Page 78 of The Surrogate Nanny
“No, you would need to petition for a name change, just like you petitioned to be added to her birth certificate.”
“Thank God.”
We continued to hurl playful jabs at each other as our food was set before us. We got the same meal every time—steak for me, salmon for Anthony. Although so much changed over the years, our order never did.
Except…
“Don’t you usually get a mimosa?” I remarked, nodding at his water.
“Usually,” he admitted.
“But…?”
Anthony licked his lips, looked around the restaurant, and leaned in closely. “Promise not to say anything?”
“You still have me on retainer, so attorney-client privileges are in effect. Are you in AA? I know you were drinking heavily after—”
He crinkled his nose, and his eyes narrowed. “No! What the hell?”
I shrugged. “I’m sorry. What is it? An ulcer?”
“A baby.” Confused, I looked down at his stomach. “Jesus Christ, man. Curl into the fetal position in the booth and go to sleep.”
“I’m tempted,” I admitted with a heavy sigh.
He nodded. “Okay. Let’s try this again. Simone is pregnant, and I’m not drinking in solidarity since she can’t drink for a while.”
I blinked for a moment, letting the words wash over me. “Simone’s pregnant?!”
Anthony pressed his lips into a thin disappointed line. “Well, since we’re telling the whole restaurant, yes, she is. I’m gonna be a father again.”
“Hey, man! Congrats! Wow! You’re catching up to me!” I chuckled. “I still got one on you, though.”
“Eh, who knows what the future holds? Maybe I’ll outnumber you,”
“Yeah, tell that to Simone,” I reminded him with a grin. “I’d offer you champagne, but seeing how you’re not drinking, how about brunch on me?”
Anthony beamed. He didn’t use to smile, even before the accident. The most you’d get out of him was a sardonic smirk. That changed when Simone and Nori entered his life. You couldn’t pay Anthony to stop smiling, and I would be forever grateful.
“Thank you, Jon. I’ll never turn down a free meal. In return, I’ll help you with your nanny search because you look like hot shit on a stick. I’ll look up a few agencies.”
I huffed. “You’re too kind. I’m nervous, but I’m sure I’ll find the right someone who would be the perfect fit for my family—someone who will love my kids.”
Anthony nodded his approval. “That’s what I wanna hear. Now, since you’re buying, I will have that mimosa. What Simone doesn’t know won’t kill her, right?”
Sample from “The Widowed Nanny”
Chapter One
Jonathan
I tossed my glasses onto the mountain of manila folders and loose documents and massaged my eyes as I reclined in my home office chair. My eyes ticked to the clock on the bottom right corner of my laptop, and I sighed.
Twelve hours. My God. Where has the day gone?
My cell phone rang urgently. It was only one of two people; if I were honest, I could go without hearing from either of them. A complaint was waiting for me on the other line, and quite frankly, I wasn’t in the mood. However, I knew failure to answer would result in future misery. It was better to get it over with now.
“Hello?”