The Nanny

Chapter 3

“Blake, who is at the door?” an exhausted voice asks. I hear the woman approaching, but she stops in her tracks as soon as I turn around. “Blake who is this?” she looks between me and Blake and then at Andrew. Confusion and then shock taking over her features. Oh, Hell no! No way! Never-ever; not even in her wildest dreams. No way in Hell is Andrew my and Blake's son. Huh Ah! Better ease her mind before she gets the wrong idea…

“I'm Delia Johnson. I called about the position of a nanny,” I offer her my hand, struggling to keep Andrew upright. She takes my hand and a relieved smile spreads across her face.

“I'm so glad you could make it!” she looks at Andrew again, “I assume this is your brother?” I nod and readjust him again. “You can bring him through here. Blake, will you please make us some tea and then join us in the study,” she says. Blake nods and Sophie runs off to some unknown location.

“You can put him on the couch,” Mrs. Anderson says as we enter a larger study. I put Andrew on the couch, place my bag beside it and stretch my arms to get some life back into them. I look at the study. I wish I had so many books of my own. The study is about as big as my entire apartment. Okay maybe I'm going a bit overboard, but you get the idea. It's massive! The left wall consists of a massive window; while the right wall is covered in books. Directly in front of me, there is a wooden desk covered in paperwork, the wall behind it also consists of bookshelves and a magnificent painting of a forest. In front of the window is another set of sofas with a coffee table in the center. I snap out of my daze and look at Mrs. Anderson. She has a knowing smile on her face.

“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Anderson. And I must say this study is very stylish,” I say as I walk toward her, she motions for me to take a seat on one of the sofas at the window.

“Thank you! I thought I'd better make it stylish since I spend a lot of my time here,” she takes a seat on the sofa opposite mine. We make light conversation for a while until Blake enters with a tray. He walks over to us and places the tray on the table.

He looks up at me seriously, “Tea?” he asks calmly. I must say I prefer the smirking Blake. This serious Blake is very intimidating.

“Y-yes please,” I answer but it sounds more like a question. Suddenly he is smirking again. What is with this guy? One minute he is all smirking, then he smiles at his sister, then he is serious and then he smirks again. Talk about mood swings…

“Milk and sugar?” he asks. I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves.

“Milk and one sugar, please,” I feel extremely proud of myself for not stuttering. He hands me the cup, and one his mom and then takes his own cup before he sits next to his mother.

“So, shall we get this over with?” he asks, once again very serious. I take another deep breath.

Please let this interview go well. I really need this job! Please don't let me make a fool of myself…

Suddenly Mrs. Anderson turns all serious as well. These people really know how to change the mood, my goodness!

“Sure,” Mrs. Anderson looks at me. I hate interviews! “Delia, tell us a bit about your experience.” Okay, maybe this was not such a good idea since I don't have any work experience as a nanny. I swallow, well here goes nothing.

“Well, I'm not going to lie to you. I don't have a degree of any kind! I never went to college, even though I really wanted to become a teacher. I've been working at a restaurant, as a waitress, for the past two years, which has been my only formal job. I have however raised my little brother basically on my own for two years now. So, if you want to know about my experience regarding taking care of children, there he is,” I say looking over my shoulder at Andrew.

I won't lie to get a job. Never in my life and especially not when working with someone's children. I'd rather tell the truth and not get the job than lie and then end up getting fired a while later. I just hope I get this job because if I don't, I really don't know what I'll do. I don't know why she's asking me these questions though. I did send her my CV before leaving the library. Perhaps she hasn't had time to read it yet.

“If I may ask, why have you been raising your brother?” Mrs. Anderson asks. To be honest that was not the question I expected. I quickly gather my thoughts. I stare at my folded hands. I hate personal questions, but if it helps me get this job, I'll answer them.

“My…” this is harder than I thought, “My mother, uhm, died a little over two years ago. My father didn't take her death very well. He…” I breathe out slowly, “He drinks all the time. I don't know the last time he was sober.” I hear Mrs. Anderson gasp. Here it comes, now she is going to tell me that she can't have me around her children. She'll say something about a bad environment and that she can't have her children around people like me.

“I'm so sorry, dear,” she says. I snap my head up. She is just full of surprises, isn't she? The sympathetic look she gives me, almost cause me to break down in tears. I take deep breaths.

“It's okay,” I reply softly, “I'm used to it by now.”

“So why did you apply for this job?” I look at Blake. I'm actually quite glad he changed the subject.

“Well,” I clear my throat, “I love children. As I said, I wanted to become a teacher, but unfortunately, that was not possible. I've always wanted to work with children. I applied for this job though, because the restaurant I work at closes at the end of the month. I need to find a new job, and this one just called my name.” Mrs. Anderson looks at Blake before she turns to me.

“How is your…”

“Dee?” a distressed Andrew calls. I quickly stand from my seat.

“Excuse me,” I mutter as I walk over to him, “Yeah buddy?”

“Where aw we, Dee? This is a vewy big woom,” He sits up and I kneel down next to him.

“I'm talking to that lovely lady over there,” I point at Mrs. Anderson and take Andrew's hand, “Come to say hello,” I suggest. He smiles happily as we walk over to Blake and Mrs. Anderson. A beautiful smile spreads over her lips.

“Hello, little man! You must be Andrew. I'm Michelle,” She shakes his hand while he digs his toe into the ground while blushing.

“Hello,” he chirps and quickly turns to hide his face against my leg.

“Aren't you going to say hello to me?” Blake speaks up, in a friendly tone. Who knew Blake could be friendly. I lead Andrew to Blake; he turns slightly and shakes Blake's hand. He is noticeably scared of Blake, as am I when he is all serious, but Blake remains friendly.

“You can call me Blake,” he says while shaking Andrew's hand.

“Blake, will you call the girls quickly?” Mrs. Anderson says. Blake leaves the room; I pick up Andrew and take my seat again with him on my lap.

“You were going to ask me something?” I ask Mrs. Anderson.

“Oh yeah! How is your cooking?”

“She cooks weally good! I love Dee's food! She should become a pwofes... Pwofes...”

“Professional?” I ask.

“Yes! A Pwofessional cook!” the amount of enthusiasm Andrew speaks with makes me smile.

Mrs. Anderson starts laughing. “I'll take that as a sign that you can cook.”

“Yeah, I can cook!” I say, laughing along with her.

“Good, cause you'll need to make the food as well. We don't have a chef for that,” she is still laughing a bit. It takes me a while to proses her words.

“Wait. Does that mean you're hiring me?” I ask, probably with way too much excitement.

“Yeah, if the girls like you,” she smiles at me, “But I'm sure they will. You seem friendly and fun!”

“Thank you so much!” I beam. I swear I could hug her right now! I have a new job. Now I'll be able to pay the bills and I get to work with three girls. I'm so thankful for this job!

“Mom, please say it's not an old hag again!” I turn to find a beautiful girl, around sixteen entering the room. She has curly blonde hair with dark highlights. Her blue eyes are emphasized by dark eyeliner, but it is clear that she is extremely beautiful, even without make-up. She is the typical girl most guys follow around. Pure beauty and confidence!

“Nope,” Mrs. Anderson says, “She is actually quite young!” I place Andrew on the couch as I stand up along with Mrs. Anderson. The girl's eyebrows shoot up.

“What are you? Like eighteen? And you have a kid! And you call me a slut mom?” my mouth falls open as she says those words. Rude much? Guess I should've known. Most girls like her have the personality of a female dog!

“Jessica! Watch your mouth!” Mrs. Anderson scolds.

“No, actually I'm twenty-one and this is my brother, not my son. You shouldn't be so quick to judge people,” I reply smoothly. I'm impressed with my calm tone. She blushes and looks at the ground quickly. Suddenly Sophie runs into the room.

“Delia! You're going to be my nanny!” she runs straight up to me and jumps into my arms. I laugh and pick her up.

“Wait a minute! You're the girl that made Blake laugh, at the library today!” a girl with glasses walks into the room followed by Blake. The girl has the same blue eyes, as the other two girls and dark blonde hair. All these girls are extremely beautiful! Compared to their natural blonde hair, my colored blonde hair probably looks fake and plain.

Mrs. Anderson turns to me, “You know Blake?”

“No, we met at the library this morning,” I tell Mrs. Anderson, quickly retelling the story about what happened at the library this morning.

“You made Blake laugh?” she asks with a shocked expression. Now I am very confused. Why is that so strange?

The girl with glasses speaks up again, “Yeah, he laughed really loud not just a smirk! He actually laughed!” she turns to me, “Blake hasn't laughed in over five years! I saw him laughing today, for the first time in so long,” she explains. Wow! That is a bit extreme. I look at Blake. He doesn't make eye contact and just looks at the ground. He looks…almost ashamed.

“In that case, the job is yours, whether the girls like you or not!” Mrs. Anderson walks to her desk. I am still shocked by what the girl just said. Blake didn't laugh?

“My name is Meredith by the way! You are?” I put Sophie down and shake Meredith's hand.

“I'm Delia. It is nice to meet all of you,” I say looking at each of the girls.

The girls left along with a smiling Andrew, moments later. Mrs. Anderson took a seat again and Blake also sat there but he never once looked at me. It is as if he was afraid to see my reaction after Meredith revealed his secret. We discuss the contract and some other details involving my role in the girls' lives. Mrs. Anderson explains that she will be leaving on a business trip in a weeks' time. That is why she needed a nanny so urgently. The contract states that I will live here most of the time. I was worried about Andrew but she quickly assures me that he can stay here as well, considering our circumstances. Dad is not going to be happy about this, but he has to suck it up! I'm the one earning the money so he has to deal! Summer vacation is in two weeks' time, so I'll be spending a lot of time with the girls. Blake will also be here, but he won't be able to watch the girls because he also has a lot of work.

By the time we finish talking about the contract, it is already 5 pm. Andrew and I will move here next Saturday, and Mrs. Anderson will leave the following Monday. Seems like things are going to turn out just fine for me. I have a job, great living circumstances for Andrew and a chance to make enough money to go to college. Seems like I still have a bit of luck!

Blake drives me and Andrew home since we took a taxi to get to their house. The entire drive is awkward and silent. I still don't get why Blake doesn't laugh, but I'm not going to ask about it! Even though I'm a curious person by nature, I know when to stop digging around. Blake is definitely not going to tell me. He'd probably snap my head off if I ask. He seems like a very private and serious person, but when he is around his sisters he seems more relaxed and happy. Even though his sisters calm him, he still doesn't laugh around them, and that I don't understand! But I won't push! Blake's lack of laughing is a story for another time… if ever.