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day. We’ll be there ’til about nine tonight,” I told her.
    She waved me off like she was swatting a fly and said, “He’ll be fine. If he gets tired, he can just nap in a chair.”
    “Last year we put up a netted tent beside the Easy-up canopy, and I took a nap in there. That’s an option instead of an uncomfortable chair.” I chuckled.
    I was a worrier, and I noticed that when things were quiet, my mind would start working a mile a minute. The lack of knowing what my future held made me crazy. I tried to lose myself in the calming coo of doves and the chirping of the small sparrows.
    I thought about what was in store for Lucia and me. She would be starting first grade in September, and she had mentioned wanting to take ballet lessons. I wasn’t sure how I would swing that time-wise.
    I took one of my deep, sighing breaths, something I did when I needed to clear my thoughts.
    “What’s wrong?” Lori asked, pulling me from my internal musings.
    Closing my eyes, I tried to put my thoughts into words. “I don’t know,” I shrugged, turned to look at her, and said, “I guess I was just trying to figure out how I was going to swing this coming school year with Lucia.” I put my mug down on the small round table between our lounge chairs and turned to my side. “It’s just that I’m not sure I can handle everything on my own. With Lucia getting older, she’ll be busier. I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed, and I’m doubting my ability to continue to do this without help.” I sighed again.
    Lori sat up in a flash. The coffee swooshed in her mug, spilling a few drops on her sleep pants. It was so quick and unexpected that she startled me, and I jumped.
    I put my hand on my chest and chuckled, out of breath. “What the hell, Lori? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? What is it?”
    She put her mug down next to mine and was vibrating with excitement.
    “Spill it!” I said, now curious.
    “Oh, Mia, it’s so funny how things work out. I have the perfect idea.” She leaned forward to get closer, and instinctively, I leaned in toward her as well.
    “Okay, so hear me out.” She smiled to herself. “Chris’s brother just lost his job on Wall Street. It’s a long story that I’m sure he’ll tell you himself, but he wanted a change. Something less stressful and more fun.”
    A doubtful laugh slipped from my lips, and I asked, “Um, when would he tell me, Lori? I don’t know him.”
    “You will. So, anyway, he decided he wanted to be — a manny.” She must have seen the confused expression on my face. “You know, a male nanny.” Her eyes widened, willing me to catch on. She then waved a hand as if dismissing the whole thing. Whether I understood or not, she was going to continue with her story. “He asked a local agency in New York what the requirements were and began taking CPR, first aid, and some childcare classes.”
    I still had no idea why she was telling me all of this, but I sat and listened.
    Lori jumped up to run inside. Before she got to the door, she began speaking under her breath in a muffled tone, “I need to call him before he signs a contract with that agency.” Then she was gone.
    What in the hell was that? I laughed because she just left me sitting there with no idea what she was talking about. Grabbing the mugs, I went inside. Lori was nowhere to be seen.
    It wasn’t until I was washing dishes that she came over and took a seat at the bar across from me.
    “So, listen. This is a wonderful idea.”
    I dried my hands and stood opposite her, resting my forearms on the counter. “What in the world are you talking about? I have no idea what is going on,” I said, a little frustrated.
    “Well it’s easy, Mia. You need a nanny — or in this case, a manny — to help you around here,” she said with such conviction that I stopped mid-protest and began to think.
    Did I need help? I hadn’t even thought of hiring a nanny. The thought of having someone around to take her to