Charlie gave her a big hug and accepted a wet kiss. “We had fun today, didn’t we Chloe? Can you say goodbye to Ellis and Micah?” Chloe turned her attention to waving goodbye to the boys who were running in circles around Charlie’s legs.
“I’ll help you, Josh,” Charlie said in a low voice.
“What?” he said, turning to gaze at her, his green eyes shining with intensity. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll help you convince Olivia it’s a good idea. I’ll help you any way I can. I’ll help with the kids on the ski trip and give y’all more time alone together. Whatever it takes. I’m on your side.”
To her surprise, he almost looked disappointed. But he smiled as he responded, “Thanks, Charlie. That means a lot. And thanks so much for today. I don’t know what I would have done.”
“Do you want to bring her back tomorrow? I could watch her Thursday and Friday.”
He hesitated. “The nanny’s supposed to be back tomorrow, but...”
“What?”
“Well, Chloe cried a lot when I left her Tuesday morning, and with you... She seems to really love you. Maybe it would be better...” His voice trailed off.
“Bring her back. The boys loved her and so do I.”
“What about me?” said Jace.
“I love you, too,” Charlie declared, giving him a hug he returned with fervor. “We’re going to have so much fun on the ski trip!”
“Will you make cookies again?” he asked.
“Uhmm, sure,” Charlie said, confused. She wasn’t sure where Jace had gotten the idea she made cookies. Her sister was the one who liked to bake all the time. But she did have a great chocolate chip cookie recipe. “I’ll make cookies tomorrow and you can have a couple after school.”
“Okay!”
Josh felt a knot in his chest as he boarded the elevator with Jace and Chloe, a diaper bag, and a bag of pull-ups hanging from his arm. When Charlie offered to help, he’d thought for just a moment she was proposing to marry him and help with the kids. But instead, she was offering to help him convince Olivia to agree to the marriage. He’d fought to keep his emotions in check while watching her interact with Jace and Chloe. He couldn’t help picturing her by his side, loving the kids, helping to raise them. If only she loved him the way she already seemed to love the kids.
It was probably a bad idea to bring Chloe back the next two days. It would be good for Chloe, but extremely hard for him. How could he hide his feelings for her when everything she did simply endeared her to him more?
“Uncle Josh?”
“Yes, Jace,”
“What are we doing tonight? Is Aunt Olivia coming over?”
“Yes. Tonight, Aunt Olivia is coming, and so is Aunt Grace and Uncle Brad.”
“And Aunt Charlie?”
“No, Aunt Charlie’s not coming.”
“I like Aunt Charlie.”
“Me, too.” A little too much.
“But Aunt Olivia’s nice, too.”
“Yes, she is.” But not as nice as Charlie.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”
“And Josh is fighting the grandparents for custody of Jace and Chloe,” said Olivia.
“Are you kidding me?” Grace asked yet again.