The Nanny

Chapter 2

Housemaid; housemaid; waitress; housemaid; nanny; housemaid; housemaid; tutor; secretary; housemaid…

When I said I should become a housemaid, I wasn't serious! I never thought there would be so many jobs for housemaids! Unfortunately, the pay is terrible! I can't take a job that pays less than half of what I currently earn. If anything, I need to get a job that pays a little more! The list is never-ending. Hundreds of jobs but none that will pay enough to take care of my family. I continue to scroll through the list, my hope already halfway down the drain. Do people think that life is cheap? There is no way I'll be able to pay all the bills with the salary they offer. The only jobs that offer enough money, are positions as temporary Nannies. Why is life so unfair? Why can't someone offer good money, on a long-term basis? Maybe I should just take a cheap job and get it over with! At least I'll get something, instead of nothing! No! Don't give up Delia! You will get a job that is perfect! You just have to look in the right places.

I look out the library window. In my situation, you can't afford your own computer, so that is why I'm in this place on a Sunday morning. Andrew is playing outside on the grass lawn, while I'm in here searching for a job. At least I know Andrew is safe from Dad's anger or harm. He was still hungover and sleeping when we left this morning. To be honest, I'm glad he was still out like a candle. It is a lot easier to get out of the house if he is still asleep.

It seems like Andrew made a new friend. I smile as Andrew runs after a girl, around seven years old. It is quite funny to see a small dark-haired boy, chasing after a small blonde girl. Little do they know that life is always like that! Some guy chasing after a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. Emphasis on blue eyes! If you don't have blue eyes then apparently, you're not exotic enough! That is what happened with…

Shit! I jump out of my chair and run outside. Typically boys; get the girl's attention by any means necessary!

“Andrew! You can't pull her hair!” I run up to the crying girl, “Are you okay, dear?” the little girl sniffs and shakes her head. Andrew pulled her hair, accidentally making her fall to the ground.

“I want to go home!” she says and starts to sob. I hate it when kids cry! Not because I don't know what to do, it just breaks my heart! I open my arms for the little angel and she walks into them. I pick her up while she cries into my neck. Suddenly something tackles my leg with great force. I almost fall to the ground, but I recover before I face crashing the girl under my weight. Now I'm stuck with a crying girl in my arms and a crying Andrew on my leg. I have to find the girl's parents.

“What do you think you're doing?”

The girl's head snaps up and I freeze to my spot. That voice belongs to a very important and a very serious person. You can tell by the amount of authority in his tone. My blood runs cold, Why does it sound like I did something wrong? Please don't kill me…

“Blake!” the little girl squeals. I quickly turn around, or as quickly as you can turn with a toddler on your leg. The girl leans toward a tall, intimidating yet very attractive man. He takes her into his arms and she turns to smile at me.

“Thank you, for helping me to find Blake!” the girl says shyly. Andrew stopped crying but is now pulling at the hem of my shirt, probably because he is scared of the man in front of me. Hell, even I'm a bit scared! His messy, dirty-blond hair gives him a carefree look; while the grey suite tells you that he is, in fact, a very serious man. His muscles are quite prominent through the suite, almost like they'll rip through the material at any moment. My eyes travel to his strong jawline, covered in a five o'clock shadow. Those blue, green, maybe hazel eyes stare at me and a smirk is plastered on his soft pink lips. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Focus Delia! I bend to pick up Andrew.

“It is extremely rude to pick up children that aren't yours without permission and then checking people out!” he says with a stern yet amused voice.

I ignore the comment about me checking him out and start my rant, “Excuse me! I was only comforting her! It's not like I'm going to abduct her!” who does he think he is to insult me? I was just helping!

“She needed comforting because your son pulled her hair,” He counters, making me choke on my own saliva.

“He is not my son!” I don't want this guy to think I'm some slut. I mean really, I'm only twenty!

“So now you're taking another person's child too?” Andrew and the girl were looking at us with stretched eyes, while this Blake guy smirks at me.

“Who do you think you are? He is my BROTHER! I saw what he did and came here to make him apologize, but your daughter needed someone to comfort her! So I did that since you were not around! Perhaps if you were a better parent we wouldn't be here right now!”

Andrew wiggled in my arms and the girl also wanted to get out of the guy's arms. I put Andrew down and the guy started to laugh as he put the girl down. “What the hell is wrong with you? This is not funny!” I was shouting now and the kids ran off smiling at each other. I saw Andrew look at the ground and mumble something. The girl nods her head and then they're off again.

“Well no, this situation is not funny! But the fact that you called me a parent is funny!” he said between laughs, “She is my sister!”

“Oh…” I can't believe I just made the same assumption he made about me! He was still laughing, and I can't help but snicker as well.

“Blake are you okay?” I turn my head to face a girl with glasses. She looks around the age of ten maybe eleven. She has a look of concern on her features and her arms are filled with books.

“Yeah I'm fine,” he straightens up and looks at the girl. “Where is Jessica?” his expression quickly turns into a stressed one.

“She's waiting at the car. She wants to know how much longer we have to be here,” the girl speaks with more maturity than I expected since she looked so shy moments ago.

“Are you done?” he asks and the girl nods in response, “Tell her we'll leave in a minute.”

With that, the girl turns and leaves us, without another word.

“Well, I guess I'll be going then!” I wanted to get out of here; this guy was very intimidating and very attractive. I don't want him to catch me staring again.

“Wait!” he calls just as I start to walk away. I turn around, “Thank you! I mean for comforting her,” he looks slightly ashamed, no more smirk but he still has that the stern powerful look.

“It is no problem. Take care.” I quickly turned and walked away. I spot Andrew playing with another boy. “Andrew! Be good. I'm inside if you need me!” He nods and continues to play with the boy.

I sit down at my chair in the library again. Now that was interesting. After watching Andrew for a while I continue my search for a job.

Yes! Please, I'm begging you, let me get this job. After another hour of searching, I finally came across a job offer for a nanny. The pay is a little bit more than what I earn at the restaurant currently and the contract is for at least one year. This will be perfect! It is close enough to home, good pay, and I get to work with three girls. I've learned to work with kids because I've had to take care of Andrew, so I know I'll be able to handle three girls.

I take my phone from my pocket and dial the number.

“Michelle Anderson speaking?” the woman sounds tired and stressed.

“Good Day. This is Delia Johnson. I was wondering if the position for a nanny is still available,” I cross my fingers as I wait for her answer.

“Yes! Most definitely! I'm so glad you called. I'm kind of in a hurry to find a nanny and the only people who are interested are really old. But you don't sound old! Not that I have something against old people but the kids don't want to hang around an old boring, as they put it, lady. I'm just really glad you called. I was kind of out of options. So yeah, I'm stressed out… Will you be able to come for an interview today?” she asks in a frenzy. I have never heard anyone talk that fast! It takes me a moment to process her words, and then excitement fills me. This might just be it…

“Sure! What time would you like me to be there?” I'm a little shocked, that she is so desperate for someone to fill the position, but I'm not going to blow this chance.

“You can come right now. I'll text you the address,” she says, clearly eager to meet me.

“That sounds great, I'm just going to have to bring my brother with me if I come right now.”

“Oh don't worry about that! He is welcome here. I'll see you soon!”

Before I have time to reply she has already hung up. Odd… Not that I'm complaining though.

I pack up my belongings. I'd better find Andrew, he is probably starving. We'll have to get some sandwiches from a café for lunch.

“Andrew!” his little head quirks up and he looks at me. I wave him over, just then I feel my phone vibrate. Andrew comes rushing toward me and I read the message. It is too far to walk, so I guess we'll have to take a taxi. I checked out the books Andrew wanted, carrying them in my bag as we walk to a nearby café.

After eating our sandwiches, we get into a taxi, and I give the cabby the address. The drive takes a while, since they live at the edge of town, probably near or on one of the farms. It is silent in the taxi; Andrew is sound asleep on my lap after a tiring morning. I almost fall asleep myself, but just before I can nod off, we pull up to the house.

As I look out of the window, my mouth falls open. This is not a house, it is a freaking mansion! The house, or mansion, was built in Victorian style and stretches for a couple of yards. I expected a big house, given the long driveway, but I didn’t think any house could be this beautiful and huge. The stone structure gives the mansion an antique look. Right in front of the house is a beautiful fountain in the middle of a small garden, forming a circle in the road. It is clear from the windows that the building is two stories high. The wooden window frames match the massive double door at the front. The garden is well kept, they must have a gardener, and the fountain spurts crystal clear water. I sit in the taxi for a while, completely awestruck, until the driver snaps my attention back to reality. I pay him and carefully pick up Andrew, after getting out. I walk over to the front door, my bag in my one hand, swinging around awkwardly. As I reach for the doorbell, I hesitate a bit. Is this really what I want? Do I really want to be a nanny?

I don't know how long I keep standing there, trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. But at last, I make my decision. I re-adjust Andrew on my hip. Now or never, Delia. I reach for the doorbell and quickly ring it. After a while, the door opens, and I’m greeted by someone I did not expect at all! Why did I ring the doorbell again?

At first, he looks as shocked as I am, but his shocked expression quickly changes to an amused one. His captivating eyes sparkle with deviousness. Even though he is quite intimidating, I still want to slap that stupid smirk off his face.

“Well if it isn't the abductor? Are you going to kidnap the children from their homes now?” he asks me mockingly. It takes all my strength and self-control not to slap him.

“Ha-ha, very funny!” note the sarcasm. “I'm here to see Michelle Anderson,” I say with determination. That's it, Delia. Get straight to the point. Don't let this guy mess with you.

“Why do you want to see my lovely mother?” What is this guy's problem? Can't he just let me in? Andrew is heavier than he looks, and I've already been standing here for several minutes.

“I'm here for an interview for the nanny position. Will you please let me in now?” I sigh heavily. I shift Andrew in my arms again. Can't this guy see I'm struggling with Andrew?

“Blake, who is it?” a cute familiar voice calls; moments before the blonde little girl pokes her head out, “Oh, it's the nice lady from the library!” she looks up at Blake. “Aren't you going to let her in, Blake? She looks tired!” the girl asks him. Thank you! Someone who has common sense. She shoves Blake as best as she could, and motions for me to come in. I take in her appearance again. She has curly blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. She smiles constantly and there is a sparkle in her eye. She is definitely a Happy-go-Lucky little girl…

“Hi! My name is Sophie. What is your name?” this girl is not shy at all either.

“Hello Sophie; I'm Delia. Thank you for letting me in,” I say with a pointed look in Blake's direction.

“It is my pleasure! Sometimes Blake is really stupid. Sorry for his rudeness,” she looks over her shoulder and glares at him. I giggle as I take in his hurt expression. Is it just me or is this extremely funny? The little girl, scolding the grown man! The hurt look washes away as he smiles at his little sister.