If You Give a Single Dad a Nanny: a single dad, grumpy sunshine, small town romance

“THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK, everyone,” I say with a weary expression. “Take the day off, and I’ll see you all in the office tomorrow morning.”

I had to pull an all-nighter, collaborating with Harrison and my team over a conference call. We’re set to break ground on the Vanburen development next month but encountered a particular roadblock that required an overwhelming volume of financial paperwork. We had to submit it by 8:00 a.m. to prevent further delays.

Lola spent the night at my parents’ house, and they dropped her off at school this morning.

I shut off my computer and lean back in my office chair. It’s unusually quiet over at Marlow’s house, and she never went into her studio last night.

Yeah, I checked countless times.

When I realized I’d be working well into the night, I texted her, and she told me to come over to her place this morning so we could finish our conversation. I regret ending our discussion abruptly, especially after jumping to conclusions I shouldn’t have. I never want her to feel like what’s happening with me takes precedence over her.

I stand up and stretch my arms above my head, anxious to go over to her place. I’m debating whether I should shower first when there’s a knock on my front door. Half-expecting it to be Marlow, I’m slightly disappointed to find my mother standing on my porch with two cups of coffee in hand.

“Mom?”

“Hey, sweetheart.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek as she pushes her way past me into the house.

“What are you doing here?”

“I stopped by Brew Haven after dropping Lola off at school.” She holds out one of the cups she has in her hand. “Your father mentioned you and Harrison were up all night, so I figured you could use the caffeine. Good thing I did because you sure look like you could use it.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

I steal a glance at my reflection in the mirror hanging on the nearby wall.

My hair sticks out in every direction, and I have a five o’clock shadow. My shirt is a rumpled mess. There’s also an ink stain across the front from a pen that exploded earlier.

“Uh, thanks?” I cautiously take the cup of coffee from my mom as she looks around the house, not even being discreet. “Mom, what are you doing?” When she doesn’t respond, I wave to get her attention.

“Yeah, sweetheart?” she says, finally looking at me.

“Why did you really stop by? We both know it wasn’t to bring me coffee,” I call her out.

She wouldn’t drop in unannounced without an ulterior motive, especially when Lola isn’t here.

“I was worried,” she admits with a heavy sigh. “You and Marlow left abruptly last night. I ran into her friend Quinn in the parking lot, and she told me Marlow was offered an artist residency in Paris. I assumed that’s what the two of you came home to talk about last night. Please tell me you sorted things out.” She sounds hopeful.

“Not quite,” I say, raking my fingers through my hair.

“Why not?” She sounds alarmed.

“Marlow and I were in the middle of discussing it when Harrison called,” I explain. “She told me to come over this morning when I finished work so we could talk more.”

“What are you waiting for?” my mom urges. “Go to her house right now and tell her to accept that offer.” She tries to shove me out the door.

“Whoa, slow down,” I hold my hand out to stop her. “What do you mean?”

My mom lets out an exasperated sigh. “Sweetheart, I looked up the Paris Art Collective online, and it’s one of the most coveted opportunities for an artist. If Marlow goes, she’ll be working with some of the most successful artists in the world. If she doesn’t take this opportunity, I think she’ll regret it.”

I blink rapidly. Marlow didn’t mention that it was such a prestigious offer, and I regret not asking her more about it when I had the chance. Now I’m even more confused about why she is planning to turn it down.

“If it’s that important, why didn’t she just tell me she was going to take it?”

“If Marlow had told you she was leaving, can you honestly tell me you wouldn’t have assumed the worst?” my mom responds.

No, I can’t. I did that last night. When I heard her talking with her friends, I was quick to come to an assumption without getting the facts first.

It occurs to me that I never even asked Marlow if she was interested in the residency. I was so swept away by her declaration about how much Lola and I meant to her that I wasn’t thinking of much else.

I move away from Mom and sit on the bottom step of the stairs, setting my coffee on the floor next to me.

“You really think I should encourage her to go, don’t you?” I ask.

“Yes, I do,” my mom says matter-of-factly. “If you love Marlow like I think you do, you’ll support her every step of the way while she’s gone, and when she returns to Aspen Grove, you and Lola will be here to welcome her back with open arms.”

“What if she decides she loves Paris more and doesn’t come back? Or what if she isn’t content with life in Aspen Grove with Lola and me?

My mom offers me a sympathetic look as she takes a seat next to me on the stairs. She places her hand on my knee, offering her support. “Sweetheart, Marlow isn’t Maddie,” she says earnestly. “She knew from the start that you and Lola came as a package deal, and she still grew to love you both, regardless.”

Although I rarely let it show, it almost destroyed me when Maddie left. Lola wasn’t the only one she left behind. At first, I carried the weight of blame on my shoulders. I used to believe that if I had been a more attentive partner or had accommodated her wishes, she would have stayed. It took a long time for me to come to terms with the fact that nothing I could have done would have changed the outcome.

My mom is right. Marlow is nothing like Maddie. She’s compassionate, selfless, and nurturing. Instead of celebrating her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, her immediate reaction was to worry about its effect on Lola and me.

“Have I told you the story about how I met your father?” my mom asks.

I shake my head. My parents rarely share details about their lives before my siblings and I were born, so I’m intrigued.

“When we met, he lived in New York, learning the ropes at Stafford Holdings. I was a sophomore in college in California. I worked part time as an assistant at a law firm that did business with Stafford Holdings regarding their properties on the west coast, and your father occasionally flew in for in-person meetings.

He asked me out for dinner the day we met, and I was instantly smitten. I thought we had an incredible time and was sorely disappointed when he didn’t contact me again before he left for New York.”

I pick up my coffee and take a sip as I listen intently.

“After that, like clockwork, he flew in every three months. He’d invite me to dinner while he was in town, we’d have a wonderful time, and then he’d go back home.” She shakes her head as if still disappointed by my dad’s decision all these years later.

“A month before I graduated college, your father came into town for one of his business trips. He was furious when I declined his invitation to dinner,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. “I told him I was seeing someone else and had no intention of waiting around for him if he was only going to string me along.”

I let out a low whistle. “Damn, Mom, I’m impressed.”

“Watch your language,” she scolds me before continuing her story. “Your father confessed that he knew that he was going to marry me the first time he saw me. When he found out how important it was to me that I got my college degree, he waited to pursue anything serious until I graduated. Sure, he could have gone about it differently. But in the end, what impressed me most was his willingness to sacrifice his immediate gratification so I could achieve my dreams.”

“What happened to the other guy?” I can’t help but ask.

“What other guy?” she says, seeming genuinely confused.

“The one you told Dad you were dating.”

“There wasn’t anyone else.” She gives me a mischievous grin. “I couldn’t wait around forever, so I had to give your father a little push in the right direction.”

Why does it not surprise me that my mom played a crucial role in orchestrating her own relationship?

Now that I’ve heard the story, I understand why my dad made the decision he did. He must have cared for my mom deeply and wanted her to be happy, regardless of the sacrifices he had to make.

I want the same for Marlow. She should be with someone who champions her ambitions, not restrains them.

“Marlow’s worth waiting for,” I say, more to myself than anything.

She’s like the sun, and we’re all lucky enough to be in her orbit, basking in her warmth. She deserves nothing less than unwavering support as she chases her dreams, and I’m committed to making sure she has it.

“How did you know?” I ask my mom.

“Know what, sweetheart?”

“You were very persistent in getting Marlow and me together. How did you know it would pay off?”

She shoots me a bewildered glance. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Come on, Mom,” I challenge her. “You set us up on multiple occasions. There’s no way you can tell me that wasn’t planned.”

“Sweetheart, you’re giving me too much credit.” She dismisses me with a wave of her hand. “I merely mentioned certain events to multiple people. I couldn’t have known you’d both show up.” She shrugs casually.

Unbelievable.

I suspect she’ll never admit to her involvement in getting Marrow and me together. At least I know the truth, and I’ll always be grateful for what she did.

“Regardless, thank you.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders in a side hug.

She smiles. “You better get going, sweetheart. Marlow’s waiting.”

Ten minutes later, I’m on Marlow’s doorstep in a clean pair of clothes, my hair is brushed, and I’m armed with a cappuccino with three pumps of coconut creamer, courtesy of my mother.

I grow impatient when I knock twice, and there’s no answer. I turn the knob, grumbling when I find it unlocked.

Marlow is halfway down the stairs when I step inside. She’s wearing mint green sleep shorts and an oversized hot pink sweater, her hair tossed into a messy bun.

She’s absolutely gorgeous.

“For the love of god, woman, will you please start locking your door?”

I’m not opposed to the idea of getting her an automated lock that I can manage with my phone.

“Dylan?” Marlow rubs the sleep from her eyes. “Is everything okay?”

I set her coffee on the console table near the entryway so my hands are free and advance toward her, wrapping her in my arms. I bury my nose into her hair, breathing in the comforting scent of citrus and rose.

In this moment, I realize that there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Marlow. I’m in love with her, and no matter how long she asks me to wait, I’ll do it. I will do whatever it takes to have her by my side for the rest of my life.

I gently lift her chin, meeting her mesmerizing blue-green gaze. “I love you, Marlow Taylor. I love you so damn much, and I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you.”

She places her hand over mine as tears stream down her face. “I love you too, Dylan Stafford.”

“Thank god,” I sigh in relief. “I’m not sure what I would have done if you didn’t say it back,” I tease as I wipe away her tears with my thumbs.

She smiles. “Lucky for you, that wasn’t the case.”

Since the day we met, her smile has had an inexplicable effect on me, and I’ll never tire of seeing it.

“You should go to Paris,” I blurt out.

“What?” Marlow seems confused. “You just told me you loved me.”

“You’re right. I love you so damn much.” I press a kiss to her lips. “But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ve spent your whole life worried about pleasing others and sacrificing your happiness. It’s time someone prioritizes you first.” I give her a comforting glance of reassurance. “If this is something you truly want, I’ll support you in every way that I can, and when you get back to Aspen Grove, Lola and I will be here waiting for you.”

“You mean it?”

“I do.”

“What about Waffles?” she asks hesitantly. “I don’t think he’d be much of a city dog, and I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving him with a sitter that long.”

“He’ll stay with Lola and me,” I declare.

She raises a brow. “You want Waffles to stay in your house? A couple of months ago, he wasn’t even allowed inside, and now you’re giving him free rein?”

“He’s your family, sunshine, which makes him part of my family. The only place he’s not welcome is on my memory foam pillow,” I say half-teasingly. He really isn’t allowed on my pillow.

I can see the wheels turning in Marlow’s head as she considers if this could be a possibility.

“What about Lola? Won’t she be upset if I go?”

“No offense, but she’ll be so overjoyed that Waffles is moving in she won’t even notice that you’re gone.”

Marlow playfully swats my chest. “Dylan, I’m serious. Who’s going to watch her in the mornings? What if you find a nanny that she likes better than me?” She nervously chews her lip.

“That’s never going to happen. Besides, my parents have already offered to help out while you’re away.” I hold my hand out to stop her from arguing. “You should know that my mother insisted. She wants to do this for us. You’re family now.”

I must have said the right thing because Marlow’s features soften.

She leans her head against my chest. “It’s such a long time. What if we can’t make a long-distance relationship work?”

“It’s only three months,” I remind her. “That’s twelve weeks, a fourth of a year, or approximately ninety days. It pales in comparison to spending forever with you.”

She tilts her head, blinking up at me with shock. We might not be ready for a proposal, wedding, or more kids, but that doesn’t stop me from conveying my desire for those things to her. She’s my end game, and whatever challenges we face, we’ll navigate them together.

“Wait. What about this house? My lease is up in two months.”

I chuckle softly. “You can do whatever you want with it. It’s yours.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rick owned several properties in Aspen Grove and wasn’t maintaining any of them. As of last week, Stafford Holdings owns them all. Except for this one.” I motion around us. “I bought this one for you, because I know how much you like it.”

“Wait. What do you mean Rick wasn’t maintaining the properties?”

“He never hired anyone to shovel your sidewalk,” I tell her honestly.

“So, let me get this straight. Even though you weren’t particularly fond of me when we first met, you took it upon yourself to shovel my driveway and mow my lawn without being asked?” She appears genuinely perplexed.

“I liked you from the beginning, sunshine.” I drop a kiss to her sweet lips. “I just wasn’t ready to admit it to myself.”

It took me a while to come around, but now that Marlow is mine, I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure she stays that way.