Frankie’s temper rebounds with a snarl. “I’d rather be freed from this forced arrangement. What’s it gonna take for you to let me go?”
“A trial period. Prove that you’re as shit at the job as you keep claiming.”
She flips a section of matted hair over her shoulder. “Easy enough.”
I narrow my eyes. “Not on purpose.”
“Believe it or not, I’m trying to be good for her. I just suck at this.” The fight leaves her on a weary exhale.
It’s not in my nature to compliment her, but this is unavoidable. “I haven’t seen my daughter look this happy in months. That’s all you.”
Frankie sucks in a sharp breath, her gaze sliding to where Ronnie is playing with her food before eating it. “Really? She seems so… resilient. Like nothing could slow her down.”
A sour gurgle roils in my gut while I reflect on the struggles my daughter has gone through recently. “We hit a rough patch. There were days she’d barely speak or leave her room. I wasn’t sure what it would take to pull her out of it. Then you showed up like the missing piece to the puzzle. She clung to you and asked you to be her mommy for a reason. That little girl sees something special in you. I’d recommend you don’t turn your back on it.”
This tough woman suddenly looks terrified, which has nothing to do with Ronnie finishing her snack. “Ohhhh, no. No, no, no. Don’t put that pressure on me. It was a matter of convenience.”
I chuckle, but it’s humorless. “Whatever you gotta tell yourself, menace.”
“You’re just trying to get me to stay.”
My nod is automatic. “Her happiness is all that matters to me. You can’t leave yet. Give it a chance.”
“Won’t that traumatize her even more? She’ll get attached and then it will be worse when I leave. If I go now, it’ll be a cleaner break.”
I scoff. “It’s obvious you don’t know Ronnie well, but you’re going to.”
Her focus shifts to where my little girl is sprawled out on the living room floor, mimicking the motions for a snow angel. “I don’t get much of a choice, huh?”
“If you really don’t want to stay, that’s fine. We’ll figure it out. She might forget about you eventually. But the scar of your abandonment will last forever. Don’t do that to her.”
“Ouch,” Frankie hisses. “You pack a mean punch.”
“Trust me,” I drawl. “I wish she idolized anyone else. But that’s not the case. We’re stuck in this together. Might as well try and get along.”
She groans and thumps her forehead on the granite. “Quit trying to sweet talk me.”
My lips twitch. “Wouldn’t dare flirt with the nanny.”
Her gaze searches mine, digging deeper than I prefer. “I can’t believe you convinced me to be her nanny.”
“You’ll stay?”
“For now,” she hedges.
A smirk slants my mouth. “Gotta say I’m surprised.”
“About accepting my fate?”
“Didn’t take you for a doormat. You’re letting Ronnie run all over you. She’ll take advantage as long as you let her.”
“What’s the alternative?”
“Tell her no. At the very least, you can compromise. She’s not going to cry if you need a moment to breathe.”
“Easy for you to say,” she mutters. “I can’t find it in my ice-cold heart to deny her.”
“You’ll find a happy medium.”