Chapter 3

Joe

So, this is what waiting outside school is like, huh? It’s interesting, I’ll give it that. I just wish people would stop staring at me. I mean, is there something on my face?

In the past, I had my assistant do these things, but that’s exactly why I’m here, to better connect with Marnie. I need to pick her up from school and take her places and whatever else good fathers do. I’ve gotten this far, but it’s not enough. I need to be better.

I got Marnie into the elementary school a few streets down from our new house. She’s only been there a few days, but I think she’s starting to make friends and enjoy herself. She doesn’t tell me much about school, except that it’s really easy.

Checking my watch, I realize I’m a bit early. I could sit down and wait but there’s a group of mothers sitting on the only bench. And they seem to be hoping I’ll notice the tiny space that they’ve left. I suppose I could go over and wait. But the thought of sitting in a tight space, fawned over by married women is not appealing.

Normally I wouldn’t mind, and these women are definitely attractive. After the divorce I was grateful for any attention I could get, and boy did I get a lot of it. But now? I find myself looking more for meaningful companionship. I don’t really have the time right now, anyway. Marnie is my main focus, and I have to make sure she’s doing well before I can even think about myself.

Speaking of Marnie, where is she? Shouldn’t she be here by now?

I see a small group of boys about Marnie’s age running out of the building to meet their parents, eager to get away from school. They are immediately followed by a small group of girls, surrounding my Marnie. It seems everyone is eager to meet the new girl.

The moms on the bench wave, and the group of girls wave back to them. Marnie notices me and waves excitedly. She runs over, jumping into my arms and giving me a big hug.

I lift her off of the ground and her little legs hang down as if she is a rag doll.

“Put me down, Daddy!” she squeals.

Again, I notice people are staring. A few who I had assumed were Marnie’s friends are glaring at her, and their mothers are hurriedly whispering to them.

“Come on Marnie, let’s get on home,” I say, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Then, just as I turn to go, a little girl runs up to Marnie and gives her a big hug, which is met with apprehension from both of us.

“Hi, Jenna.” Marnie says, politely.

“Marnie, I was just wondering if you wanted to come to my house on Sunday.” Jenna says.

“Wow, Marnie, that’s great. I’m so proud that you’ve made a friend!” I kneel down to her level to encourage her, “I can take you round if you’d like that?”

Marnie nods, “That’d be really fun, Jenna!”

Jenna smiles a little awkwardly.

“Alright, shall we ask your parents if it’s okay then?” I ask, standing and looking around for someone.

One of the moms from the bench comes over, laughing in a sort of ‘brushing the moment aside’ kind of way. She places her hand on my shoulder as she does so, like she’s trying to regain balance.

“Terribly sorry I didn’t introduce myself first, Jenna ran over here without me!” the woman laughs, her hand lingering on my shoulder.

“Oh, that’s okay,” I say. “I’m Joe. Joe Abercrombie. This is my daughter, Marnie.” I ruffle her adorably messy hair.

“I’m Avery, Avery Wallace. This is my daughter Jenna.” Avery finally takes her hand off of my shoulder, although based on the way it had moved to my collar bone, I’m pretty sure she was trying to get away with feeling me up. She puts her hand out to me now for a shake or a kiss, I’m not exactly sure. All I know is that she’s trying desperately to show me the finger that doesn’t contain a ring. I get it, you don’t have a husband anymore.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” she says, a little insistently. Not wanting to appear rude, I shake her hand. She seems a little put off that I didn’t kiss it, but that doesn’t stop her from moving closer to me.

“So our little darlings are planning a play date I hear? How cute. Sunday afternoon, was it?” she asks.

“Uh, yeah. That seems fine to me.” I reluctantly take out my phone, knowing she’s going to try and get my number, “What was the address? I’ll make a note and bring her over around two o’clock?”

“Oh, of course,” she says, reaching for my phone, “Let me put it in for you.”

“Sure,” I say, handing her my phone. She instantly starts tapping away.

“So, how are you finding it here?” she asks.

“Oh, it’s lovely. Quite a change from the city,” I say, trying to keep it light. A few other women are giving us looks as they pass by with their children.

“Right, there you are!” she hands my phone back, “You can pop round and stay for some lunch as well if you like, or maybe I’ll show you around town?”

“Please, call me Joe,” I say, attempting to make my stepping back appear a little less impolite.

She blushes a little and takes her daughter’s hand, “Come on then, Jenna. I guess we’ll be seeing you Sunday, Joe.” I notice she doesn’t even acknowledge our daughters.

“Bye, Marnie!” Jenna says.

“Bye, Jenna!” Marnie replies. Marnie then turns to me, looking like she’d really like to leave. I take her by the hand and get moving toward the car.

“Is that going to happen a lot?” asks Marnie.

“Is what…?” I reply.

“People pretending to be my friend because of you?”

She sounds really upset. I can’t be ruining her school life already, can I?

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Jenna wasn’t that nice to me in school. She only wanted me to be part of her group to show off that she was friends with the new girl. “

“Right.”

“But then, as soon as her mom realized who you were, she told her to ask me to play on Sunday.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Jenna told me. When you guys were talking, she told me that her mom asked her to do it.”

“Oh. Well, honey, I’m sure she was just trying to help her daughter make friends. Don’t you think?”

“If you say so.”

Marnie always was a little smarter than the average bear cub. I suppose she could have picked up on it, I mean a lot of the mothers were staring at me quite obviously. I don’t want to become a local celebrity at the cost of my daughter. I came out here to get away from all of this. I suppose it’s a small town, and word travels fast.

“I don’t really care though. Those girls aren’t as nice as the boys anyway. They were playing soccer and said I could play, but the girls wouldn’t let me. But I wasn’t gonna be rude, so I’ll just play with them next week.”

“Don’t let anyone else tell you what to do, sweetie.” I smile and pat her head.

“You should follow your own advice, Daddy.” Marnie adds. Am I about to get life advice from my seven year old?

“Jenna’s mom probably fancies you. And you shouldn’t let her boss you around like you let Mom do. You should find someone that likes you, but not because of your pool.”

I laugh to myself, “Yes, you’re right, honey.”

“And you do need to find somebody. You can’t spend all of your time working and playing with me. I need some space, you know.”

Wow, my daughter really is brilliant. I laugh and lift her up onto my shoulders. Squealing, she clings tightly to me.

“Alright, we’re going home to interview people to be your nanny. Then you’ll have someone else to hang out with besides me.”

“But why do I need a nanny? I’m old enough to look after myself!” she fights back.

“I know, sweetheart. But they’ll just be around to help out and look after you while I’m at work. If you like, you can be in charge of them?”

“Yeah? Do I get to boss them around?”

“Well, no. But you can ask them to take you places, and make you food whenever you want?”

“That’s good enough for me, Daddy!”

“Alright then,” I say, as we get to the car, “Let’s get home.”

* * *

Marnie kneels against our coffee table and stares at the Venus fly tap she had me buy for her last week. Her eyes are transfixed on it as a fly slowly wanders around the edges of it.

I’ve been interviewing women for a few hours now, and to be honest, none of them seem like they actually want or need the job. One woman just came by to ask me on a date. Jane doesn’t seem any different. She’s my last candidate and she’s been following me around like a lost puppy, giggling at everything I say as if it is the funniest joke she’s ever heard. It wasn’t even a joke! I don’t see why these women assume that I want a bubble head trophy girlfriend.

“So, what do you think?” I ask Jane. She stares as me for a while.

“It’s such a lovely house you have, and Mary is a sweetie,” she replies, not even looking at Marnie.

“Marnie,” I say.

“Sorry?” she asks.

“My daughter’s name. It’s Marnie.”

“Oh gosh, of course, how silly of me!” Then she does that awful fake laugh again.

“Yes well, it’s an easy mistake. It’s not like I’ve been mentioning her name constantly throughout the interview,” which of course I have been.

I sigh to myself. I’m not going to get anyone good tonight. It is getting late, and I could have been nicer to Jane, but she’s so boring! I’ve been here for hours getting hit on by women who have no interest in being a good role model for my daughter.

“Gotcha!” Marnie shouts, making Jane jump.

“Goodness me,” she says, through gritted teeth, “Why did you shout like that, Mary? Don’t you think that was a little bit rude?”

Marnie looks up from her Venus fly trap at Jane, like her question doesn’t even dignify a response.

“Well, someone is talking to you, don’t you think you should show some respect and answer?”

Jane keeps looking up at me for a response, like she’s trying to get my approval. But I won’t let someone talk to my daughter like that. What kind of a person demands a child’s respect by berating them and repeatedly getting their name wrong?

“Well, I think that’s all the time we have for this evening.” I stand and lead her to the door, “I’ll let you know when I’ve made a decision.”

She looks up at me expectantly, as if I might give her a kiss or walk her to her car. Which of course I won’t.

Still here. This is going to get awkward if I don’t have another interview after her. Then I see her, someone walking up the sidewalk toward the house, and I wave her over. Thank God there is someone else to see.

“Aren’t you going to walk me to my car?” Jane asks.

“No, sorry, Jane. I’m quite busy as you can see, and my next interview has just arrived.” I nod to the girl walking over to us. Jane turns to see, then pouting, storms off.

“Terribly sorry about that,” I say to the new arrival.

“That’s okay,” she says. Then I realize something, I know that face. The dark hair and blue eyes. Is it? Could it be?

It’s the coffee shop girl, the one I walked into last week. I stand there stunned for a moment and she seems a little uncomfortable. Damn, I’m doing it again!

“Joe!” I quickly say, putting my hand out to greet her, “Joe Abercrombie.”

“Ella,” she giggles, and shakes my hand. I get that same feeling of electricity rushing down my spine, “Ella LeBlanc.” She smiles at me and shakes her hair out of her eyes, which seem to sparkle, “I’m here about the nanny job? I’m sorry if I’m late.”

“Uh—no, it’s fine.” I can’t help but stutter in front of her, “Really, you’re just in time! Please, do come in.”