“So you’re Clementina! Jason talks about you constantly.”
“Does he now?” I said, stirring my cappuccino. “That boy and I… we’re tight.”
She laughed politely.
“I know you’re probably worried about me stepping in, but don’t worry, I’ve been professionally trained…”
“Honey, I don’t want to test you. I want to pay you.”
“Sorry?”
“I want to offer you a full month’s pay to cancel. No strings. No nannying. Just enjoy your summer. Travel, relax, take a yoga retreat. Whatever young people do these days.”
“Wait… really?”
“Really. Jason is my world. And I think he’d much rather spend the summer with his Granny.”
“Honestly? Thank you. I was feeling kind of weird about the mom anyway. She sent me a spreadsheet for how to microwave organic peas.”
That was the first step in my plan.
***
The following day… I came to say goodbye before the flight. Jack read aloud from the airline app.
“Our flight boards in two hours. Where is the nanny?”
Kelly was pacing. “She said she had a family emergency! I swear, she just texted me a crying emoji and the word ‘sorry’!”
I sipped my tea.
“That’s a shame.”
Kelly froze. “You planned this.”
Jack looked between us. “What do we do now?”
Kelly looked like she was about to throw a candle.
“We leave Jason with her, I guess.”
I opened my arms. “Jason! Come hug Grandma! You and I are going to have the best summer ever.”
Kelly muttered something about losing control of her life. I waved at them cheerfully as they pulled out of the driveway.
***
Three weeks later…
We had already baked ten pies, mastered the science museum’s entire dinosaur wing, and invented a game called Scooter Rodeo. Every single day, Jason video called his parents from the park or the top of the slide. One evening, Jack texted me.
“Mom… are you really doing all this by yourself?”
“Always have.”
***
When they finally returned from their trip… Kelly looked around the spotless house and gave me a curt nod.
“Thanks, Clementina. We appreciate the help.”
Jack gently caught her hand mid-stride. “Kelly, you should be a lot more grateful than just ‘thanks for the help.’”
Then he turned to me.
“Tell me something. Wasn’t it always you? Cooking. Cleaning. Reading stories. Walking him to classes.”
Jack wasn’t asking. He already knew. That was the moment he saw the truth for himself. But that part… that wasn’t my story to tell anymore. Mine was waiting on the front porch with two spoons and a tub of rocky road.
“Come on, Grandma!” Jason called. “We’ve got ice cream to finish!”
And so we did.
