Page 27 of Daycare Santa
“But you knew that, which is why I’m there and not Eli.”
“Yep. Whichever way your bet went, you’d be the one minding my business.” Lizette laughed, then added, “Can’t have that drill sergeant mucking up the works.”
Eli believed children were small adults and should be treated as such, which didn’t work the way he thought. Their niece and nephews—who were actually cousins—proved him wrong all the time when their actions didn’t fall in line with Eli’s way of thinking.
“Since I haven’t burned down the building, you can put your mind at ease. I have work to do.”
“Which is why I really called. I hear you took the day off.”
He chuckled, stood from the seat, and stretched. “In case you forgot, you’re not paying me to act as your stand-in.”
“Whatever. You weren’t at Wintertime, so I wanted to see if you’re all right.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Zack removed his glasses and laid them on the desk.
Lizette’s voice took on a teasing note when she said, “I hear you have a date.”
“Oh.” He rubbed his eyes and left the desk to walk around the room. “Now I know what youreallywant. To dip into my business.”
“Mmm-hmm. Eli told me, so I had to get it from the horse’s mouth.”
“The two of you are acting like I’ve never been out with a woman in my life.”
“I’m not saying that, but Alana turned you into a hermit.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Right, says the man who hasn’t looked at a woman in months.”
“Well, I’m looking at one now.”
“And I’m happy to hear it. Anyway, don’t get lost in your head and sit at that computer all day. Remember to authorize the transfers to my people’s bank accounts. I emailed you the payroll last week.”
“Yeah, you did, and no, I won’t forget.” He paced the room for a bit, then sprawled in the seat. “Still enjoying the conference?”
“Yes, the last session is this morning and there’s a shopping trip planned for later in the day.”
“Don’t spend all your money.”
“Love you, Zack. Mind your business.”
“Right back at you. See you soon.”
Talking with Lizette always made him feel better, and he was still smiling after ending the call. He rolled the chair back and went to the window to stare at the mowed area behind the property. Eli and he owned this house, where they grew up, and the familiar surroundings kept him grounded.
When their parents opted to downsize, Eli and he insisted on buying and converting the property into two connected living spaces with three bedrooms each. Neither of them had a family yet, but as their father often said, “Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of a battle to plan the war.”
Arms folded, he stared at the high wooden fence as his thoughts spun back to his time with Alana in Miami.
Each evening, she’d curl up on the loveseat in his living room, preparing marketing and promotional strategies for her clients. He’d be in his home office on his laptop, a few feet away.
When she was tired, Alana would lean in the doorway and invite him to stop working for the night. Sometimes, he did. Sometimes, he didn’t. It depended on what he was trying to finish.
By the time they were engaged, Alana came and went as it pleased her. Some nights, she stayed with him. At other times, she went home. Of course, Zack gave her free access to his townhouse.
The first clue something was wrong with their relationship was that she stopped checking on him when he pulled all-nighters. She understood his work, but in the early days she fussed if he worked too late into the evening.
Alana would hug his neck and whisper in his ear, “You won’t be of any use to me if you’re wearing yourself out in front of that screen.”