Sweet Baby

Three

Three

Babysitting Leticia was a task that I thought would be really easy, and it was...but it has its moments of difficulty. Ninety percent of the day was fun and full of cuddling and playing with toys, but the worst thing was always separating herself from her father and nap time. I was staying a few days a week at Paisley Park, and Mr. Nelson would always wait until I woke up to hand her off to me. He was an extremely busy, but sweet man and I see why he needed the help.

"Lettie, it's nap time." I said as I picked her up. I found out that nap time for her wasn't something she could do on her own. She HAD to fall asleep holding someone, so my nap time was her nap time and we would sleep in the bed Mr. Nelson provided for me. Sometimes, he would wrap up early, and sometimes he wouldn't, but he would swing by where I would be and ask me to stay an hour longer if he was late, and I always agreed. I didn't mind it. He was paying for my lunch, the baby sitting, and even paying me for extra hours if I needed it. It was an easy job, and I was loving it.

I laid down on the bed and laid Lettie next to me. She had to have been at least four months old now. I know Mr. Nelson could tell me the exact week and month. I stroked her curly hair and saw small bits of her father, but not much. She must look just like her mother, if I knew much about her. I didn't want to become too motherly with her, nor did I want to strip away Mr. Nelson being her only parent, but I did try my best to be affectionate with her.

There was a soft knock on the door and I stood up to open it and I saw Mr. Nelson with his arms crossed over his chest, and he didn't look too happy. "Is...everything okay?" He glanced away before looking at me. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I'm taking a few days off." Something really upset him. Maybe his meeting with his record company didn't go well. I just nodded and stepped aside so Mr. Nelson could quietly walk in and look down at his daughter. Suddenly the anger and frustration faded the moment he saw her. He carefully slipped a hand under her head and the other one under her bottom to pick her up. "I know, sweet girl. Daddy messed up nap time." She was groaning softly but he held her to his chest and she relaxed. "I left today's payment on the counter by your keys. I paid you for the full day."

I smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Nelson. That means so much. I...I hope things get better for you." He looked at me for the first time. "I'm sure it will...maybe." I knew he wanted to be alone with his daughter, so I let them be and grabbed my payment and keys before walking out to my car. I didn't know when I was to return as he didn't say when, but I knew he would call me when he needed me.

I took Lettie to my car so she could get in her car seat. Shevonne was still in the car on her cellphone as I was strapping Lettie in. She gave me a sleepy smile and I smiled back. "Tired?" I always talk to her like she could talk back and I knew very soon she could. She knew "dada"...and that's all I loved to hear. I shut the the back door and turned around to see Shevonne with her head against the wheel and she looked stressed. Something was wrong with her, too. I sighed and reached into the car to grab Lettie which made her a little irritated because it was past her nap time.

I walked over to Shevonne's car with Lettie in my arms and used a hand to knock on the driver's window softly. Shevonne looked at me and rolled the window down forcing a smile towards me. "Is everything okay?" I asked her as I shielded Lettie's face from the small breeze that came through. "I'm fine. Just frustrated with my former boss." I laughed a little. "Me, too." I said. Shevonne stepped out of her car and Lettie yawned and cuddled into my chest. "My former boss is being a dick to me...just the whole company. You know...contract stuff." Shevonne gently took Lettie and she smiled instantly. "I understand that. My former boss, he just suddenly wants me back as my new position with a raise because I'm 'an asset to the team'." "What does that even mean?" We said together and then laughed.