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“Stop.” I can’t stand to see her cry. “Stop. You don’t have to take my money then. I’ll help you find a job or something. Anything. Anything for you.”
“I think I’ve already found one,” June says. “Daisy’s mom, Sara, asked if I could nanny for them. So, I can do that temporarily until I find out where I’ve gotten in. If I’ve gotten in anywhere. That’s still up for debate.”
“You’ll get in somewhere,” I say with confidence. “Any college would be insane to turn you down. You’re a hard worker, you’re intelligent, you’re beautiful—”
“I don’t think colleges care how beautiful you are,” she says, laughing, swiping tears from underneath her eyes.
“Fair,” I say, “but you will get in. I believe in you.”
A grin spreads across her face. It’s like she’s a sunflower turning toward the light. “Thank you.”
“I know that your life is heading in that direction,” I say. “You’re going to be who you were destined to be, June, I have no doubt about that, all I’m asking is that you let us be a part of your journey.” I step toward her, sweep her hair back from her face, and kiss her.
The kiss is soft and salted with her tears.
“These are big steps, I know,” I say, “but we can take it as slow as you want. But I need you to know that I’m all in, June.”
“All in?”
“Yes.”
“At the beginning of the summer, you told me you didn’t want anything to do with love or romance or commitment. What changed?”
“Me. I changed. I realized I was being stubborn. And that if you want the good, you’ve got to take the bad with it. The pain of love.”
Footsteps clatter down the stairs, and she backs away from me hastily. We haven’t even gotten the chance to discuss how we’re going to break it to Alex. The fact that we’re dating or the fact that she’s not going to be the nanny anymore.
“Dad!” Alex runs into the kitchen and I grab the second bouquet off the table.
“For you.” My toxic trait is ensuring that any man who dates my daughter one day will have to endure her criminally high standards. “You look pretty today, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She sniffs the flowers. “Why did you bring me flowers?”
“Because you’re special, and you deserve them.”
Alex beams at me. “June, can you help me put these in water?”
“Sure can,” June says, and guides my daughter over to the sink.
“Dad got you flowers too?”
“Yeah, he did,” June replies. “He’s a real gentleman, your dad. He got them as a farewell gift.”
Alex frowns. “But there are still two weeks left of summer. You’re not leaving yet, are you?”
“I’m afraid so,” I say. “June’s time with us is up because I’m going to be home from now on, honey.” It’s better to get this part out of the way. And it will give us an idea of how she might react to our relationship.
Alex’s bottom lip trembles. “But—”
“It’s okay,” June says, and draws her into a hug. “We can still be friends. We—”
Alex breaks out of her grip and runs up the stairs without another word, the flowers left forgotten on the counter.
June clasps the edge of the sink. “I think we could maybe have handled that better. My fault.”
“Mine too,” I say, and take a step toward the door. I frown at myself. “Do you want to talk to her?” Because it’s their relationship, and while it’s my decision who’s the nanny, I know that Alex just wants June in her life.
“Yeah,” June says. “I do. I don’t want her to be upset.” And there’s guilt written all over her face. I don’t want June to feel bad for following her dreams, and I hate it that Alex is hurting. It’s a strange feeling.
