The knight nursery

A chilly start to Autumn And is this the end of us

I'm so sorry 🙈 Tw for dv emotional abuse and some mild language

Marjorie was still trying to get over the shock that the owner had hired his daughter at the nursery, usually it was left to Marjorie to interview staff and then head office approved the positions.

As Autumn entered the building she was in a very excited mood and couldn't wait to put her stamp on her father's empire, she found Marjorie and I in the office, Marjorie was apologizing to charlotte about not getting the job. As autumn arrived in the office "hi" she said as she walked through the door Marjorie looked over to the young woman with long brown ginger hair "hello you must be our new deputy" Marjorie said, Smiling back the young woman responded "yes that's me, nice to meet you" Marjorie now took the time to introduce herself "I'm Marjorie and this is charlotte'' she said while gesturing over to me "what's your name?" the smiley girl responded "my names Autumn" Marjorie couldn't believe her ears "oh another seasonal deputy wow" I was shocked "huh" I said while nodding my head and looking between Marjorie and Autumn, autumn spoke "I'm here to support you in any way that I can Marjorie, would you like a shoulder massage" and she stepped forward to reach Marjorie's shoulders, Marjorie dodged out of the way "oh no, no that's quite alright thank you" trying to get on the right side of Marjorie "I love your earrings they really make your eyes pop" Autumn said, this was starting to make Marjorie feel awkward "well that's very kind um if you will excuse me I've just got to go and let the rooms know you're here ok" Marjorie got up to leave "ok thanks" I began to speak as Marjorie left the office "it's really nice to meet you Autumn we're so excited to have you" Autumns attitude changed towards me, she had a dark glint in her eyes "you need to take those earrings out" I  was shocked at what she had just heard "what?" I asked Autumn now had a smirk on her face as she spoke "they're against the dress code so take them out please" I quickly responded "oh its Christmas jumper day so we were told we were allowed to wear the earrings" Autumn couldn't believe that I was answering her back, she gripped the bridge of her nose before responding "either take them out or I can write you up and report you to my dad" I couldn't believe autumn was using the 'my dad is the owner' card already "um ok I'll take them out right now" something switched in Autumn again and she was back to being happy and bubbly "great I think you and I are going to be the best of friends, just as long as you don't cross me, I'm gonna go and meet everybody else now bye" and with that she left me in the office completely flabbergasted by the encounter I had just witnessed all I could think was 'have we just got somebody worse than summer' I finished filing the paper work I had originally gone to the office to file.

As the end of my shift approached, I couldn't wait to get home I knew now I would be on Autumns radar.

I tried my best to keep on the good side of Autumn not wanting to cause any trouble I had enough to deal with.  The problems at home had started again between myself and Gareth, but she seemed to be targeting myself and Carly it was every day that she seemed to find something to complain about one particular day she complained about Carly being too tall, she complained about my lashes that I had done for the children's Christmas party that night, which tied in with a family event I was attending over the weekend being honest I wasn't looking forward to it and felt I would try and talk to Carly at lunch while we were having our scheduled monthly catch up. I let whatever Autumn said go over my head, I wasn't bothered by the fact she wrote me up in her little report book that she carried around nothing ever came of them because her own father saw them as petty. Lunch time came around and I met Carly for lunch "shall we go out for lunch today?" I asked being hopeful that Carly would agree "um sure where to though?" Carly responded "I was thinking we could go and grab something from the shop and sit out in the park. I just need out of her for a while before I lose my cool" Carly sensed that I was stressed "that sounds like a plan, but can we stay out for half of our lunch please it's gonna be freezing out there?" I hadn't thought about it being winter "erm yeah sure sorry" we went to grab our coats and headed out to walk to the local shop Carly was the first to speak when we were away from the nursery "char spill what's wrong?" Looking at me concerned "it's just Autumn she's really started to get on my nerves the power has gone to her head, did you know on her first day here she dropped the 'my father is the owner card on me' I mean she's good with the parents but why can't she be that way with us?" Carly nodded in agreement "that's not all though" I started to look at the ground now "things are getting strained at home me and Gareth are arguing a lot and it's starting to affect the kids, but you don't need to hear about that" I quickly changed the subject "How are things with you?" I asked luckily Carly hadn't been paying much attention to the end of my rant she was watching a young lad walk past us following him with her eyes "sorry char what was you saying I got distracted" I couldn't help but giggle to myself "seen something you like Carly" I then proceeded to burst out laughing at Carly's response "erm yeaaah heees fiiit" Carly responded. We arrived at the shop and got our meals I also grabbed a coffee; my mood had perked up just from spending time with Carly on our lunch break we headed back to the nursery I was so glad that what was going off at home for me fell on deaf ears. Nobody needed my issues, and I didn't want to be a burden to any of my friends. I vowed to myself walking back that I would leave the troubles at home at the door as I arrived. Arriving back to the nursery I took a deep breath before heading in "I'll see you later Carly" I half shouted as Carly was walking away, we were in separate rooms this afternoon. The rest of the day went off without any problems all of the children and parents were happy. When 6pm arrived I headed to the office "erm Marjorie please can I speak to you?" Marjorie looked at me concerned and confused at the same time "er yeah sure is everything ok?" She asked "er can we go somewhere private please" I responded looking from Marjorie to Autumn trying to signal that I didn't want Autumn to be present while we talked.  "Autumn my love why don't you head off home, me and char can lock up" Autumn huffed and responded "fine" she grabbed her coat and bag and left. As we waited for the rest of the staff to leave Marjorie went to the staff room to make us coffees, I could hear her coming back with the gentle taps of her heels on the tiled floor and her voice "see you later girls" as Marjorie entered the office "right char my love that's everyone gone now. What did you want to speak to me about?" Gathering my thoughts and trying to settle my mind from racing "erm I need to talk to you about Autumn, she's making all of us feel on edge" I told Marjorie about all of the incidents a few of us had happen and how she carries a book around with her "you heard how she was at the staff meeting a few days ago that was all aimed at me, Marjorie I'm not enjoying my job anymore because I'm made to feel like at any point in time I could be fired and it will be over something stupid like the earring incident on her first day" I stopped mid rant as my phone was vibrating in my pocket I quickly pulled it out of my pocket it was Gareth calling me for the 10th time I silenced the call and carried on "she's on a power trip Marjorie and I know she's already rubbed a few of up the wrong way, right now I'm ready for snapping I have too much to deal with I don't need her on top" Marjorie looked at me confused "what do you mean you've got too much to deal with already?" shit I've just dropped myself in this now "oh its nothing just stressed it's hard for Sophie adjusting to Layla not being here anymore and the tantrums are real right now that's all" again I had managed to divert the attention away from my slip up.  After I had convinced Marjorie, everything was ok I headed out of the office to drive home I pulled my phone out of my pocket as a text message comes through "where the hell are you get home now!!" I got into my car and began the drive home, as I pulled into my drive I could see my girls through the living room window they were happy to see me unlike my husband, I stand and take a breath before walking into the house "mummy, mummy" the girls shouted as they come running into my arms "mwah I've missed you" I said kissing Sophie on the cheek "mwah and I've missed you" kissing Layla on the head "ewww mamma gross" Layla replied I chuckled to myself my little girl is growing up. I grabbed a hand from each girl and lead them into the kitchen Gareth was in there trying to keep things normal for the girls "hi sweetheart" I pecked him on the cheek he didn't respond I was the first to speak "here girls take these into the living room and play" I said while giving Layla and Sophie a drink and snack after I could see the girls were out of the kitchen Gareth turned to me "where the hell were you, you should have been home over an hour ago" things were starting to get heated "falling back into old habits there charlotte late home no text yet again I'm left with the girls which by the way it's your turn to cook or do you expect me to do that as well" I just stood on the spot listening not wanting to aggravate him more "answer me you stupid cow where have you been or do I not even need to ask" I took a breath "I'm not doing this with you now in this mood and with the girls next door" and I turned to walk away, the next thing I knew he had grabbed my wrist to pull me back and then slammed me into the kitchen table with so much force that it winded me, Gareth stood over me a dark look in his eyes the girls came running into the kitchen to see what all the commotion was "daddy what's wrong with mamma why is she breathing funny" Layla asked "nothing is wrong with her lay she fell go back in the living room" I nodded at Layla trying to be as reassuring as I could, the girls turned and walked away for the second tome to go back to the game they were playing "I'm going out, clean this mess up and feed YOUR daughters"  I stayed as still as I could tell he had gone when I heard the front door close I got up and shouted into the living room "mummy's just going to make you guys something to eat stay in there till I call you through please" "ok mummy" both girls responded I closed the door to the kitchen and sobbed questioning myself what had just happened as I calmed down I got up to make the girls some food pasta and meatballs with cheese mixed in, it was a simple meal but they both loved it after the three of us had eaten I took them upstairs to begin the bedtime routine of bath and snuggles with a book.  As I went to lift Sophie into the bath, I had to put her back down it wasn't till this point that I had even thought about my wrist.  I had to improvise to get Sophie into the bath "lay can you go and grab the step from the kitchen" Layla looked at me confused and then at my wrist "ok mamma" I could hear her running down the hall way and back up the stairs "here you go mamma do you need me to help" she asked "yes please lay, can you get in and help Sophie from that side and mamma will guide her on the step" bathtime went smooth with Layla's help.  After I had got the girls settled into bed and they had finally fell asleep. I took myself to sanctuary of my bedroom as I undressed for bed I looked back in the mirror and could see the bruise; the bruising was starting to come up on my wrist as well in the shape of a hand.  At that point I decided to write Gareth a note to stick to the outside of the bedroom door "you're in the spare room tonight, we need to talk in the morning!" after I had written the note and stuck it to the outside of the door, I closed the bedroom door and wedged the handle with the chair from my dressing table.  Climbing into bed it took a while to get comfortable due to the bruising on my back I decided to message Marjorie.

"Hi Marjorie, I won't be in work tomorrow family emergency I have to deal with, I'll be back on Monday xx"

After a few moments my phone pinged

"No problem char my love hope everything is ok, see you Monday"

After Marjorie's response I broke down and eventually fell asleep.  I didn't even hear Gareth come home.

I'm so sorry to be one of those people but the rest of this will be a part 2 chapter 

Thank you for all the support xxx