“Stability and routine really make all the difference,” Carol said, nodding. She twisted on the couch to face Aaron, who was in deep conversation with Jack. “You really got a good one. She knows what she’s doing.”
“I wouldn’t have kept her on if she didn’t,” Aaron said with a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He didn’t even look at me before returning to his conversation with Jack.
“Poor thing,” Carol said, lowering her voice. “He’s really done such a great job with Ben all these years. I’m glad he got some help––raising a child is hard enough to do with both parents, let alone by yourself.”
I hesitated before I asked. I’d never heard Aaron refer to Ben’s mother, and Ben didn’t have visitation with her, so I assumed she’d passed away.
“He must miss Ben’s mother very much,” I said softly. “I can only imagine how hard it was, especially at first.”
“Oh, his mother isn’t dead,” Carol confided.
“No?”
She shook her head. “Lord knows where she is, the little tramp. She left Ben on his doorstep and took off, and Aaron has been doing it alone ever since. He stepped up to the plate in ways some fathers could only dream of doing.”
I blinked at her. “She…left him with a baby?” I was stunned. My head spun.
Carol nodded, looking like she loved the idea that she was the one spreading the news.
“It’s hard on him, doing it all alone, but he’s doing a great job. He can’t stop gushing about how you take a load off his shoulders, taking care of Ben when he can’t be there. You really help him in so many ways.”
I wanted to say something, but before I could answer, Jack interrupted us.
“What do you say, honey?”
“About what?” Carol asked.
“I was just saying to Aaron that we should take Ben for a couple of days. You know how bored Alex gets, and he’ll love having a friend.”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea!” Carol cried out. “It will save me trying to entertain Alex, too.” She leaned toward me and added confidentially. “We don’t usually travel with our nanny.”
“Oh,” I said meekly.
“If you don’t mind the extra work,” Aaron said with a frown. “And it will be up to Ben in the end. This was meant to be our week––”
“With all the extra work you have to take care of?” Jack asked. “I’m sure you could use some time.”
Aaron nodded, but he looked guilty.
“Boys!” Jack called. “Come in here for a sec!”
It didn’t take long before Ben and Alex appeared, looking like they’d rather be wherever they were, still playing.
Aaron beckoned Ben closer and kneeled so that he looked up at his son.
“Auntie Carol and Uncle Jack want to know if you want to stay with them for a couple of days,” he said. “I’m totally cool with it, but if you’d rather stay with me and Jade, that’s cool too––”
“Can I go with them?” Ben asked, his eyes twinkling.
“Of course,” Aaron said with a grin. “We’ll be just around the corner anyway, in case you do want to come back––”
“Alex! Did you hear that?” Ben cried out, turning around to face his friend. “We’ll get to spend the holiday together!”
“Like brothers!” Alex cheered, and he and Ben erupted in cheers and whoops.
“Okay, okay,” Aaron laughed. “Calm down.” He looked at me. “Will you help him pack? Just for a few days.”
I nodded and stood. Duty called. I was glad to have an excuse to get away from Carol. She made me nervous. I wasn’t like these people, and I had a secret. It was hard to keep track of everything I said to try to hide the fact that I wasn’t supposed to be here at all.