.”
“But I just admitted I was attracted to you. Which is not relevant at all. Because I will never—”
“Touch me if I were the last woman on earth, I get it,” I said, rolling my eyes since he couldn’t see me. “Women love to hear that, by the way. Say it more. How you’d never consider laying a hand on me, and that it was a moment of weakness or temporary insanity that you even looked directly at me.”
“Are you—mad at me?”
“No. I’m mad about the situation. About the fact that for the first time in years I get to know somebody I could really like and—it turns out to be you. The single dad boss with all the sharp edges and a relationship allergy. I could not have picked a worse candidate, which shows that my track record with men is going strong.”
He was quiet for a moment like he didn’t know what to say to that. Finally, I huffed a breath and said, “It’s fine Max. Just drop it.”
“So, we’re agreed never to act on whatever attraction there might have been between us?”
“Might have been between us? Yeah, we’re agreed that the imaginary, hypothetical attraction will never be mentioned again, cross my heart and hope to die,” I deadpanned.
“I’m serious, Rachel. You’re so good to Sadie, and I value you. I would never want to jeopardize that trust or risk Sadie losing you in her life because of my thoughtless actions,” he said so earnestly that I swallowed hard.
“There’s nothing you could ever do to make me stop caring about Sadie, Max.”
He went silent for a long time.
“You still there?” I asked.
“Yes. Thank you. It means a great deal that you appreciate Sadie for who she is. It means everything actually,” he said. “I had no idea how lucky I was the day you offered to watch my daughter.”
“It was my lucky day, too. I love the diner, and I want to run it myself. But my favorite job I’ve ever had—no contest—is taking care of Sadie Lady. Just don’t tell Hugh.” I laughed.
“Good night, Rachel,” he said.
I felt happy when I went to sleep. Even though I would’ve felt a million times happier if he’d been calling to say that he couldn’t resist taking a chance on me. I still loved my place in his life, in Sadie’s life. I could wish it were more, and still appreciate what I already had. I missed them both when I wasn’t around them.
The next couple of days were crazy busy at the diner. We ran out of pies on Saturday night, even using up the two backups in the freezer. I raked in a ton of tips, and by the time I got off work around noon on Sunday, I was beat. Instead of doing laundry like I’d planned, I had a feeling there’d be Netflix and a nap all afternoon. I plugged in my phone as soon as I got home, and noticed a message from Max.
Sadie insisted I invite you to join us at the park around one.
I smiled because she missed me and wanted me there. I sank onto the couch, twisted the lid off my bottle of water, and took a long drink. I tipped my head back and shut my eyes, but now I wanted to go to the park and spend time with Sadie and Max. I couldn’t help it. I just liked spending time with them. So I messaged back that I’d meet them around one-thirty. I showered quickly to get the fried food smell out of my hair and changed into shorts and a t-shirt, my wet hair twisted up on top of my head in a messy knot. When I arrived at the park, Sadie was gingerly climbing a little ways up the monkey bars. I bounded toward her, feeling my energy return with the excitement of seeing them.
She gave me a nervous smile. “I wanna hug you but I’m up high!” she said, her brow crinkled.
“Sadie Lady, I’ll come to you,” I said, going to the monkey bars where she was only about three feet off the ground.
“Will you get me?” she asked.
“Nope. But I’ll help you go higher. You can jump off from where you are and be fine, or you can climb more. I know it feels high, but you’re safe, I promise. Daddy and I are right here, and we’d never let anything happen to you. You wanna go higher?”
“I wanna get down,” she said.
“Okay, go for it,” I said brightly.
“I want you to pick me up,” she said.
I slid a look at Max, who stood close by. He gave a shrug. I knew he wanted to rescue her, but he was holding back, letting me handle it.
“I can’t hold on!” she moaned. I wanted to hug her and laugh because the drama in her voice was so funny, but it wasn’t funny to her, and I’d never laugh at her fears.
“Put your foot down one bar.”
“I can’t!”
“Try for me,” I said. “I promise, I’ve got you.”
She bit her lip and I saw tears in her eyes. I was gonna cave. I couldn’t handle her crying. I knew little kids cried when they had big emotions, but those big, pretty eyes with tears in them gutted me. I looked at Max again, this time frantic.
“How about if I help?” he said, stepping in. I was grateful. I wanted her to climb down on her own and be proud of herself, but
