NICHOLAS

Sitting back, I look at her gaunt, swollen face. “You’re tired, Slugger. Why don’t you take a nap, and I’ll come pick you back up tonight, bring you and Bucky to my place to watch a movie. Just a movie this time. Get you out of this place for a few hours.”

Running a hand through tangled hair, she sighs, “That sounds nice. I’ve been sleeping so much, but it hasn’t been a good sleep.”

“Would it be now?”

On a small smile she nods, “Yeah, I think it would. I’m awake now, right?”

Chuckling I answer, “Yep.”

“Okay, then yes, I think I need some real sleep.” Reaching for her phone she shows it to me. “See, off. I’ll set the alarm. What time do you think?”

“Midnight too early?”

She swats at me. “Shut up.”

“Seven, put in seven. I’ll grab you guys at eight. Just text me if you need more time.”

“You do the same,” she smiles.

“I’ve taken enough time away from you.” I kiss her forehead and stand up. “I’ll tell Denise.”

Madison snuggles under the covers and pulls them up under her chin, watching me leave. “Thank you.” I turn around and gaze at her for a second, wanting to ask about her boss, but feeling it’s not right to.

“See you soon. Rest.”

“Bye Nicholas.”

“Bye Slugger.”

It would be selfish to ask, when she’s in this state. And I don’t want to be selfish anymore.

The only question I want to ask right now is: How can I make her feel better?

As I walk into her hallway, Bucky runs up to keep me company. My sister Zoe pops into my mind and I frown at the thought of what if this had happened to her? What if some guy had made a move on my baby sis? The desire to hurt him rushes back to me two-fold.

Denise sees my face, her curiosity instantly turned down. “Uh oh, what happened?”

I wipe the fury away, trying to regain my composure. “Nothing. I mean, everything went well. I’m coming back for her later. We’re going to spend time together tonight. She just needs to sleep.”

“And eat. She hasn’t had anything but crackers for days.”

“Her appetite will be back. I’ll have some food sent over.”

“No, you will not!” Denise’s head swings back. “I’m here, aren’t I?” She walks past me for the kitchen. “I’ll whip something up from the groceries I bought.” Glancing back, she says, “You’re not the only one who cares about my Madison!”

“Okay,” I chuckle, hands up. “You were here first, I get it.”

“And I’m gonna be here last,” she says, eyebrows raised before she disappears.

Heading for the door, I lean down and pet Bucky while I say, under my breath, “You might have company.”

“I heard that!”

“Good!”

Her laughter vanishes as I walk into fluorescent lights and shut the front door, pulling out my phone.

After a few rings, I say, “Hey, Grandma Nance, question for you. Have you heard a rumor about a nanny coming onto someone’s husband? Two kids, I think. Any gossip rolling around?”

“Oh, Nicholas, I almost didn’t recognize your voice!”

Chuckling, I tease her, “You knew it was me.”

“You never call, so how could I?”

“I’m sorry, you want me to call more?”

“What a dumb question. I thought you were smarter than that! Of course I do! Come and see your grandparents once in a while. Your cousin Ethan does. Why, he told us you two ran into each other at this restaurant he found. Said you joined them at their table. He’s always so proud to find the new places in town, first.”

“He what?” I climb into my Tesla—which I did buy after Ethan had his three, because I admired them so much. But that restaurant was my find! Adjusting my long legs as the engine comes to life, I defensively tell her, “I was there first! I was on a date with this amazing girl, and that jerk swooped in and turned it into a family affair. All of a sudden it was babies and marriage and it was my first date!”

She chuckles, “I know.”

Staring out the windshield I blink and stutter, “Wh..what?”

“I had to get you to tell me about this date, somehow, didn’t I?”

“Oh, Grandma, you’re sneaky.”

“I raised six boys, Nicholas. I learned some things. Now tell me about this girl. She still around?”

As I pull onto the road I toss back, “Is that sarcasm I detect in your tone?”

“Yes.”

Laughing, I admit, “As of today, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Brightening up, Grandma Nance asks, “Are you bringing her to Sofia Sol’s wedding?”

“Oh, wow, that’s next weekend, isn’t it?” Checking for traffic in the right lane before merging, I tap my tongue on the back of my teeth. “I was hoping to take things slow. I think she needs it. Our beginning was a little rocky.”

Making a tell-me-about-it sound, Grandma says, “Nothing was more rocky than the start your grandfather and I had, and look at how we turned out!”

This is news to me. “What d’ya mean, I thought you guys lived the fairy tale?”

“Fairy tales take work, Nicholas. Just ask her to come. She’ll say yes.”

“It’s moving kind of fast. We haven’t even had our second date yet.”

“But just think, if you stay together you will regret not having had her there. With those bikers and our family all together for the first time? Your grandfather has been biting his nails, just between you and I. Don’t tell him I told you that. I, however think it’s going to be fun! Tell her we’re not scary.”

“Yeah, right. To you, maybe.”

“Is this girl fragile?”

I frown, the memory of her just now, and of her before, so different. “No, but something happened to her.” I turn the wheel into a parking space right in front of my building. Need to shower, myself. I am ripe. Cryptically I add, “And if it happened to any woman, they wouldn’t want to be dancing around, meeting a family as big as ours.”

After a pause, Grandma’s voice is quieter. “Nicholas, did someone…” She stops, doesn’t want to say the word.

“She fought him off, he didn’t get far. But he ruined her name in the circles that would hire her, said it was her who came onto him.”

A gasp comes through the phone. “Oh my gosh! And she’s a nanny? The wives would surely blacklist her for good!”

Angry all over again, my temper shows in my tense voice. “Exactly. He lied, Grandma. I guarantee she didn’t do anything. If you knew her—”

“I don’t have to know her! I know you, Nicholas Cocker, and if you believe she is telling the truth, then of course she is!”

“Wow, Grandma. Never heard you so fired up.”

Huffing, I hear her slam a hand on something, probably her kitchen counter. “Well I am tired of people like him! It’s not just men, either. Women can do some shady business when they want something that wasn’t meant for them. I’m sick of it. When you get as old as I am, believe me, tolerating bullshit is no longer attractive.”

Impressed, I jump out of the car. “I’m right there with you.”

“That’s why you called?”

Strolling through the courtyard, I nod to one of my neighbors who’s outside watering her plants. “Yes, I was hoping you knew who he was. Madison’s at home napping—she’s really drained and I didn’t want to drag her down into it. You haven’t heard anything in the rumor mill?”

“I’m also too old for gossip. The ladies at the club know better than to whisper in these ears. But I’ll poke around. They’ll be happy to spill the beans if I show even a hint of curiosity. I’ll call you if I find anything, Nicholas.”

“Thank you,” I exhale, throwing my keys on the sofa. “I thought about calling Mom, or any of my aunts who go with you to those club events, but why not start at the top.”

She chides me as I head for my bedroom to pick out some clothes for tonight, “Don’t butter me up. You’re not off the hook. I’ll expect you at lunch with Ethan and Charlie soon. But not until after the wedding. I have too much to do before then. I’m going to root around the gossip tree now. I’ll call you either way with what I find out. Lunch though, you promise?”

“I promise. And hey, I’ll even do you one better.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll ask Maddie if she wants to be my date for the wedding.” On a smile I add, “I think you’ll like her. She’s different.”

“Then I’ll love her. Different is always better, that’s what I always told my boys. We have enough same in the world. ”