Page 16 of Frog

He nodded.

“Well lemme see what we can do.”

I went to the refrigerator, found a bag of shredded cheese, and brought it back and told him to tell me when. Of course, Micah lifted his plate for some, and Pip just started chanting the word for me until I sprinkled at least four tablespoons on his eggs as well.

Once they were all settled, I put it back, took the plate with the pile of eggs, bacon, and pancakes that Cy offered me, kissed him, and leaned against the bar so I could look at the boys and their mother.

“Sorry, you were sayin’?”

Her breath quavered. “Weber, is the job in Alaska going to turn into something more?”

“Not that I know of.” I smiled at her and then at Cy as he put a bottle of Tabasco down beside me. “Thank you.”

“And here,” he told me, placing the tall glass of milk he’d poured for me close as well.

“Y’all want some milk?” I asked the boys.

“Juice is better,” Tristan told me.

“Not this late at night, and milk is always better’n juice. Or water. Water’s best.”

They asked Cy for milk, and Micah smiled at me when he started drinking his.

“Weber.”

I looked back at Carolyn. “Ma’am?”

“Please, call me Lyn, okay?”

I smiled at her.

She sighed. “Would you consider staying here for the holidays and watching my kids for me?”

I squinted at her, certain she’d lost her mind.

“I… the reason I’m here right now is that my husband left for Las Vegas this afternoon with our nanny.”

“On a trip?” Maybe I was missing something.

She shook her head.

But why would her husband go on a trip with the nanny if the kids were…? Oh. Got it. God, I really was tired if it took me that long to figure things out. “I’m sorry,” was all I could think of to say.

“Me too.”

I turned and looked at Cy, and he looked pained and mad and worried all at the same time.

“Weber.”

Looking back at her I saw how she was chewing her bottom lip.

“I would ask my parents to help me, but they live in Half Moon Bay, and Tristan has soccer and Judo and piano, and Micah has to see his therapist, and he has an art class.”

Why was she—

“And I didn’t make any arrangements for Pip because I thought I didn’t have to, but now his preschool is out for the holidays, and he still has a music class, and they all have gymnastics, and so now… now I’m screwed.”

I felt the weight of her stare.