Chapter Five: THE ARRIVAL
906 Words
Xenia
By noon, I had checked the clock at least twelve times.
Not because I was nervous.
Definitely not because I was nervous.
I was simply… making sure I had enough time to finish everything.
That was all.
Absolutely all.
Unfortunately, my brain seemed determined not to cooperate.
“Baby, please stop spinning.”
Kira continued spinning.
“Nanny, look!”
“I am looking.”
She spun faster.
“Kira.”
“I am practicing.”
“For what?”
She stopped so suddenly she nearly fell over.
“For Daddy coming home.”
I blinked.
“I’m not sure spinning is part of the welcome-home process.”
Kira placed both hands on her hips.
“It is now.”
I decided not to argue.
There was no winning when Kira became determined.
The entire morning had been spent preparing for Mr. Winslie’s return.
The house had already been cleaned by the staff, but somehow Kira and I still managed to find things to do.
Mostly because Kira kept creating new messes.
At one point, she had attempted to make a welcome-home banner entirely by herself.
The result looked like a small natural disaster.
I secretly loved it.
The banner now hung crookedly above the fireplace.
WELCOME HOME DADDY.
The letters were uneven.
Some were backwards.
One appeared upside down.
It was perfect.
Kira thought so too.
Every ten minutes she would run into the living room just to admire it.
“Do you think Daddy will like it?”
“Yes.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“He will.”
“What if—”
“Kira.”
She stopped.
I smiled.
“He will love it.”
That seemed to satisfy her.
For approximately three minutes.
Then she started asking questions again.
By late afternoon, I was beginning to understand why Mr. Winslie sometimes looked exhausted before breakfast.
The child had unlimited energy.
Meanwhile, I had reached the point where coffee was no longer helping.
The sound of tires outside immediately froze us both.
Silence.
Then:
“DADDY!”
Kira bolted toward the front door like a tiny missile.
My heart nearly stopped.
“Walk!”
She did not walk.
I hurried after her.
The front door opened.
And there he was.
Mr. Winslie.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark coat.
A travel bag slung over one shoulder.
For a brief second, he looked exactly as he always did.
Calm.
Controlled.
Unmovable.
Then Kira launched herself at him.
The transformation was immediate.
His bag hit the floor.
His arms wrapped around her.
And just like that, the military officer disappeared.
The father remained.
I watched quietly from the doorway.
“Daddy!”
“Hello, trouble.”
Kira laughed.
“I missed you!”
“I know.”
“I missed you this much.”
She stretched her arms as far apart as possible.
Mr. Winslie looked down at her.
“I think that’s physically impossible.”
“It is not.”
“It definitely is.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
I covered my mouth to hide my smile.
Some conversations truly were genetic.
Kira suddenly pointed at me.
“Nanny missed you too.”
My eyes widened.
Traitor.
Again.
Mr. Winslie looked up.
For a second our eyes met.
I immediately forgot what I was doing.
Why was I standing here?
What were hands for?
Where was I supposed to look?
Thankfully, years of social anxiety prepared me for exactly none of those questions.
I quickly recovered.
“Welcome home, Mr. Winslie.”
His gaze lingered for a moment before he nodded.
“Thank you, Miss Kingsley.”
Same deep voice.
Same calm tone.
Exactly as I remembered.
As though he had never left.
Kira grabbed his hand.
“Come inside!”
Before he could respond, she was already dragging him toward the living room.
I followed.
The second Mr. Winslie entered, he noticed the banner.
Silence.
Then another silence.
I felt a sudden urge to defend it.
Before I could, Kira proudly announced,
“I made it.”
His eyes remained fixed on the crooked sign.
I held my breath.
Finally, he said,
“It looks terrible.”
Kira gasped.
I gasped.
Mr. Winslie looked completely serious.
Then, very carefully, he added,
“I love it.”
Kira squealed.
A second later she threw herself at him again.
I think she had missed him more than she realized.
Or maybe exactly as much as she realized.
For the next hour, the two of them occupied the living room while Kira explained every important event that had occurred during his absence.
Which apparently included:
• A butterfly she had named Princess.
• Three blanket fort collapses.
• Noah eating glue.
• A flower she found outside school.
Mr. Winslie listened to every single story.
Every single one.
Without once checking his phone.
Without once becoming distracted.
Without once making her feel rushed.
It was one of the things I admired most about him.
No matter how busy he became.
No matter how far away work took him.
Kira always came first.
Always.
As evening settled over the estate, I quietly slipped into the kitchen to finish dinner.
The familiar sounds of laughter drifted from the living room.
A smile found its way onto my face.
The house felt different now.
Full again.
Complete.
Mr. Winslie was home.
Kira was happy.
Everything was exactly as it should be.
At least for now.
- Writer
