to really be into someone, even if there was nothing he could do about it, he needed to make a clean break from Felicia, especially if she was feeling for him, anything close to what he’d begun to feel for Dani. It wasn’t cool to give her hope for something he knew now with all certainty wasn’t going to happen.
Little Man was in his highchair, busy with his morning biscuit, so Orlando figured he had time to chat for a little before feeding him. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Hey.” He could hear the smile in her voice, and he felt bad already. “I was just thinking about you, so I thought I’d call and see what you’re up to.”
“Getting Oreo’s breakfast ready so he’ll be fed before Dani gets here.”
She was quiet for a moment as Orlando walked over to the counter and stirred more cereal into the soggy mixture. “Oreo?”
Orlando smiled. “Yeah, it’s what Dani calls him, and it’s starting to stick.”
She didn’t say anything again for a moment. “Listen. About that, I thought of you yesterday when I overheard one of my professors on the phone. He was talking to a nanny agency, and I asked him about it when he got off. He said he’s been through three nannies this year.”
Closing his eyes, Orlando pinched the bridge of his nose at the reminder. The only time he’d considered possibly following up with a background check on Dani was the morning he’d had the scare with Dani not answering his calls. But once he’d realized how worked up he’d gotten for nothing and especially after she’d come clean about her past, there was no way he felt the need. Felicia went on about what the professor told her: that in each instance with the nannies he hired after posting the job online, they all seemed fine at first and then he had to let them go for one reason or another. He said nanny agencies do stringent background checks on potential hires. They get lots of references and their interviews with both the potential nanny and her references are extensive. They ask very specific questions about how the nanny handled herself in many different scenarios, etc.
“It got me thinking about . . . Dani. You hired her for the shop from a temp agency. I’m assuming she was recommended to you guys based on her receptionist skills, right?”
“I asked her all the questions I needed about her childcare experience,” Orlando said a little too defensively but then added in a softer tone. “I’ve seen enough to know she’s qualified.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Felicia, you saw her, and you said it yourself. She’s incredible with him, and she’s now proven to me in many different scenarios, how good she is at handling herself with him.” Aware that he was sounding defensive again and that Felicia only meant well, he backed up again. “Listen. I appreciate you looking out, but I’m good. Thanks again for all your help with him before I found someone to watch him. I was really in a bind, and I haven’t and won’t be forgetting that I owe you one. I know I’ve been out of touch lately, and it’ll probably get worse before it gets better. The shop is getting crazy busy, but I’m serious, Felicia, if you ever need anything, you have any issues with your car, by all means bring it in anytime, and I’ll make sure it gets taken care of, no matter how busy I am.”
Felicia was quiet for a moment again, and Orlando knew why. He knew what that last part sounded like. He was making it clear he’d be too busy now for anything more than returning a favor—in a professional way. Despite Dani’s situation, and the sacrifice he vowed to make for his son’s sake, his stubborn heart was holding out hope that maybe not anytime soon, but eventually things might change. Relationships, even ones as serious as hers seemed, had a way of falling through. Anything could happen, right?
For now, he’d take his time around her having everything to do with the baby and nothing else for what it was worth. But he wanted to rid Dani of any assumptions she might still have about him and Felicia.
“Will I be seeing you anytime soon?”
Orlando closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. Normally, this was an easy question to answer. He could just give a generic sure I’ll give you a call when I get some free time type of