Chapter 5: The Nanny, the Bully, and Me

The teacher called to say Ethan got into a fight at kindergarten.

I sped over. The old nanny was sitting on the floor, wailing and making a scene for everyone to see.

I pulled Ethan behind me and checked him over, head to toe. Only a scratch on his face from the other kid’s fingernail. I finally let myself breathe.

“You’re this brat’s guardian? Look at what he did to my precious grandson!”

I bent down, pointed at the other kid—bruised and battered. “You did this?”

He didn’t answer, just looked away.

“Ethan Avery! Look at me and answer!”

He obediently looked up, hands nervously twisting in front of his chest, mumbling, “I did.”

“He called me a freak with no mom. I got mad and hit him.”

I patted his head and praised him. “Good job, kid.”

The teacher looked like she’d swallowed a fly. “Ethan’s mom, kids don’t know any better, but you should.”

The nanny shrieked, “Just an apology? My grandson’s been beaten up and that’s it? She needs to pay!”

I squared my shoulders. “Ethan did nothing wrong. I’m not dead—how is he a kid with no mom?”

I turned and stared down the nanny, who was still putting on her Oscar-worthy performance on the floor.

“I’ve noticed cash missing from the house lately. I was just about to talk to you about it.”

She shivered, trying to argue. “What are you talking about?”

“Doesn’t matter if you deny it. The home security cameras caught everything.”

She scrambled up, glaring at me, her face flushed with anger.

“I don’t care! Your kid beat up my grandson, you have to pay, or else!”

She flashed a smug smile. “I know your man’s not home these days.”

I clenched my fists, ready to throw down if I had to.

The teacher grabbed my wrist. “Don’t do anything rash. Just apologize and move on. His dad isn’t someone to mess with.”

Just then, a voice boomed from outside. “Who’s bullying my son?”

Zach Miller’s dad was only about five-seven, but built like a linebacker. He glared at Ethan. “So it’s this brat who hurt my son?”

I pushed Ethan behind the teacher and whispered, “Please call the police.”

Thank goodness I’d taken self-defense classes after a creepy boss incident—that’s the only reason I made it until the cops arrived.

I handed the police all the footage of the nanny stealing from us. She got a week in county lockup for theft. As for the kindergarten fight, the school principal mediated between us and Zach’s family, and I offered to cover any medical co-pays from the scuffle. No cash changed hands on the spot—just a tense meeting in the principal’s office, a few forms, and a warning that next time, both boys would be suspended.

On the way home, Ethan was silent. At dinner, he suddenly started crying and apologizing.

I handed him a tissue, half-annoyed, half-sympathetic. “Why are you crying like this? If your dad saw, he’d think I was bullying you.”

He stood on a stool, cupped my face, tears and snot everywhere. “Does it hurt? I’ll blow on it for you.”

I picked him up, patting his back to comfort him. “I’m not hurting anymore.”

“Ethan, I’m proud of you. You did great today.”

“If someone bullies you, you can fight back, or you can tell on them. If your dad were here, he’d do the same.”

“I just want you to know—no matter what happens, your dad and I will always have your back. Got it?”

He started crying again, and I thought, Why do kids have so many tears? Daisy is better—her broad shoulders are always there for me to wipe my tears on. Honestly, sometimes I think the dog is the real MVP around here.

I sighed and patted his back. “Come on, let’s eat.”

After dinner, Ethan played with his blocks and got sleepy. I stripped him and gave him a bath—by now, I was a pro at washing him like a carrot. Quick, efficient, and no complaints.

He let me put him in fresh pajamas. Daisy wagged her tail, circling his bed like a loyal sentry.

Since moving into the new place, Daisy didn’t sleep with me anymore—she stuck to Ethan. I was a little jealous, but honestly, I was glad she kept him company.

He wasn’t ‘abnormal’—just lonely, craving more time with his dad. I could see that now, clear as day.

One night, I got up for water and found the kid had crawled into my bed. He was wearing the dinosaur pajamas I’d bought him, sleeping on top of the covers, with Daisy warming his feet. I rolled my eyes, picked him up, and tucked him under the blanket. He snuggled in, mumbling softly.

Sure enough, he woke up with a fever the next morning.