Page 32 of The Surrogate Nanny

“You son-of-a—”

“Language, Simone. There are children present.”

***

I watched nervously as Anthony and Nori stood in line for their turn to feed the giraffes. I told Anthony I didn’t want Nori to get too close; however, he overruled me and told me to be ready with the camera.

I cringed when he handed Nori the leaves to give to the giraffe. He guided her hand, and Nori shrieked when the giraffe snatched it from her and buried her face in her father’s shirt. I was relieved, to say the least. You couldn’t be too careful around wild animals.

“Did you get the picture?” Anthony asked heartily when they returned. I looked down at the phone in my hand.

“Oops.”

He rolled his eyes. “Nori, I believe your mother is trying to sabotage my Kodak moments with you.”

“Why would I do that?” I snapped.

“Because you don’t want my photo album to be better than yours. Let’s get out of this heat and see the penguins.”

I grabbed Nori’s stroller and chased behind him. “My photo album will always be superior to yours.”

“We’ll see,” he challenged.

The penguin exhibit was on the other side of the zoo, but we finally made it an hour later after a carousel ride and a cotton candy break.

“Look at the penguins, baby. You see them?”

“Yeah, I see them.”

“I was talking to Nori,” I fussed, elbowing him in the gut. He laughed as he clutched his stomach.

“It’s highly frowned upon to attack the disabled.” I rolled my eyes and focused on Nori, who was actively trying to launch herself out of the stroller. “Let her get down.”

“There are too many people around. I don’t want her to wander off.”

“She’ll be fine. We’re right here. Let Baby Bird spread her tiny wings.”

“I thought she was Little Shark?”

“I mean...pterodactyls were basically shark birds,” Anthony reported. “Are you really going to let our daughter miss this immersive experience? Look at that adorable face and tell her no.”

I leaned into the stroller and firmly said no.

“You’re as cold as this enclosure, Simone,” Anthony chuckled as he removed Nori from the stroller. Nori pointed to the Emperor penguin that toddled in our direction. She flapped her arms in excitement.

“Mama!”

“I see it, baby. It’s a penguin. Can you say penguin?”

She didn’t even try. She just grinned and reached out for it.

An older woman approached us. “I saw the three of you and had to come by and pay my compliments. You’re an adorable little family.”

I looked at Anthony, expecting him to correct her.

Oh, she’s just the nanny. She’s my surrogate and my nanny. It’s actually a complicated story—

“Thank you,” he replied with a sneaky grin.