Single Father [L.S]

deux

-Two foie gras terrines for table three. And a salmon entrée for table six.

Louis gave a grunt of approval, concentrating on preparing his chocolate-raspberry fondant. It was not an easy task to lay out the cake with precision when surrounded by the familiar roar of the Gourmet Lounge kitchens, into which the shouts of the waiters faded. After arranging the raspberries on the plate, he let a waiter pick it up and take it to the room.

He was about to start cooking a duck breast when his second in command rushed into the kitchen.

-Chef! I have an urgent call for you," Niall announced, panting as if he had run a marathon.

-What's going on? Louis asked with concern. Can it really wait? I've got a lot of tables to finish.

-It's your mother on the phone," Niall whispered in his ear, immediately alerting Louis.

Louis immediately stood up and announced to his team that he had to leave and reluctantly left the kitchens to go to the reception. He grabbed the phone handed to him by the secretary and, under the intrigued gaze of the latter and Niall, he put it to his ear.

-Mom? What's the matter?

-I'm not going to be able to pick up the girls from school today, or for the next few days. I just got the flu and the doctor told me not to go out until two weeks, or maybe more.

Louis was quick to reassure Jo, who was worried about leaving him hanging at the last minute. He hung up after assuring her one last time that he could handle the situation. A glance at his watch panicked him. It was a quarter past noon, and on Wednesday, Penelope and Evelyn finished at one o'clock. There was no way his two precious little girls were going home alone at nine and seven. Although the building was only a few blocks away, London was full of dangers for children that age.

-Damn it," Louis exclaimed. I can't even leave in the middle of the customer rush.

Selena, who along with Niall had been listening to their boss's discussion with his mother, put a reassuring hand on his arm.

-Louis, you've already met my cousin Harry, haven't you? He came to the restaurant last month. He lives with my other cousin not far from your appartement. If you want, I can give him a call to pick up the girls. She proposed.

Seeing that Louis was reluctant to entrust his children to a stranger, she added:

-Hazz is babysitting to earn some money. He's used to babysitting, and he even babysat Niall's niece last time. And yet, God knows how unbearable Milla is compared to Eve and Lope.

-Hey!" exclaimed Niall. She's just super active! But don't worry Louis, he did a great job. Besides, it's just time to figure things out.

Louis leaned against the counter, his eyes fixed on Selena's reassuring brown ones. He sighed, he had no choice but to accept his friend's proposal. He would never be able to find another babysitter in thirty minutes. He trusted Selena.

-All right, please ask him. He'd have to be there from one o'clock until four. I'll call the school.

[...]

With a shopping bag in each hand and little Gabriel dozing in his baby carrier against his father's chest, Louis struggled up the stairs, cursing the concierge for not warning him that the elevator was out of order, cursing the daycare center for not calling him after his son's temperature had risen, and cursing the London drizzle that made him feel as if the cold and humidity were seeping into his bones. Shitty day, he thought, putting the heavy bags on the landing in front of the door marked 19. When Louis slid his key into the lock of the apartment, he noticed the unusual silence that escaped from the dwelling. He poked his head inside and saw with amazement the scene that was unfolding before his eyes. Penelope was sitting on the carpet, wisely, playing with her sister, without a fuss, under the watchful gaze of a younger man who was crouched beside Evelyn, a toy in his hand.

-Daddy! exclaimed Penelope who came as usual to gambol to his meeting tending her arms so that he takes her in his arms.

Behind his daughter, the man he presumed to be Selena's cousin, stood up and walked towards her, followed by Evelyn.

-Mr. Tomlinson?

Louis had a slight moment of panic: the way he had pronounced his name while staring at him with his emerald eyes, he was almost disoriented. He had to pull himself together. He nodded, too quickly, not natural enough... But the man didn't seem to notice as he continued:

-I'm Harry Styles," he introduced himself. Selena's cousin.

-Louis Tomlinson, nice to meet you. I hope you didn't mind too much. It was sudden and I couldn't get a sitter earlier.

-Don't worry, I didn't have any plans," Harry reassured him.

After exchanging a few words, Louis walked Harry to the entrance. The young student put on his jacket and was about to leave the apartment when Louis held him by the wrist.

-Excuse me, could you give me your phone number? I may need your services again this week for my girls.

Author's note:

Your author is currently comforting herself with hot chocolate (yes I know it's late June but there's no season for hot chocolate) after her exams are over because she's sure she failed them.

Shit happens, chocolate helps.