Rocketship

Chapter Sixx: the Godfather

Nikki's POV:

What the hell was that? I almost asked aloud as I pulled out of the garage. I quizzically looked up at myself in the rear view mirror as if asking my reflection for some sort of explanation.

Yeah, everything's cool... yeah right.

I had spent a lot of time with Marci over the last several weeks — I'd like to think enough time to know that, although she wouldn't admit it, I could tell there was something bothering her.

After overcoming the initial "awkwardness" between the two of us, I learned that Marci was actually an open book — she wasn't hard to read, wore her heart on her sleeve — completely genuine; the type of person that just cared and felt a lot. It fascinated me.

For instance, last week, she showed up to the house one morning with tear streaked mascara, and when I asked her what was wrong, she told me she saw a dead cat on the side of the road during her drive.

"I know it's silly, it's just that I used to have a cat that looked just like it," she explained, trying to shrug off my concern.

Or a few nights ago when we were watching ET with the kids, and I caught her crying when the alien was dying. When she noticed my stare, she blushed and quickly wiped her tears, embarrassed.

Her expression of joy was just as apparent. She had one of the biggest, most authentic smiles I had ever seen — it was a smile that could've easily rivaled the sun it was so bright. Nothing like the half-assed, forced smiles she tried to convince me with that night — it just wasn't like her to be so disingenuous.

She hardly even made eye contact with me, and she shrugged off my touch.

Held up at a red light, I started to wonder, Did I do something wrong?

Marci was a sweet girl, so I knew she'd never complain to my face, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was pissed at me.

I'll admit I hadn't been very "pleasant" the last few days (I was stressed over Brandi shit more so than usual). I also made her come over on her off day. Maybe she was mad about that? She already spent most of the week working, and despite how much I knew she loved the kids, I doubted she was thrilled to be roped back into coming over unexpectedly.

At this point, Marci was the only thing preventing my home life from becoming complete and utter chaos — she was quite literally the one person I couldn't fucking afford to piss off.

I didn't know what I'd do if Marci decided to suddenly quit, because let's face it, I would be hard pressed to find another nanny who was as good with the kids as Marci.

Or that I got along with as well.

In all honesty, I knew I was just overthinking things, Marci was probably just tired or something... maybe she saw another dead cat by the side of the road? I proposed.

♡︎♡︎♡︎

The cold and sterile smell of the hospital gave me a chill — I never liked hospitals — the incessant beeping, the smell, the uncomfortably white walls. I was never a fan.

Tommy wrapped me up in a bear hug the moment I walked into the waiting area. The dude was stronger than his lanky frame might lead one to believe, and his desperate embrace was starting to hurt my shoulder and crushing the flowers I picked up from supermarket for Pam on the way.

"I'm so glad you're here, man."
He let out an audible sigh of relief.

"Me too, T — I wouldn't miss the birth of my godson."