“Seriously, it’s fine. If she wants to waste Sunday morning talking about work, that’s her stupid choice.”
I could see in my sister’s eyes she was thinking but what about spending time with you, blah, blah, blah. Would I prefer to spend time with my wife in the morning, yes, of course, but she had stuff to do. I’d survive.
“Everleigh,” I shouted past Oakley, ignoring her questioning look. If she kept raising her eyebrows at me, I was going to shave them off.
“Uncle Jasper!” Everleigh screamed, jumping up and down as she made her way to the front door. “Pancakes! Can I have chocolate?”
I grinned. “You can have whatever you want.”
“Yeah,” she cheered, jumping outside in one big leap that made Oakley tense up. “Let’s go, Uncle Jasper.”
I unlocked my car and she ran to her door, letting herself in. Cole appeared behind Oakley, wrapping his arms around her.
“No kiss goodbye?” he said to Everleigh. She turned, shook her head, waved and got in the car.
“Too eager for food. She takes after you,” Oakley said, kissing Cole’s cheek over her shoulder. That was my cue to leave. I didn’t need to be seeing any of that soppy crap right now.
“So what’s wrong, Uncle Jasper?” Everleigh asked, leaning her elbows on the diner table. She barely reached so it looked more like she was just laying her arms out, but I knew the effect she was going for – ‘tell all’.
“Nothing’s wrong, Noodle. I promise.”
She sighed and shook her head. “Uncle Jasper, you just told a lie.”
My three-year-old niece was disappointed in me. Wow.
“Just grown-up stuff. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“But I love you.”
There was nothing that could keep me down when she said that. I smiled like a fat guy locked in a McDonalds overnight. I was suddenly so glad Oakley didn’t have anything planned and let me take Everleigh for a bit. This kid was my antidepressant.
“I love you too, but you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Are you sad?”
“If you ask your dad...”
She frowned, my joke going over her head.
“Never mind. I’m not sad.”
“Is it Aunty Abby? Are you in the dog house?”
I laughed, my eyebrows shooting up.
“What?” Where the hell did that come from?
“Mummy said Daddy was in the dog house when he broke her favourite mug. Did Aunty Abby break your favourite mug?”
I loved her weird little innocent mind.
“Yeah, she broke my favourite mug.”
She nodded. “Don’t worry, Uncle Jasper, I’ll buy you a new one. Ooh, can I have a chocolate milkshake? I promise won’t tell Mummy and Daddy.”
“Sure. You can have whatever you want.”
She grinned a face-splitting smile and pushed her empty plate away.
Oakley informed me that she and Cole had popped to The Centre to sort out an air conditioning issue in the ballet room, so I was to take Everleigh there. Going into work on your day off felt wrong.
“Where’s Mummy and Daddy?” Everleigh asked as soon as we got out of the car as if I had some radar.
“Office, probably. Let’s go find them.”
I walked into reception with Everleigh hanging off my arm – literally. Blinking in shock, I shook my head. Holly sat behind the desk with Oakley.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
Oakley looked up, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her daughter. “Hey, baby, you enjoy your pancakes.”
Everleigh nodded theatrically.
“Yep. Where’s Daddy?”
“In the office, go find him.” The only reason she let Everleigh go off alone was because the office was behind the reception desk and she had to pass her to get to it.
I walked up to the desk and leant my arms on the surface. “You’re working here now?” I asked Holly.
She nodded, blushing. Jesus, I only asked if she was working here not what colour her underwear was.
“Yes, part-time until I go back to uni. Your other receptionist started maternity leave early, apparently.”
Wow, no one tells me anything!
“Yeah,” Oakley said, her attention now back on us. “Olivia’s not been feeling well and decided to start maternity two months earlier than planned. She’ll take nine months off rather than six now.”
“Oh. She okay?”
“She just needs rest. Thankfully Holly’s available, so I don’t have to advertise for the maternity cover position until September. I’m just going to check on Cole and Everleigh, make sure she’s not rearranging the paperwork again. Can you show Holly the booking system?”
I shrugged. Not like I have anything better to do.
“Sure.”
Oakley smiled and left.
Holly bit her lip and whispered, “Thanks.”
“It’s fine. Okay, budge over.”
Holly moved her chair, and I pulled the other one up. It was clear that she wasn’t used to being so close to men by the way she let her hair fall in her face, half hiding her face. So shy.
“This your first day?”
“Yeah. I’m scared I’ll do something wrong and get fired.”