careful

five

Nina stands in the doorway of the formal living room listening in on Ella practicing her piano one day. Sadie had requested privacy as she danced in her private little studio. Nina questioned why Sadie had such a room if Ella didn't to which she responded, "Because she sucks."

And Nina didn't personally believe that Ella sucked, so she thought to listen in for herself. So there she stands, listening to faulty note after note. There is one particularly sour chord she hits that makes Nina wince.

"Whatcha playin' there?" she questions.

Ella's little nose turns up and she says, "It's supposed to be Hallelujah."

"Ah, I see," Nina murmurs. "Well, I used to play piano, so maybe I can help. Scooch over."

Nina stares at the music for a second and begins to play. About halfway through the song, she hears a slow clap from behind her. Already knowing the source, she sighs. "Why are you always here?"

"Nanny, I'm impressed," Ricky jests. "I didn't know you played the piano."

"Oh, shove it," she grumbles. "I don't play much anymore. But, Ella, can you try again?"

Ella shakes her tiny head and looks down at her feet. "It's too hard, I can't do it."

"Well, kid, that can't be true," Ricky says softly. He moves closer to them and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe this song isn't your jam. Let' see what else you've got."

The trio sifts through her sheet music and Nina stops at one. "Dueling C's, how 'bout that," she says.

She ends up reading the notes out for Ella who misses a few notes anyway and Nina figures she's just not very well acquainted with the keys yet. After all, she's only been playing for a few months, so Nina finds it ridiculous that she's being forced to read sheet music all by herself anyway.

"Why can't you play like... Mary Had a Little Lamb or something?" Ricky questions.

Ella shrugs. "Mommy said she wanted me to do somethin' sophiscated instead of baby stuff."

Ricky laughs a little. "Sophisticated, baby. But that's dumb. I think we need to find things that work for you, not Mom."

"Okay," Nina says, "Let's get through this song one more time, and then we can go have some lunch. So play the note when I clap, okay? Because this whole rhythm thing isn't working out."

Ricky trails Nina and Ella to Sadie's studio room. "Lunch?" she asks Nina.

"Yeah, but we're gonna go out and have a treat so pants, please." The woman gestures to Sadie's leotard and tights. The little girl nods and heads across the hall and into the house's elevator. "I still can't believe that thing exists," Nina comments.

"Why? It's a seven-bedroom house that has 8 leisure rooms, an office, and like 12 restrooms. I would even say 9 leisure rooms considering the fact that the library is two floors. This place is big, don't you think? I know I hate taking the stairs here," he laughs out.

"We don't have 12 bathrooms, we have 10. But Grandma's house is bigger," Ella adds. "I have a bedroom and tea room there!"

"That's true. Grandma and Grandpa have 16 bedrooms and much more lavish amenities, like the ballroom. The difference, Ella, is that your mom designed this house; Grandma didn't." He tells her. "That's one thing that your mom does that I think is cool."

Nina stands in disbelief. "Sixteen bedrooms? What do they need that for?"

"Well," Ricky sighs, "My mom has this fantasy of having a bedroom for each of her grandchildren, and then EJ and I kept our old rooms because we all stay there for Christmas Eve. She's a family woman. Before you ask, the other 11 bedrooms are for my future kids and guests."

"Uh-huh," Nina says. "Your mom has high hopes if she thinks someone will marry you."

Ricky opens his mouth to speak, but the elevator dings and Sadie pops out of it. "I'm back! So where are we going for lunch?"

"McDonald's because you two had prosciutto and poached eggs on toast for breakfast. Y'all are weird," she explains.

"I don't think I've ever had McDonald's before," Ella tells her.

"That's not true," Ricky inputs. "I took you guys to one a few years ago and your mother almost had my head. I guess you were too little to remember."

"Oh," she said. "So it's a secret?"

"Absolutely," he tells her. "Because your mom couldn't fire me as your uncle but she can definitely fire Nina as your nanny."