Rescuing the Player

Chapter 5

Hayes

"Hm," Preston grunts, while Valerie gnaws on her bottom lip. There's a worry wrinkle between her eyebrows. She's sitting on one of the loungers, bouncing Savannah up and down in her arms. Her kids, Bella and Rory, are on the floor of their living-room playing with some new lego sets Preston surprised them with just before we got there.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" my brother Andrew—always the concerned one — wants to know. He's on the couch next to Easton, while I have the other lounger next to Valerie. Preston's standing by the love seat, keeping an eye on everyone and everything. Their dog, Bob, is sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace.

"Yeah," Preston adds," is it really smart to let Hanna's mom watch Savannah? Maybe you should consider the day care center we use for Bella and Rory?"

I don't know if it is a smart decision or not. All I know is that I have to go back to work on Monday and I've been pushing this decision off for as long as I've could. Hanna's mom has been relentless. Calling and texting for updates and even dropping in unannounced with Hanna's sister on a few occasions. It's disruptive and feels like an invasion of privacy, but when I hinted at that, I was told that Savannah is all she has left of Hannah and that all she wants is to see her granddaughter. Since I'm not a complete asshole, I've allowed it, but I've asked her to call me first.

I rub my fingers across my forehead, trying to ease the headache that I can feel coming from lack of sleep and worry about childcare.

"It might be easier that way," I tell my family. "She gets to see Savannah during the day while I'm at work."

"And Hannah's mom won't bother you at night," Easton chuckles. "I hear you, brother. That's a good call."

I nod, because that was my exact thought. She'd get her fix with her granddaughter and I'd get my nights back.

"Pressy," Bella calls to my brother. "Can you help me build this?" She holds up a few lego pieces that are supposed to make some kind of house.

"Sure Bells," he responds and sinks down to the floor next to her. She scrambles closer to him and hands him the pieces.

"As long as you agree on your parenting style," Valerie adds somberly. "I'd make sure that she agrees with keeping her on the schedule you have her on. There's nothing worse than coming home after a long day of work just to find that your child has slept most of the day and is ready to be up all night."

I hadn't thought about that, but then I'd never had to worry about taking care of a kid before and it's a lot more involved than I ever thought it'd be. I've spent most of my days working from home, and on those few occasions when I've had to go to the office, my mom has helped. She loves acting like a grandmother for a few hours, but that's also all she's willing to do.

"Why don't you let Hanna's mom have a go at it?" Preston suggests. "She might hate it, and that'll get her off your back."

I chuckle. Typical Preston.

"Do you trust her?" Andrew asks.

"I guess. I mean, she's her grandmother. She wouldn't do anything to hurt her, right?"

Andrew nods curtly, but the look in his eyes tells me that may not be what he was worried about.

"What about mom?" Easton asks. "She doesn't want to watch Savannah for a day or so?"

"She said she'd do a few hours here and there, but she's not interested in full days and it's not a permanent thing. Not like she wants to do every Tuesday or so."

"You're better off not relying on her. She'd reschedule on you all the time, especially with all the traveling they have planned."

"Yeah, I wasn't going to rely on her. It's not like she was around that much when we were kids," I respond, a tinge of bitterness in my voice.