Temporary Nanny

Chapter 4

It becomes the usual. Watching Stella whenever Michael needs and hanging out with both of them during my free time.

The first couple days Michael's mom is around claiming a different excuse for each day - thought I left my wallet here, can't find my bracelet, made too much for dinner last night brought some leftovers - just about anything you could imagine.

She never says but I'm positive it was all just to make sure I knew what I was doing and that Stella was still in one piece with not a single strand of hair out of place.

Some days Michael's around for a bit too, sometimes he'll stop by during a small break in his schedule. Sometimes he'll only work half a day, and other times he just simply needs an extra set of hands around.

Which is fine. I don't mind either way. Stella and I have grown quite fond of each other's company and I like to think she's gotten more comfortable. Rightfully so. I do spend most days chatting to her about Kim Kardashian's new hair color and what her thoughts on big lips are.

Most days I sit and watch Disney Junior with her, mainly just Mickey Mouse Clubhouse because she wont sit through any of the other kid's shows they have. That's usually when I find the time to tidy up a bit and clean her bottles.

However, if Mickey's not on, the Food Network will do. For some reason she enjoys watching people making and eating food. A personal favorite we love to sit and watch is Guy's Grocery Games.

She finds it all quite entertaining watching people run around in a grocery store trying to get what they need.

She also gets upset if someone isn't around to laugh with her.

I'm not sure why. Maybe she needs the validation that it's funny. Maybe she just feels like her friend's missing out. Either way, she'll make herself be heard until I callout to her or laugh along.

She seems to like the attention and the more I hang around the Cliffords, the more it becomes quite obvious exactly where she gets it from.

"Charlie, Char, Charlie, hey, Charlie," Michael stands at the entry of the kitchen as I get Stella's bottle ready. "Yes Michael?" I answer over my shoulder, testing the warmth of the milk on my wrist.

"Right hand or left hand?" He asks. "Why?" I turn to narrow my eyes at the giddy man in front of me. "Just pick one," he sighs. "What's in them?" "That defeats the purpose." Michael rolls his eyes.

"Well I don't want to be making a big life decision like which bug you're going to fill my car with or something." I walk past him and into the living room where Stella is looking bored with the cartoons on the tv.

"I would never do that," he says exasperatedly. I spare him a deadpan look whilst wrapping Stella up in her favorite light blue blanket with a lion on it. "I'd never make you choose your own bug." He grins mischievously.

I roll my eyes.

"The right one. Now go away so I can put her to sleep." I shoo. "Alright, I'll be back in a bit, and I'm gonna need you to stay and help me with it." "What? Help you with what?" My eyebrows knit together as he starts toward the door.

"Michael! Help you with what?!" I callout as he shuts the door behind him.

-

Stella doesn't give me any trouble, falling asleep within minutes of Michael leaving. By the time I'm done tucking her into her crib and folding a few of her things, Michael is back with a couple plastic bags from the store.

"What's that?" I eye the bags cautiously. "What you picked out." He hums. "And what did I pick out?" I ask warily. "Come with me and you'll find out." He walks past and down the hall to the lower level bathroom.