PART 4 — MY SON FINALLY NOTICED
The fourth afternoon, Daniel found me sitting under an umbrella with Noah asleep across my lap.
Emma and Sophie were playing nearby.
Daniel had been golfing that morning.
He looked relaxed and sunburned.
“Mom, where were you at breakfast?”
“I ate with the kids.”
He frowned.
“You always eat with the kids.”
I smiled weakly.
“They’re good company.”
He sat beside me.
For several seconds, he didn’t say anything.
Then he looked around.
“Where’s Macy?”
“Shopping.”
“Without the girls?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me.
Something shifted in his expression.
“Mom.”
I knew that tone.
I’d heard it when he was twelve and caught me pretending I wasn’t sick because I needed to work.
“What?”
“Why are you always with the kids?”
I looked away.
“I’m their grandmother.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I didn’t answer.
Daniel leaned forward.
“Have you done anything for yourself since we got here?”
“Sure.”
“What?”
I couldn’t think of anything.
“Mom.”
His voice became softer.
“You haven’t even had dinner with us since the first night.”
I felt foolish.
Suddenly, I was embarrassed that I had allowed it to happen.
“Well,” I said quietly, “Macy told me this was the arrangement.”
Daniel’s forehead creased.
“What arrangement?”
I looked at him.
“The babysitting.”
“What babysitting?”
Now I was confused.
“Daniel, she said you brought me because you needed someone to watch the children.”
His expression completely changed.
I continued before I lost my courage.
“She said since you paid for my room, I should consider this my way of earning back what you spent.”
Daniel went completely still.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he asked, “She said those exact words?”
I nodded.
“And she said taking care of the kids was entirely your responsibility?”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“Did she tell you I agreed to that?”
“She said you don’t like uncomfortable conversations.”
Daniel stood.
His face had turned red.
Not shouting red.
Worse.
The kind of anger that becomes very quiet.
“Where is she?”
“Daniel, please don’t start a fight.”
He looked at me.
“Mom, look at me.”
I did.
“I invited you because I wanted you here.”
“I know.”
“No, apparently you don’t.”
He crouched beside my chair.
“I didn’t pay for your room expecting anything from you. Not one hour of babysitting. Not one dollar. Nothing.”
My eyes burned.
“But Macy—”
“Macy had no right to say that.”
I shook my head.
“Please don’t let this ruin your vacation.”
Daniel’s expression softened.
Then he hugged me.
“Mom, your vacation has already been ruined.”
I didn’t know what to say.
He stood again.
“Don’t worry.”
“Daniel—”
“I mean it.”
He kissed my forehead.
“I’ll take care of it.”
Then he walked toward the hotel.
