NANNY FOR MENDES.

Hundred-three

"I booked our tickets. We'll leave next Saturday." Mom says.

It's Monday. I have five days. Four, actually, since I'm going on the fifth day.

"Okay, Mom. I'll be ready by then. Thank you."

"Je ne sais pas si Maman t'a dit, mais on va venir en France le samedi."  I text Jul. (I don't know if Mom told you, but we're gonna come to France on Sunday.)

"Elle m'a dit. Je vous attend." (She told me. I'm waiting for you.)

A click on the door. Shawn. Again, at 10:00.

I meet him at the door.

"Bear misses you. You don't spend that much time with him anymore. Or me, for that matter."

"So much to do at work. I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you and Bear."

I nod.

"Where is my welcome home kiss?"

"Welcome home kiss?" I laugh.

"Yup. Every day I come home from work, you kiss me."

I put a hand over the back of his neck, and push his head down. I kiss him for a minute, then pull back and say, "I think that's a good welcome home kiss, Mendes. Now go change your clothes so that we could eat. I'm hungry."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Five minutes later, Shawn steps in the kitchen, in sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"Lasagna?"

"Yup."

"Great."

We sit and eat.

"You're too quiet. What is it?"

"Mom booked our tickets."

"When will you leave?"

"Saturday."

"When will you come back?"

"I don't know. Mom didn't say and I didn't ask. But I think she wants to stay there for a while. When I was a little girl, in a visiting trip, we would stay for a week. Sometimes two....a month... it depends."

"A month?"

"I won't stay a month."

"You could stay if you want." He's saying it to be considerate, but I know he doesn't really want me to stay away for a month.

"I don't want to."

He shrugs.

"What will you do when I'm away?"

"Mom is gonna come here."

"I'm sorry."

He rolls his eyes.

"How is work?"

"Exhausting, but great."

"Good. How's Noah? And Aaliyah?"

"They're great."

"I have to call them. I haven't been a good friend lately. I could visit before leaving."

"Yeah, I haven't been the best brother, too."

We eat the rest of our meal.

Then, Shawn says, "let's go to bed."

"No making-out?"

"You want to make out?"

"Of course I do. It's all I can give you, so yes."