Love & Order: Labor Day (Holidays In Hallbrook Book 1)

by Elsie Davis

  “I don’t like dogs. Sorry, but I’m not interested in the position.” Helena opened the door, stepped through, and vanished to wherever she’d come from.

  Mary Poppins minus a love for animals. Maybe they could get rid of Rufus. April was kidding—she loved the hairy beast. Helena didn’t know what she was missing. It’s not as if the dog needed a lot of care, and the dog walker took care of potty time.

  April resigned herself to the reality and scratched Helena off the list. She could only hope the next two interviews were better. At least she’d gotten a tip on how to clean the sofa. That was something.

  The next two hours passed by interminably.

  Strike three. There was no choice but reject the other two candidates. Neither one had a problem with dogs, go figure. Instead, it would seem one had a penchant for making sure cable TV existed for her daytime soap opera shows and insisted all children needed naps. The other confessed to not being able to cook a lick, but that she was more than willing to try. April might’ve even considered her if it weren’t for her skintight spray-on leather pants and visible cleavage that Bryan hadn’t been able to take his eyes off.

  Garrett would probably enjoy the view, but then Brooke would probably have a thing or two to say about the situation. April pulled out her phone to send Garrett a text, preferring to tell him the disappointing news before he got home.

  “Interviews a bust. Sorry. Have more lined up, don’t worry. See you at six for dinner.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Garrett flicked off the lights of his office, closed the door, and locked it behind him.

  “Are you leaving?” Brooke looked up at him, an astonished expression on her face.

  “I am. I’ll be back in the morning to take care of a few things.”

  “But it’s only four. You never leave this early.”

  “I’ve never had kids at home waiting to do something fun either.” April and the kids had been patient all week, and he’d promised to show them around and let them eat real New York food in the form of a Coney dog from a street vendor.

  “I see. Better you than me. I got information back from a couple of boarding schools. One seems perfect.”

  “Thanks for doing that. Just put it in my mail slot, and I’ll review them tomorrow.”

  “Okay. They did say you’d have to apply right away since the school year is starting right after Labor Day.”

  “I’m not sure what I’m doing yet, but I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight. See you on Monday.”

  “Goodnight. I can come in tomorrow if you want help?” There it was again. The too-familiar look in her eyes that intimated there was something between them. Jim was right. Garrett needed to be careful and keep the boundaries in place.

  “No, thanks. Enjoy your weekend.” He turned and left, aware valuable minutes were ticking away, and he wanted to make an impression on the kids and April to prove he wasn’t all business, all the time. Just mostly.

  He arrived home to four smiling faces and a wagging tail. It was nice.

  “Who’s ready to leave?” he asked, knowing the answer.

  “Me.” Bryan and Melanie were quick to respond. Rufus barked.

  Sandy held up her arms, and Garrett couldn’t resist. Her sweet and innocent smile made his day when she framed his face with her hands to get his attention and then nodded.

  “Guess it’s unanimous.” He grinned at April. “Sorry, Rufus. Not tonight. But I’ll get Wade to keep you out extra long.” Garrett patted the dog on the head. He was cute in a beastly way, at least he was when there wasn’t drool hanging from his mouth.

  “They are so wound up. It’s been hard keeping them under control.” April gathered her purse and the sweaters she’d laid out on the table.

  “First stop, Frank’s hot dog stand. Then we can walk it off while we explore, and then stop at another stand. You kids can be the judge which you prefer best.”

  “You mean it? We can eat as many as we want?” Bryan asked, his eyes as big as saucers.

  “I do. You can’t live in New York and not have a favorite Coney dog.” He chuckled.

  They headed out, stopping at the concierge desk to arrange to let Wade in to take care of Rufus. It was a nice evening for a stroll, the temperatures perfect.

  “This is fun. Thanks, Garrett. I love all the sidewalk cafés and food vendors on every street corner. Not to mention, this is retail heaven.” Her excitement was contagious, and Garrett found himself appreciating some of the little things about the city he’d long since stop paying attention to.

  “The cars sure do honk a lot,” Melanie said.

  “Not like in Hallbrook, is it? But it sort of goes with the fast pace of everything here.”

  April looked up at him, her nose scrunched up prettily. She wasn’t much for life in the fast lane. She reached out to touch his arm. “Is that a statue?”

  He glanced in the direction she’d pointed. “No. It’s a mime. He pretends to be a statue and moves occasionally to confuse or scare people. They do it for money. Notice the plastic bucket in front of him.”

  “They must get tired.”

  “It’s a living.”

  “I want to be Spider-Man mime.” Bryan chimed in.

  “We’ll see about that buddy.” Garrett shook his head and turned away to hide his grin.

  “Don’t give him any encouragement. He lives and breathes Spider-Man now. We don’t need him dreaming of a future in it.”

  “Point taken.” He leaned in close to her, the fragrance of her hair filtering through his senses and overriding the smell of car exhaust. Sweet lilac. “I hope I figure this parenting thing out without too many mistakes.”

  “You will. Don’t worry.”

  “I hope you’re right. But if I do, it’s because I’ve got you to show me the way. Thanks.”

  April flushed prettily under his compliment. He’d have to pay her compliments more often because it was a sight he could get used to. At least until she left, he corrected.

  Two hours, three hotdog vendors, and an ice cream vendor later, the kids weren’t feeling that well. Their appetites had been bigger than their stomachs. Sandy had been the only one smart enough to stop at one hot dog.

  “We should head back,” April suggested. “My stomach needs to recover from dessert. I must say, the waffle cone drizzled with caramel and rolled in nuts is my new personal favorite dessert.”

  “Everyone okay with going back, or does anyone want another hotdog?” Garrett was certain of the answer even before he heard their groans but hadn’t been able to resist teasing them.

  “Can we watch another movie?” Melanie asked. “It’s my turn to pick.”

  “I don’t see why not, if it’s okay with April. She knows best.” He looked at her for confirmation, not wanting to make another parenting mistake.

  “A movie sounds perfect. It’s a great way to unwind.” April put her arm around Melanie and drew her close, walking arm in arm as they headed back to his place.

  “Miss April, those dolls in the window have on matching clothes. They’re so pretty. I love the blue fairy princess skirt and the pink top with shiny beads.” Melanie pulled her toward the storefront and pointed at the mannequin.

  “It’s lovely. Maybe you could wear something like that to school.”

  “Can I get it? Please?” Melanie looked up at her hopefully.

  “That’s up to Garrett.” April turned back to him. “But that reminds me, they need new school clothes. I can’t believe I almost forgot. What they wore in Hallbrook won’t work here in the city, and it’s important for them to dress right as the new kids in school. You need to take them shopping.”

  “I wouldn’t know the first thing about shopping for kids’ clothes. You’ll do it, won’t you? I can give you my credit card.” He barely took time out to shop for his own clothes, but then that wasn’t saying much considering he stuck to traditional suit and ties with mostly blue shirts. They coordinated better with a wide variety of ties. It was t
he sum total of his fashion sense.

  “I’ll see if I can squeeze it in. I’ve got a couple interviews scheduled, and don’t forget I’m leaving next weekend.”

  “Don’t remind me. With or without a new nanny.” The problem was, Garrett wasn’t so sure what bothered him most. Her leaving if he didn’t have a new nanny, or just her leaving. But one thing was for certain, he couldn’t do without someone to help him with the kids. He prayed it wouldn’t come to that.

  “I could take them tomorrow. Any chance you’d be willing to watch Sandy?”

  Garrett looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “I’m working.”

  “It’s a Saturday. It’ll be better for Bryan, Melanie, and me, if we shop without her. We’ll get a lot more done, and I won’t have to worry about her wandering off or getting into things. Please?”

  “I can’t just take off from work.”

  “You’re the boss, of course, you can. Look at it this way, if I get it done before I leave, you won’t have to do it.”

  She had a valid point. Not one he liked, but valid. “But I don’t have a clue what to do with her.” He tried one last time to avoid the inevitable.

  “I’ll make sure you know what you need to before I leave. It’s not that hard. Trust me.”

  “Fine.” He couldn’t believe he’d just agreed.

  “You won’t regret it.” April laid her hand on his arm, her touch reassuring.

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  They arrived back at the penthouse, and before long, April had the kids settled down on a blanket in front of the TV, leaving the two of them to share the sofa. It was remarkable how easy she made it seem. But he’d had one night of it before, and it had been a complete disaster.

  What made her think he could handle Sandy on his own? She had a whole lot more confidence in him than he did.

  Sitting next to April made him forget his rash agreement to watch Sandy as he became more and more aware of the limited distance between them. Her fragrance still lightly teased him, and he wondered what it would be like to kiss her. Not smart, for sure, but he still wondered.

  Garrett reached for her hand, the softness of her skin smooth and satiny. “Thanks for tonight. I haven’t had that much fun in a while, and I owe it all to you.”

  “It was fun, but you made it that way. The kids love spending time with you.”

  “I just wish there was more time in a day. I love my job, and competition is fierce out there. I can’t afford to let up and play parent.”

  “You don’t have a choice. A nanny can only do so much. They need love. From you.”

  He pulled away, uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken. He only caught bits and pieces of the rest of the movie as his mind wandered, thinking about the future and what it would hold for him and the children.

  His children. He was still trying to wrap his head around the idea that this was his life.

  Chapter Twelve

  Garrett felt out of sorts Saturday morning. He was up early, as always, and entered the kitchen, breathing in the fresh aroma of brewing coffee. Thank you, April. It hadn’t taken him long to get used to waking up and having it ready every morning. But the idea of not going into the office today, that was a different matter entirely.

  A day off. All he could think of was the work that needed to be done. But a promise was a promise. April kept insisting he needed to find ways to bond with the kids, and that it meant spending more time with them, which included breaking his current cycle of all work and no play. According to her, he needed to make the children his number one priority, and Garrett had resigned himself to the fact she was right. But that didn’t make the situation any easier.

  At least her suggestion for today would ease him into this parenting thing.

  One kid. One dog. It was a simple test, and one he hoped he could pass, but he was as nervous as when he’d sat for the state bar exam. Failure is not an option.

  “Good morning.” April joined him in the kitchen, poured herself a glass of milk, and sat at the table next to him. “Are you excited about today?”

  “Good morning to you, too. Excited would be a stretch. Let’s just say the jury’s still out.” He frowned, unsure how the morning would play out.

  “You’ll be fine. Just trust yourself. She’s three. It’s not as though you’re trying to control a willful sixteen-year-old who’s determined to skip town with a boyfriend in his twenties,” she teased.

  “Ha. Easy for you to say. You have a way with kids. And please tell me that’s not going to happen with Melanie in a few years.”

  “It’s easy because I’ve had a lot of experience, but in no time at all, you’ll get the hang of being in charge and the ins and outs of how to manage each situation as it arises. As to Melanie, time will tell. Sorry, I don’t have a crystal ball. Don’t forget I need your credit card for today. I hope you don’t mind that I’m taking them shopping.”

  “Even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. You mentioned the kids need school clothes, then school clothes they get. My card is at your disposal. I’m not worried you’ll abuse the privilege. You don’t seem to be that kind of person.”

  “Why, thank you for the trust, Mr. Bradley,” she announced in as patronizing tone as she could muster. “I promise to only buy them a few outfits each.”

  “Get them whatever they need.”

  “Well, in that case…maybe more than a couple. They need something nicer than the jeans and T-shirts they’re used to wearing in Hallbrook. I’m hoping it will make them feel like they fit in better. This is going to be a tough adjustment for them, and I can already tell they’re starting to miss their friends.” April wound her hair in the palm of her hand and then pushed it to hang down her back. It was an innocent gesture, but it made him want to kiss the softness of her neck.

  “Thank you for taking them shopping. I wouldn’t have a clue where to begin. You sure I can’t convince you to stay here permanently? You’re perfect for the position. No need to find someone to replace you when I already have the best.” The more he thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. And not just for the kids. Garrett enjoyed having her around also.

  “Flattery won’t help you. My life’s aspiration isn’t to be a nanny and housekeeper in some posh penthouse suite. As much as I love the kids, my calling is to teach kindergarten. And besides, I’m a country girl through and through. I’m not a fit for here long-term. It’s probably a good thing I’m leaving next weekend because I wouldn’t want to get any more attached to the kids, or for the kids to get any more attached to me. They’ll need to get used to somebody else.”

  “I hate that you always make sense.” The last thing he wanted to do was hold her back from her dream job. Garrett could hope the person hired was as efficient and kind as she was because things had been going smoothly. Other than Rufus’s determination to use the sofa as his own personal cushion.

  “It’s the practical side of me. It’s not always a good thing, but most of the time, it works.”

  An hour later, two thrilled kids and April left, all of them ready to take on the big-city stores like Saks and Macy’s. Garrett shut the door and turned to face Sandy, who stood there eyeing him with curiosity, Rufus by her side.

  “So, young lady, what are we going to do today?” What did one do with a three-year-old? April had already taken care of feeding her, which was both good and bad. One, he didn’t have to do it, but two, it would have been an easy way to use up forty-five minutes. And he didn’t have a tie on, so no worries there. He glanced at her toybox.

  “Do you want to play with your toys? I’ll be right here and can watch.” He suggested, remembering the last time.

  Sandy took him by the hand, led him over to the corner, and pulled him downward, indicating she wanted him to join her. Garrett sat on the floor, not quite successfully able to accomplish sitting cross-legged. He used the toybox as back support, drawing up his legs to get more comfortable.

  She handed hi
m a doll, and Garrett resigned himself to what came next. Sure enough, Sandy reached for her dishes, this time expecting him to play along. Every step of the way, she waited for him to copy her. Each sip and each bite, she expected him to follow her lead. He felt foolish, but at least no one was here to see him. As for Sandy, she was all giggles and smiles, her face full of expressions that kept him entertained. The tea party lasted quite a while, Garrett doing all the talking. He resisted the urge to let her play on her own, remembering April’s advice. Bond with the children. When Sandy grew bored with the tea party, she gathered her toys and tossed them in the toybox.

  A kid after his own heart. Garrett struggled to his feet and moved to sit on the couch, relieved to be up off the hard floor. Sandy climbed into his lap and shoved a storybook in his hand, looking up at him expectantly.

  “Goldilocks and the Three Bears. That’s a fun story.” It wasn’t long until naptime, and this would be an interesting way to ease into it. He began to read the book, and little by little, he noticed her eyes begin to droop. Garrett stopped reading, but almost as if on cue, her eyes popped open, and she’d turn the page, pushing the book upward and urging him to continue.

  Three times, they went through this process, until finally, Sandy nodded off just enough to allow him to put the book down. Now the trick was to get the sleeping child back to her bed without waking her.

  Over the past few days, Sandy had grown more and more attached to him. Her falling asleep in his arms made him realize how much trust she’d put in him. It had started right from the beginning when he’d met her, but now it was obvious to anyone who cared to notice. When they were in the same room, she always managed to be close by, keeping an eye on him.

  Garrett held her future in his hands, and it was a scary feeling. Instead of millions of dollars for a business client, his time was even more valuable spent molding the lives of the children entrusted to him. April was opening his eyes to a whole new way to see things, and Sandy was opening his heart.