Chapter 2 – Babysitting Blues

The Texas sun was already blazing through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the kitchen. Esme sat at the kitchen table, nursing her third cup of coffee and scrolling absently through her phone. She hadn’t slept much, and the usual nightmares had kept her up, mind racing. Her screen was flooded with something that made her stomach twist: texts from Tim, her ex-boyfriend, from a new number and country. Esme's heart sank as she stared at the screen, frozen in that half-alert tension she knew too well. How did he even get this number? She thought she had changed it enough, moved far enough. But apparently, he had found her again. The floor creaked behind her, and she quickly locked her phone, trying to compose herself. Henry walked into the kitchen, smiling — until he saw the look on her face. “Hey, lieverd,” he said gently. “You okay?” Esme jumped, startled. She hadn’t heard him come in. Immediately, the mask slid on — the calm, easy smile she’d mastered years ago. “Yeah. Just some trouble with admin stuff. Nothing bad.” She put her phone down like it meant nothing. Henry studied her for a beat, but nodded, reassured. “Alright. But if you need help, I’m here.” Then his face brightened. “Speaking of help — how would you feel about babysitting Sarah for a bit? Joel could use a hand. I’m helping him out at work until his brother gets back.” Esme blinked. “Babysitting?” Henry chuckled. “Sarah’s a handful. But she likes you.” It wasn’t something she’d expected. Babysitting hadn’t been on her radar. But maybe this was exactly what she needed — something light, something ordinary. Something normal. She glanced at her father’s hopeful expression and nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.” After Henry left for the job site, the house fell into a still, unfamiliar quiet. Esme moved from room to room like she was waiting for something, nerves humming just under the surface. Then the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Joel standing at the door with a coffee in one hand and Sarah’s backpack slung over the other. Sarah was in front of him, bouncing with excitement. “Ready for a swordfight?” she asked, brandishing a foam sword. Esme laughed, crouching to her level. “I’m ready if you are.” Joel handed her the backpack. “Snack’s in there. Emergency goldfish crackers are in the side pocket. And… good luck.” “Thanks,” Esme said, shouldering the backpack. Their eyes met for a brief second — polite, but with something a little heavier underneath. He hesitated like he might say more, then thought better of it. “Text me if she gets too wild,” he added with a crooked grin. “No such thing,” Esme replied. Joel gave Sarah a quick hug and headed back toward his truck. Sarah waved dramatically as he drove off, then turned to Esme, practically vibrating with excitement. “Can we swim first? I brought my fastest goggles.” “Absolutely,” Esme said, already smiling. They spent the day swimming, having a sword fight, and painting their nails. Esme let Sarah braid her hair while a Disney movie played quietly in the background. Just as Sarah was halfway through explaining the tragic plotline of her favorite video game character, Esme’s phone buzzed with a call from Maxime. She smiled and picked up. “You awake?” Maxime’s face appeared, half-covered by a hoodie, her voice crackling through. “Barely. It’s late here — almost bedtime in Holland. But I needed to check in on Operation Babysit-A-Tornado.” Sarah perked up instantly. “Who’s that?” “That,” Esme said, turning the phone toward Sarah, “is Maxime. One of my best friends.” “Hi!” Sarah waved so hard her bracelet flew off and hit the couch. Maxime grinned. “Whoa. You must be the famous Sarah.” The four of them talked for a few more minutes — about Texas, about Sarah’s pool sword, about Jane’s late-night bartending adventures. The sun was still high in Texas, but for Maxime and Jane, it was well past their bedtime. As they said their goodbyes, Esme smiled, feeling a small sense of belonging. Maybe this was exactly where she was meant to be. As the evening drew to a close, Esme cooked dinner for the four of them — Sarah’s request: spaghetti bolognese. Joel returned home, and they sat down to eat together. Conversation flowed easily, with jokes and laughter filling the room. Esme realized that she had found a sense of home in this small Texas town, and with Joel and Sarah, she felt like she was part of something bigger than herself. As the night drew to a close, Esme helped Sarah get ready for bed, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be. The house was quiet now, the lights dimmed, and Esme was left alone with her thoughts. She picked up her phone and sent Joel a quick text. “Thanks for today. I had a great time.” His response came almost immediately. “Anytime, Esme. You're a natural with Sarah.” Esme smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. Maybe this was the start of something special.