Finally, he got what she wanted. And he wasn’t trying to back out. “Yes. Great. I can spend my time designing.” And I can be back on track.
Seven
Sunday had brought Aiden’s less sunny side. He’d finally called his mother about Oliver that morning, which had not gone as he’d hoped. He’d assumed, and so had Sarah, that she would be eager to come over right away. Instead, she’d said she was busy and would stop by Monday. That response had prompted Aiden to hunker down in his home gym for hours, lifting weights and running on the treadmill. As if the man needed to be in better shape.
Sarah had tried her best to go about her day, working on Oliver’s room while he played, and during his nap, doing research on apparel companies she could partner with, per Aiden’s suggestion. She’d also taken Oliver for a long walk, with a stop at a bookstore for some of her favorite children’s reads. Considering how much Aiden loved books, she knew the gesture would be appreciated. Maybe someday those books would make him think of her—the woman who’d brought him Oliver out of the blue. And slipped away just as fast.
Now that it was late Monday morning, Sarah was still awaiting the return of pleasant Aiden. He’d been a real jerk during the nanny interviews, which was not the way it should’ve gone. The agency was the top in the city. Money was no object. All signs led to this being a short and simple process. But she hadn’t counted on Aiden stonewalling.
“What is your problem?” Sarah asked as the elevator doors closed on the fourth and final candidate. “For now, the agency has no more nannies to send. The woman was practically Mary Poppins and you tell her that you don’t think she’s right for Oliver?”
Aiden shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark gray suit pants. He’d ditched the jacket and tie for the interview, but otherwise dressed handsomely, which was driving Sarah crazy. It took too much work to be mad at him when he looked so good.
“Did you see her face when she wasn’t talking? It was so cold and stern. I want Oliver to be happy, not scared out of his mind.”
“Are you saying she had resting bitch face? Is that really what this has come down to? Because you’re being ridiculous.”
“I didn’t like her. End of story.”
Sarah grumbled. Aiden might be right about the woman’s austere facial expressions, but she was otherwise perfect. Plus, she was in her fifties and happily married and there was a very petty part of Sarah that wasn’t about to leave Aiden with a perky twentysomething.
She flipped through the candidates’ résumés. “What about Frances? She had a very sunny personality and came with impeccable references. She was a nanny for Senator Meyers, for God’s sake. Do you think just anyone gets that job?”
“And why doesn’t she have that job anymore? I’m not sure I buy her answer.”
“She wanted to be in New York to help with her sick aunt. The Senator and his family are in Washington, DC. Seems reasonable to me.”
“What if her aunt’s illness takes over her life? I need someone who is solely focused on Oliver. That’s what’s best for him.”
“You’ve spent all of three days with him. How can you say that you know what’s best?”
Aiden shot her a look that said she’d taken it too far. He swallowed so hard that his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m trusting my gut. That’s the best thing I have to go on right now.” He turned and walked out of the entryway and into the kitchen.
Sarah followed. They had to get the nanny situation resolved. “Don’t forget that I’m the expert on this subject. I’m telling you right now that you’re an idiot of the highest order for sending those four women away.”
“We have to keep looking.”
“I’m only here for a week, Aiden. It’s Monday. Your ten days are up on Sunday and I’m gone. What are you going to do then?”
He grabbed an apple out of the bamboo bowl on the kitchen island. “Maybe I need you to stay longer.”
So that’s what he was doing—avoiding the potential mess of someone who might not be right by trying to keep the one thing he knew would work—her. “You’re trying to force me to stay by sending away the other nannies?”
“Listen to what you just said. Other nannies.”
“No way. I’m done with that.”
“Honestly, I don’t believe you’re capable of walking away from Oliver on Sunday. You love him. I can see it.”
Why did he have to make this so much worse? His words cut to her core. They were the truth and he knew it. “Of course I love Oliver. How could I not? But he’s not my child and just like every other child I’ve cared for, I eventually have to leave him.” Just saying the words brought up an unholy mess of things she dreaded and terrible memories. If she was bad at anything, it was goodbye.