This would be one of those days when he wouldn't go to the office because he didn't have a nanny. Unfortunately, he would lose a few days of work so the children wouldn't be left alone, and as much as he knew they wouldn't give him any trouble if he took them to KC, he didn't think it would be comfortable for them to stay there for so many hours. Liam wouldn't blame his children for the way they had driven the nanny away—not this time, not when he knew they had some justification for sending her off. Of course, he didn't agree with the way they had done it, but he had immediately understood, after hearing the whole story from Naty, his little princess, that she really had been upset by the way the woman treated her. They were both very needy and extremely spoiled, but he had to admit that Naty was much more so; maybe because she was a little girl.
He was exhausted.
Being a single father wasn't easy, but he didn't complain, even when he was worn out and had to bathe both children and put them to bed, no matter how his day had gone.
He always told himself: Your day was bad, but it's not the twins' fault. It was a way of keeping himself from losing it, because there were days when he wanted to scream at the world and curse the mother of his children at the top of his lungs, just to see if the hurt would go away. She had left him alone, been selfish, and hadn't thought about any of them for even a second. He still couldn't understand how a mother could abandon her own children and sleep well at night.
Thomas and Natalie had asked about her for the first time two years earlier, when they were already three, and had been extremely curious about why they didn't have a mother like their cousins did. For a moment, he couldn't say a word, until he heard the question again, this time from his insistent son months later. He explained that she had gotten sick and couldn't stay with them; to him, only a sick person abandoned her own children.
But the dark-haired man knew the same question would come up again at some point, and it really had, a few months earlier, shortly after both of them turned five—more specifically, six months ago. Once again, he gave them the same explanation, only in a way they could understand better, and, if he was lucky, they would stop asking about her.
Surprisingly, Thomas had asked whether their mother had left them, and Liam hadn't been able to answer—for two reasons: first, because he was extremely surprised, and second, because he didn't know how to answer a question whose answer would hurt both him and his little sister—which was why the little boy believed it was true. The dark-haired man felt his chest tighten when he saw his little girl looking sad, but unlike her, his little boy was utterly serious.
“It's okay if it's just us, Daddy.”
That sentence kept echoing through his mind for weeks.
Thomas was only five, but at that moment, he had become far more mature than he should have been. He was extremely intelligent, just like his sister, but he picked up on things much faster than she did. That was why Liam had been careful about what he said around the little boy.
There wasn't a single picture of Lillie in the house, and even so, the twins had never asked for one. Their maternal grandparents had disappeared around the same time as their daughter and had never shown up again, so Thomas and Natalie didn't know them. They didn't even seem interested in knowing about them, since they had never asked about them—not once.
At that moment, all three of them were sitting in front of the TV, watching a children's movie. He had arranged to have lunch at his parents' house that day, and that was the only reason he hadn't taken the children to the park, as he did whenever he was off work or simply stayed home because of an unexpected problem with one of the nannies. This was one of those days, but unlike usual, he had promised his mother something. She had returned from a trip the previous afternoon, and she and his father were eager to see their grandchildren.
“Do you think Grandpa and Grandma brought presents like last time?” Thomas asked suddenly, even though his eyes remained fixed on the TV.
Liam looked at his son.
“Don't ask about that when we get to your grandparents' house, for the love of God!”
He knew it wasn't like either of them, but it didn't hurt to give them a warning.
“I want a kitty so badly,” his princess said, her eyes shining.
“Absolutely not!” the father said quickly. “First, you two wouldn't be able to take care of it. Second, they'd destroy our house. And third, and most importantly, you both have an allergy.”
Just like me, he added silently.
Just imagining one of those animals in his house already made him break out in a cold sweat.
“Then can we have a dog?”
“You already have one at Grandpa's house,” he replied to his son.
“But not here, Daddy,” the little boy argued.
“Thomas, I barely have time for the two of you, son. How would I have time to take care of a dog?”
“We'll take care of it.”
His little girl looked at him with a smile, and he unfortunately imagined that the smile would disappear the moment he spoke, which didn't take long.
“Sweetheart, we're not getting a dog.”
“Grandma and Grandpa would let us,” Thomas argued.
“That’s because they spoil you all the time,” he muttered, standing up to pick up the cups sitting on the coffee table. “Help me take these things to the kitchen.”
They both stood up and did as their father asked.
“We could spend more days like this, Daddy,” Naty commented once they were in the next room. “Just the three of us.”
Liam's eyes immediately fell on both children.
“I'm sorry we don't have as much time together anymore, but I have to work.” He saw their eyes grow sad. “But maybe I can manage to set aside at least two days a week to spend the afternoon with you.”
“Really?” Thomas asked, suddenly more excited, just like his sister.
“I'll arrange it so everything works out, but I need your help, okay?”
They both nodded with contagious smiles, and the dark-haired man couldn't help but return them. He knew how much his children were missing him; after all, he felt the same way. He thought that all the antics they pulled with the nannies weren't only meant to drive them away from him, but also to get his attention. He had done the same thing to his own father when he was about their age.
He wished he could give up on finding a nanny and spend every afternoon with them, but it was impossible, especially now that he worked until five in the afternoon. Unfortunately, he no longer had time to go to an ice cream shop with them during the week or even eat out, because he simply arrived home exhausted and all he wanted was to rest. So the most they did together was watch a movie and eat junk food.
But he would change that.
Even if he was tired, even if he wanted to stay home, he would set aside at least three days a week to eat out with them or at least get ice cream, since they barely spent the day together. And that time would become even shorter once they started school, which wouldn't take long.
While he got them ready to leave, the elder Kavanagh heard the question he had been expecting at some point.
“Daddy, why do we have to get a new nanny?” Natalie asked as her father styled her straight black hair.
“Because I have to work, and you can't stay home alone.”
“Naty and I can manage on our own.”
Liam almost laughed. Almost. The only reason he didn't was that he knew his son, and Thomas would definitely get annoyed.
“You're five years old, Thomas.”
“So what?”
“Understand this once and for all...” He released the second section of his daughter's hair and positioned himself in front of both children. “I have to work, and someone needs to take care of you, so if God willing... by Monday, you'll have a new nanny.”
“We just don't know how long she'll last.”
“Thomas!” he scolded him for the threat.
“Daddy, we don't want a nanny. They're all mean,” Naty said, her little eyes sad. “They don't care about me and my brother, only you.”
And the children's father had to agree with the little girl.
Unfortunately, he'd had problems with every nanny he'd hired, and half of them had not only entered his bedroom without permission but had also shamelessly hit on him.
He had tried because he knew it was necessary, even though he knew neither of his children would accept any of them. That was why it had been so difficult to find a nanny willing to work for him, given the bad reputation of Liam Kavanagh's twin children.
And the dark-haired man had to confess that they had their reasons for driving every one of them out of their lives, even though he didn't agree with the way they did it.
“Can't we stay with you at work?” Thomas asked.
The adult sighed.
“After school, Daddy,” Naty added.
“That’s what will happen if I can't find a nanny soon,” he muttered, tying the last section of his daughter's hair again.
“Does that mean we'll stay with you?” the little boy asked excitedly.
“It means you'll have to accept the next nanny, whether you like her or not.”
“That’s not fair!” they both said.
“Done. You look beautiful.” He stepped back with a smile.
For his little girl, he had chosen a completely baby-pink dress with a rhinestone belt at the waist. The skirt was full, with three stripes running from top to bottom, each wider than the last, in darker and lighter shades than the dress itself. It also had several designs printed on it: three white bows with pink dots, one at each end of the front of the dress and one in the middle near the waist. In the same places as the bows were three hot-air balloons, their canopies shaped like several pink flowers in a shade slightly darker than the dress itself, with two trees in the center. Above the bows, between each one, was a black-and-white fox. On her feet, he chose completely glittery baby-pink Molekinha flats, except for the strap, with a lovely bow in the center. He had put her hair into two pigtails, with hair ties that looked like two pink pompoms—something his mother had bought in bulk.
Like his father, Thomas didn't like much color, so Liam chose a Milon children's outfit consisting of ice-blue shorts with a drawstring to adjust them, in navy blue, and a navy-blue elbow-length-sleeved shirt with glitter contrasting with the drawstring. In the center was a gray surfboard, with the words Ocean Surf written in small letters beneath it. On his feet were low-top navy-blue-and-white Addan Jogging sneakers with mesh details for better ventilation.
“Grandma could go back to taking care of us.”
“We're not talking about that anymore, son.”
“But, Daddy...”
“Your grandmother deserves a rest, and so does your grandfather.” He crouched down to their level. “I understand why you drive the nannies away. I really do. But you need to stop using those methods and start just talking to me. You can't throw the nannies into the pool, scare them while they're eating, put a skateboard in the middle of a dark room so they'll trip over it, and you definitely can't lock them inside a room all day with your pet mice.”
“We don't have them anymore,” Thomas said, looking away.
“You deserved to lose them,” he shot back. “And you're lucky I haven't given away the rabbit too.”
“Oh no, Daddy, not Lilika, please!” Naty practically begged.
“Then start behaving, or she'll join Mickey, Minnie, Speed, and Sonic.”
Yes, the children had given those names to their hamsters simply because they loved Disney cartoons and because the last two their father had mentioned were extremely fast, much faster than their little friends.
“Are we clear?”
“Yes, sir!” they said together, their lips pushed into little pouts.
Kavanagh understood perfectly why his children didn't want a nanny, but he couldn't allow them to hurt anyone, especially because at some point they might seriously injure one of them, and that would be terrible for both the nannies and the children. They hadn't truly hurt anyone yet, and he didn't want to imagine how frightened and guilty they would feel if it happened. That was why it was better to warn them and make it clear that he wouldn't accept such behavior.
His parents' mansion was in an apartment complex half an hour from where he lived. It was the same complex where his best friend's parents lived.
He wasn't in a hurry, so he drove calmly and not at all irritated, even though he had hit every red light. That was something he hated, especially when he was late for something important.
The children played a game on the iPad 6 they'd gotten the previous Christmas. He put on some music at a very low volume when he stopped at another red light, the fourth. He was almost at his parents' house. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel in time with the song “Sugar” by Maroon Five.
He didn't have to wait for his parents to contact the front desk when he arrived at the complex; they let him in immediately. He quickly told the children they had arrived when the steel gates opened in opposite directions. He recognized his brother's car as soon as he parked in front of the house.
“Uncle Killian is already here,” Thomas said, already taking off the belt holding him to his car seat.
“I miss Grandma and Grandpa so much.”
The older dark-haired man smiled.
“I'm sure they miss you both too.”
He took both children out of the car, and together they headed for the door, which was already open. His mother, Ivy, appeared in his field of vision as he started up two of the four steps leading to the front-door hall.
“My grandbabies!”
Liam smiled as he watched the woman hug both children at once, while listening to his little boy complain that she was squishing him. He couldn't help laughing softly at the déjà vu. When he was little, he had also complained about his mother's hugs, despite always running into her arms whenever he got hurt, felt sad or afraid, or got himself into trouble.
“I missed you. I have every right to squish you.”
Liam laughed louder this time, making the woman look at him before standing up and hugging him.
“How are you, sweetheart?”
“I'm fine.”
“You look tired.” She took his face in both hands.
“Don't worry.”
The woman didn't reply, but the younger man understood that she would worry anyway. After all, that was her role as his mother.
“Hey, little brats.”
“Uncle Killian!”
They ran to the long-haired man with black hair and eyes to match, who was approaching alongside his father.
“Grandpa, I missed you so much.” The little girl hugged the older man, who not only hugged her back but also picked her up.
“I missed you too, sweetheart.” He kissed her cheek.
“And Allison?” Liam asked, noticing his sister-in-law was missing.
“She’s upstairs with Anna,” his brother replied.
“Your niece arrived less than half an hour ago and has already hurt herself.”
“She’s just like you were when you were little.”
At his father's comment, Liam couldn't help remembering how many times he had gotten hurt when he was his children's age. His father said he had at least two purplish bruises a day, and it was true; he remembered it well. He had even broken his arm once while climbing a tree, leaving the entire family, especially his parents, desperate.
“My daughter could have inherited my quiet nature, or my wife's, which is even stronger than mine, but no—she inherited the pest in my little brother.”
The other man shot him a murderous look while listening to the children laugh.
“It's amazing the twins aren't like that.”
“But in exchange, Dad, they have their father's evil mind.”
“Liam Kavanagh, your children are in the room.”
And he really wasn't surprised when his mother stopped him from cursing at his older brother before he had even opened his mouth.
“I already know what they did.”
“So do I,” Ivy said after her husband, placing her hand on her hip and looking into her grandson's eyes. “Gum in the girl's hair, Thomas?”
“She was mean to Naty,” he explained quickly.
“She called me spoiled, Grandma,” the little girl said.
“And she yelled,” her brother added.
“But who does that woman think she is, treating my grandchildren like that?” Ivy, who had been calm until moments ago, was now completely indignant, her expression furious and her hands still on her hips. Andrew felt no differently.
“But that's outrageous, son.”
“I know, Dad, and I explained that to the lawyer, but there's no proof she really did it...” He glanced at the children. “Unlike the gum in her hair.”
“She sued you?”
“I knew there would be another lawsuit,” Killian said with a laugh.
“The last one!” the children's father exclaimed. “This will be the last one, right?”
“For Lilika's sake, yes.”
The others couldn't help laughing when they heard the little girl.
“I'm not promising anything.”
“Thomas,” his father reprimanded him.
“Sweetheart, you can't keep hurting your nannies.”
“But they deserve it,” he shot back indignantly.
“Your father is the one who has to deal with them, not you,” the grandfather said firmly, making the boy pout and cross his arms.
“Look, nephew, I totally support you making them quit, but there are other ways.” He gave him a sly smile. “Ones that don't involve gum, pools, and definitely not hamsters.”
The children laughed, remembering every plan they had made.
“Uncle Liam.”
Everyone surrounding the younger Kavanagh family turned around and saw his older brother's eldest daughter standing beside her mother. The little girl had long light brown hair and dark eyes like her father's. The dark-haired man crouched down to return the little girl's affectionate hug. She squeezed her little arms around him before kissing his cheek.
“I heard you got hurt, sweetheart.”
“I just scraped my knee.” She showed it to him by pulling up the hem of her dress. “It doesn't hurt anymore.”
“How did that happen, may I ask?” he said while watching his children hug their aunt and receive a kiss on the cheek.
“Amora pushed me on the lawn.”
“This is the second time you've gotten hurt because of Amora.”
“And she complains when our father says he's going to give away the Siberian Rusk.”
“Oh no, not Amora,” Thomas said when he heard his uncle's comment, watching his father kiss his aunt's cheek as he greeted her.
“She’s so cute, Grandpa,” the girls said together.
“See?” He looked at his wife. “That's why I can't give that dog to someone else.”
“And then he says Grandma is the one who gives the grandchildren everything they want,” she whispered to her brother, who laughed and completely agreed.
The doorbell rang suddenly, almost at the same time the children asked to play with Amora in the backyard. They gave up when curiosity got the better of them and followed their grandmother to the door.
Liam followed his father, brother, and sister-in-law into the living room, where he heard the older man tell his wife where they would be. He sat in one of the armchairs and watched his father sit in the other, the one with room for two, while his brother sat beside his wife on the couch.
“So, have you found another nanny yet?”
“Do you really think anyone will have the courage to work for me again?”
Killian roared with laughter.
“Yeah, your children have a bad reputation at the agencies.”
“And the worst part is that I can't blame them for getting all the nannies fired. Most of them really weren't exactly respectable.”
“I remember telling you they couldn't be trusted.”
“I remember you telling me something about the shameless woman who raised her hand to my daughter, sister-in-law. I should have listened to you.”
“And now, son?”
“I need a miracle.”
Approaching footsteps caught the attention of the other four, making them turn and find the three children and Ivy beside their guest.
“Ryan?” His voice revealed all his surprise.
“Hey, brother.” He smiled. “I was looking for you, and my oldest son told me you would be here.” He looked at the others. “How's everyone doing?”
“We're doing well, Ryan,” they said practically in unison.
“But I'm curious. What did you come to talk about?”
“Killian!” his wife scolded him, but he only shrugged.
“So, man, do you have a nanny yet?”
“I just told my family: I need a miracle.”
“Well, the miracle has arrived.”
The others frowned.
“I found the perfect nanny.”
“You said that last time, and she ended up yelling at my children.”
“This time, there's no way it can go wrong.”
Thomas and Natalie approached, far from happy that their godfather had found a new nanny. That was the only reason they were still in the room with the adults.
“And who is this incredible woman?” he asked, rolling his eyes.
“Mia Lafferty,” he said with a huge grin, watching his friend and his children look surprised while everyone else grew intensely curious.