Page 18 of All Stars Fall
I started in on the laundry at around a quarter till five, after checking on the kids again and finding they were still out.
There was enough laundry on that couch waiting to get folded I was shocked that everyone wasn’t roaming the house naked.
I winced. Bad visual.
You’re the nanny.
I picked up something black.
Black boxer briefs.
Not toddler size.
Big boy size.
Had anyone told me a few months ago that my fresh start would include folding Trevor Wood’s underwear, I would have checked them for a head injury.
And yet there I was, clutching his boxer briefs to my chest like a stalker fan gone too far.
I folded and folded and folded until I heard the sleepy talk coming from upstairs as each kid made their way down to the main living room. I already had apples and juice boxes out for everyone and a Blippi streaming via Amazon.
Everyone just huddled on the main couch with their snacks while I finished folding.
Malcom yawned and struggled with the straw to his juice box while Bella grabbed what looked like a black T-shirt and tried wrapping it around her legs. It wasn’t fitting right, so I walked over to help when Eric’s tiny hand shot out and shoved me away.
I wasn’t sure what to do.
He didn’t exactly hit me but he did shove me.
I squinted down at him. He just shook his head and mouthed the word“Don’t.”
“Why?” I whispered back.
He looked down, not before I saw anger flashing across his features, and then he was on his feet and stomping back up the stairs.
Malcom let out a little sigh and then cupped his mouth with both hands. “That was one of Mom’s shirts, she can’t leave the house without it.”
My heartbeat stuttered, and then pain sliced through my chest as I tried to imagine knowing my mom left me by choice, at such a young age.
“Malcom? Why don’t we go into the kitchen real quick?”
Bella was enraptured with both the black T-shirt and the TV show. Obviously, she was still trying to wake up.
Malcom obediently followed me into the kitchen. I leaned down to his level. “Does she get upset if anyone touches the shirt?”
He nodded and then his lower lip started to wobble.
I was not prepared for this.
Not at all.
I reached for him just as he burst into tears.
Oh, God.
I didn’t know the woman, and I wanted to strangle her with my bare hands then run her over with my Jeep.
“It’s okay.” I hugged him close.
