Our Nanny is a Boy || bxb

64. You big crybaby

When Peter came home from his first schoolday after the holiday - which went relatively well, despite the students being upset that it was over already - Robin was not at the door to greet at him, which was weird, because he usually did. Well, it's possible he hadn't heard Peter over the noise of the extractor hood, if only it was on. Peter was early, so he probably only just started. And indeed, Peter found him in the kitchen, slicing meat. The first thing Peter noticed was the fact that he wasn't wearing his apron.

'Hey,' he said, pulling himself up on the counter. 'Are you okay?'

'Yeah,' Robin replied, without looking up. 'Why?'

'You seem different. Ever since we came back from the ranch, actually. Are you sure you're okay?'

'Hm,' Robin nodded, still avoiding eye contact.

'Can you please look at me when you talk to me?' Peter asked. 'You know I won't mind if you tell me you're not okay, so what are you afraid of?'

Robin was done slicing the meat and put down his knife, leaning his hands on the counter. 'I'd rather not talk about it,' he said quietly.

'That's okay too,' Peter said. He hopped off the counter. 'But you know where to find me if you do want to.' He gave his shoulder a soft squeeze, but he felt Robin's muscles tensing up underneath his touch and let go again. 'Also, you can take Wednesdays off,' he said. 'My mother-in-law wants to take care of the kids for a day.'

'Oh!' Robin turned around to finally face Peter. 'Have you made up already?'

Peter shook his head. 'Not yet, but it's getting better. She's really glad to have her grandchildren back.'

'Ah,' Robin turned back to the counter. 'That's good.'

'Yeah,' Peter agreed. Robin didn't say anything after that, so he went back to the kids.

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When he picked up the kids on Wednesday, he told Leah's mom bye, but she shook her head. 'Did you really want to leave already? Stay over for dinner.'

'Oh, can I?' Peter asked in surprise. She did not reply to him. 'Tabby, can you set the table for six?' she asked Tabitha, who was reading a book on the couch. 'Oh,' she said, upon seeing Peter. 'I didn't notice you were here already.'

Peter smiled. Tabby could get just as lost in fictional worlds as Leah could. 'Good to see you again, Tabs.'

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When Peter was leaving after dinner, Mrs Wilson saw him off. She walked with him to the car and watched as he buckled in the kids. When he was done, Peter closed the car door and looked up at her. 'Well.'

'You still don't realise, do you?' she said.

Peter frowned. 'Realise what?'

'That your kids aren't the only ones we missed in the past year. You're as much family to us as they are.'

'Oh,' Peter stammered, dumbfounded.

'It's true, I am hurt by it. But I understand your reasons. People deal with grief differently. I know the pain you've tried to bear all on your own and I understand why you'd rather just run away. And I'm... I'm really glad to have you back.'

'Oh...' Peter's voice cracked because he was getting emotional. 'That's-'

To top it all off, she pulled him in for a hug. 'I'll forgive you,' she said. 'But you better not disappear on us again, because then I won't.'