Starlight Shores, 7 am.

It’s a peaceful morning at Tyron’s house. Everyone there has had an excellent sleep.

It seems like Kayla was the first to wake up.

Tyron is still asleep. That will give her a chance to do something for him, like fix breakfast or something.

She can’t make the whole bed, but at least she can make her side of it.

Kayla: Okay, let’s see how things are going downstairs. Judging by the silence, I guess Brandi and her babysitter are still sleeping.

Nope. Brandi is wide awake now and probably wondering where her dad is.

Luckily, Felisha is there for anything Brandi needs. It will be shift change soon, though, and Brandi will have to let her go.

Kayla is already downstairs, currently in the living room, which is a bit of a mess. It would be best to tidy up a bit.

Kayla: I don’t know if Ty hired someone to do the cleaning. But even if he did, a little help wouldn’t hurt.

Meanwhile, Tyron has just woken up and was a little surprised not to see Kayla next to him.

It’s best to go down and look for her, but first he needs to put on some more clothes, in case Felisha and Brandi are already out and about.

Tyron: Kay? What are you doing down here?
Kayla: Well, since I don’t have to go to work today, I thought I’d help you out a bit around the house.

Tyron: That’s very kind of you, but not necessary. Felisha can take care of all this, and I’ll make breakfast for all of us.
Kayla: Please Ty, let me help.
Tyron: But you’re not used to this.

Kayla: Come on, just because I’m Robert Remington’s daughter doesn’t mean I can’t do anything.
Tyron: I know that, and later we can divide tasks, but today is your first day here, so let me take care of you, okay?
Kayla: I will if you let me spoil you by helping you with all this.

A little reluctantly, Tyron accepts Kayla’s offer of help, and together they tidy up the room the best they can.

Tyron: Thanks, Kay, I really appreciate your help.
Kayla: You’re welcome, love. If you need any help around the house, don’t hesitate to ask me.
Tyron: I thank you for that too, but I’ll hire someone to do the cleaning so you can concentrate on your work. I’ll concentrate on mine, and on Brandi.

Kayla: Oh, Ty, you’re so sweet.
Tyron: Not as sweet as you.

They both wished they could show their affection for each other like last night, but Felisha and Brandi won’t be long to come down, so they’d better hold back until they’re in private again.

About an hour later…

Felisha has already left and Marques, the second-shift babysitter has just arrived. Before he goes upstairs with Brandi, Tyron and Kay invite him for breakfast.

Marques and Tyron engage in a guys’ conversation. Kayla isn’t paying attention; she’s busy thinking about her work and how she’s going to acquire new clients. She’ll surely have to start from scratch here.

Well, breakfast is over. Kayla is taking care of the dishes.

Meanwhile, Tyron goes upstairs to look for Brandi.

Tyron: Okay, Brandi, Marques will be here in a second to give you your breakfast. Be good while I get changed for work, okay?
Brandi: Isha?
Tyron: Felisha will be back tomorrow. But how about I introduce you to Kayla? Would you like to meet her?

Brandi: No. I want Mommy.
Tyron: Honey, I told you Mommy can’t…
Brandi: I want Mommy, I want Mommy, I want Mommy!
What follows is a short but intense tantrum from Brandi. She’s usually a well-behaved child, but it’s obvious she misses her mother, and Tyron gets it.

It will take some time for Brandi to get used to Candice being away. It would be nice if Felisha was here. She certainly knows how to entertain her. But babysitters have rules, and one of them is they can’t work more than one shift, so for now, Marques is all they have.

It’s a good thing Kayla wasn’t in the kitchen. Tyron wouldn’t want her to feel bad about stuff like this, or think she has to win Brandi over, or bond with her. It’s too soon to burden them both with any of that. Better to take it slow.

Thank goodness Marques is already here. He’ll take care of Brandi while Ty practices his guitar before leaving for work.

While Kayla is in the shower and Marques is watching Brandi, Ty practices one of his new songs.

It’s finally time to go to work.
Tyron: Okay, sweetie, Daddy has to go. Be good to Marques and Kayla, okay?

Brandi: I go with Daddy.
Tyron: I’m sorry, sweetie, you can’t come with me right now, but as soon as I get a chance, we’ll go to the park, okay?

Brandi seems pretty calm already, so now’s a good time to leave.

Tyron: I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise.
Kayla: No rush, hon. I’m not going anywhere.
Tyron: Please don’t take what Brandi says or does to heart, okay? She just…
Kayla: She misses her mother, I get it.
Tyron: She’s gonna need time to… you know.
Kayla: I know, babe. Don’t worry.

Tyron leaves knowing that Brandi is in good hands. He really was lucky to find someone as understanding as Kayla. Hopefully, beside her, he will soon be able to forget Candice. Anyway, the help he just hired has arrived. From now on, neither Kayla nor the babysitters will have to worry about cleaning anymore.

---