The Nanny

Chapter 5

~Delia's POV~

I slowly open my eyes. Why is everything so bright? I intently listen for something that will tell me where I am. The beeping sounds of hospital machines bring back my memory. My Dad! s**t, where is Andrew? I quickly sit up but the throbbing in my head makes me fall back onto the bed. The nurse comes running toward me.

“How are you feeling, dear?” she asked me as she checks some of the machines.

“Where is Andrew?” I couldn't care less about the pain I'm feeling. I need to know that Andrew is safe. How did I get here? The only thing I remember is my dad hitting me and then the doorbell ringing before I blacked out. I just hope that Blake found us. I'm pretty sure he did though because I doubt that my dad would bring me to the hospital after what he did. I just hope Blake brought Andrew as well. I don't want Andrew to be near my dad at the moment. Not when he is this angry and violent.

“You mean your brother?” the nurse asks. I simply nod my head; please tell me he is here. She smiles, “He is safe. He's in the waiting room with Mr. Anderson. Would you like me to call them?” she asks.

“Please,” I say, desperate to see Andrew with my own eyes. She nods and leaves the room. After a while she comes back, followed by a worried Andrew. He almost jumps onto the bed, out of excitement, but Blake stops him before he can get onto the bed.

“Be careful Andrew. You don't want her to get hurt, do you?” Blake sounds all serious. I smile up at him thankfully. Andrew nods and squirms in his arms, eager to get on the bed.

“Dee! I'm so happy you aw okay,” Andrew says and throws his arms around my neck. I hug him back, smiling. I am so happy he is safe!

“Yeah, buddy. I'm just glad you're okay.” He sits back and takes my hand in his while playing with my fingers. I look at Blake again, “Thank you!” I have to swallow back some tears. I'm an emotional mess, but I'm not going to cry in front of him.

“It's my pleasure! The girls and my mom are here as well. Do you want me to call them?” he sounds nervous and he's talking to me like I might break at any moment.

“You can call them. I'd like to see the doctor as well,” I say with a smile. He nods and leaves the room. Andrew holds my hand for a while longer but then curls up next to me on the bed. He falls asleep shortly after.

“Delia! I'm so glad you are okay. Blake told me he found you unconscious in your house. What happened?” Mrs. Anderson asks as she enters the room. The girls quickly come into the room as well. Sophie walks over to me with a tear-streaked face. She quickly climbs onto the bed and hugs me. She doesn't say anything just lies down on the other side of me like Andrew. Meredith and Jessica merely nod their heads at me.

“Hi Mrs. Anderson,” I greet but she shakes her head at me.

“Call me Michelle, dear!” she explains with a smile. I return the smile. I tell her what happened and she keeps telling me how sorry she is. I don't understand why though, she didn't do anything wrong! Blake joins us after a while and tells me that the doctor will come by later. We talk for a while until the doctor finally comes in.

“Delia Johnson?”

“That's me,” I say and wave at the doctor, though it is a strained wave since the kids are lying on my arms. He skeptically looks at the kids but doesn't make a comment. After checking my chart and some of the machines, he asks me how I feel. I tell him that my head hurts but nothing other than that.

“Well, I think you're good to go. You should take these if you are in a lot of pain, but you don't have a major head injury so you'll be okay,” he looks at the kids again, “It would be best if you didn't carry the kids for a few days. Don't do any physical exercise either. We don't want you to black out again,” he says sternly

“Thank you, doctor,” I say and shake his hand. While Mrs. Anderson helps me gather my things in the hospital room, Blake carries the kids to his car. Mrs. Anderson helps me check out and after that, I join Blake in his car. I could really use some sleep, right about now.

“So are you going to tell me what happened?” I look at Blake with a confused frown, but then I remember he wasn't there when I told his mom what happened. I tell him the story about what happened this morning. How can so much happen in one morning? It is now just past 2 pm and I'm starving!

“How long has he been hitting you?” I look at Blake. He looks like he could rip off someone's head right now.

“Blake it is not something that happens regularly. It only happened once before. I tried to sober him up but he became aggressive so that is why I don't bother anymore. I'm really okay, so you can relax,” Blake really has to calm down! I know he won't hurt me, but he is still scaring me.

“He hit you, Delia! He even called you a slut! How am I supposed to calm down? What kind of a man does that?” I cringe at his harsh tone. Why is he mad at me? I didn't do anything wrong.

“Blake, please calm down! You're scaring me,” I say. He stiffens immediately, regret flashing in his eyes.

“s**t!” he quickly looks at me, “I'm sorry. I…” he lowers his voice and loosens his grip on the steering wheel with some effort, “I just don't get it!”

“It's okay. Just please calm down,” I plead.

We drive in silence until my stomach decides that now would be a good time to tell me I need food.

Blake silently laughs, “You hungry?”

“Just a little!” I giggle as I hold my hands tightly together.

“Well, let's get some lunch then!” he hands me his phone, “Call my mom and tell her we're getting lunch. I did as told and shortly after we stop at McDonald's.

Food… Yay!!!

***

“So, let me get this straight. You've never played hopscotch?” I was shocked! Andrew and Sophie are outside playing hopscotch. Working off all the energy they gained from sleeping and eating.

“Nope, I just don't get it! It seems like a pointless game!” Blake explains. This needs fixing! As in right now. We just finished eating and now I'm going to teach Blake how to play hopscotch. No person should grow up without playing hopscotch! It is a vital part of growing up! I stand and grab Blake by the hand.

“What are you doing, Delia?” he asks with a smirk.

“I'm teaching you to play hopscotch!” I drag him out of McDonald's toward Sophie and Andrew, “Hey guys; mind if we join you?” I ask the kids when we reach them. They shake their heads; surprised that grown-ups want to play hopscotch.

I start to explain the game to Blake. He just smiles and shakes his head at me in amusement. The explaining is easy but as soon as I demonstrate it to him, my morning activities catch up with me. A wave of nausea hits me on my first jump and the throbbing in my head increases. Now I know why the doctor said I shouldn't do physical activities…

“Maybe this is not such a good idea,” I say as I walk to the nearest bench; clutching my stomach.

“Why? Are you afraid that I might be better than you?” Blake comes up to me, once again smirking, and starts to pull me up, “Come on, you can't chicken out now!”

“No Blake it's not that! It's just my head. It hurts if I jump and I'm nauseous,” I explain.

“Oh, I'm sorry! Do you want to go home now?” he looks guilty and once again he's talking to me like I might break.

“No, it's fine. You still have to play. I'm just going to watch instead of play. But we are not leaving here until you play hopscotch,” I state and sit back on the bench. Blake looks at me with concern but turns to walk away. I speak up again “And Blake,” he turns to look at me, “I'm not going to break!”

“Are you sure you are okay?” he looks at me skeptically.

“Yes! Now go play hopscotch!” I wave him off. Blake gives me one more worried glance but then he joins the kids again.

It takes him a moment to get the hang of it but eventually the three of them are playing against one another. Sophie wins by far, leaving us with two sulking boys.

***

I think I'm going to cry. This room is just beautiful! The Queen-Size bed is covered with a white duvet and light blue pillows. The walls and the curtains, that are a light blue, are complemented by the wooden floor. In front of the window, there is a light blue chair, perfect for reading. The bedside tables and the wardrobe are painted white. The overall feel of the room is classy but simple and… kind of homey.

“Do you like it?” I look down at Sophie.

“I love it!” I quickly put down my bags, pick her up and twirl her in the air. Her excited squealing echoes through the house. I ignore the pain in my back and head when I pick her up. The doctor can forget about me not picking up kids! I love them too much!

Blake drove us home after the hopscotch game; I was exhausted, so I slept in the car. Mrs. Anderson and the others weren't home when we got here, so Blake gave me and Andrew a quick tour of the house. The house is divided into a top and bottom floor. The bottom floor consists of the lobby, kitchen, dining room, lounge, home theatre, study and a guest toilet. There is also a porch that leads to the swimming pool in the backyard. An extremely beautiful swimming pool! The top floor consists of seven bedrooms. Seven! One room for each of the Andersons and two guest bedrooms.

Andrew and I will each have our own room. Just as Michele and the girls arrived, Blake took Andrew to his room and Sophie brought me to mine.

“DEE!” Andrew's voice sounds worried. I step out of the room and into the hallway. Andrew's room is right next to mine. He comes running out of his room.

“Yes, buddy?” I ask, worry lacing my voice.

“Whe aw you going to sleep? Thew is only one bed in ouw woom and Blake said it is mine. So whe aw you going to sleep?” at his words my heart breaks. Andrew hasn't had his own room in amost three years. He probably doesn't even remember anything before mom died. No wonder he is so worried! I pick him up and walk into my room. Once again I ignore the pain in my back.

“This is my room, buddy. I'm going to sleep here. We're not sleeping in the same room in this house,” I explain.

“But what about dad? The othe wooms aw pink and purple. Dad is going to be mad if he doesn't have his own woom,” he sniffs, “I don't want him to huwt you again!” Andrew asks with exasperation. He seems confused as tears fall down my cheeks. He doesn't deserve this! He is not supposed to live in fear.

“Uhm, Andrew?” I look up to find Blake's worried expression; “You're going to visit us for a while, without your dad. Your dad won't hurt you or Delia here.” Blake speaks with a soft, comforting voice. Andrew nods while tears still silently flow over my cheeks.

Blake briefly looks at me and then back at Andrew, “Why don't you and Sophie go play for a bit?”

I put Andrew down and he quickly runs off with Sophie. Sophie never spoke throughout everything, she either understands better than I think or she doesn't understand anything. I quickly wipe my eyes; I hate crying in front of people! It means one of two things in my eyes. Either you are weak or you only want attention. I don't want Blake to think I want attention, or know how weak I actually am. I glance at Blake; he is still looking at me with a worried expression.

“Thank you,” I whisper, turning away from him. He reaches for my shoulder and turns me to look at him. Next thing I know, I'm engulfed in a comforting hug. At first, I tense, not used to the gesture, but soon I slump and start crying again. Why is it that my walls are crumbling now that I am finally in a better position? A safer more secure situation for both me and Andrew is supposed to brighten my mood, not send me spiraling into the dumps of despair. At some point, a pair of strong arms carry me to the bed and hold me tightly. I don't know how long I sit there, crying my eyes out; but afterward, I feel better though… lighter even.