An Unexpected Knight (Parallel NurseryVerse Series)

Chapter 1- "Silent Love"

No one could have predicted this moment. Each and every one of Autumn's friends gathered in a dimly lit waiting room, tears falling as they anxiously awaited any kind of news. The fluorescent lights flickered above the group, each of them processing their own emotions. The sound of the clock ticking in agonizing rhythm reminded the huddle that they still had no answers. Even Siobhan had joined the group, standing near Reece as he wrung his hands in anxious panic. Everyone was there, from Charlotte to Sara- however, one redhead was missing from the group. Charlotte lifted her head from Mia's shoulder, glancing over the heads of everyone around her to see Marjorie curled up in a corner, tears streaming down her face.

"Mia.." Charlotte whispered, pointing over at Marjorie's crumpled, shaking body. Mia pursed her lips together before ducking out of the huddle. Slowly, she stepped over to the corner, seemingly darker somehow than the rest of the room.

"Marjorie?" Mia kneeled down to Marjorie's level. "Marj-" she set her hand on Marjorie's knee, sending her into a meltdown. Marjorie covered her eyes, sobbing into her hands.

"It's my fault - I was driving, Mia! I did this!" She cried out, bringing everyone's attention to her. Charlotte covered her mouth, trying to hide her tears as she watched her boss crumble into pieces.

"Marjorie, no one could have stopped this. You weren't the drunk driver." Mia sternly responded. Comforting was not her specialty, and it seemed right now like this was better anyway.

"If I would have kept this to myself, she and I wouldn't have been in that car tonight, okay? I did this!" Marjorie shouted, clutching the fabric of her leggings. The sentence sent a knife through Mia's heart. She'd felt the same not long ago- like her feelings were the cause of someone's pain. She knew exactly what Marjorie meant.

"Marjorie.. Your feelings for Autumn didn't cause this wreck. Autumn is the smartest woman I have ever met, she knew long before you told her. You didn't do this-"

Just as Marjorie opened her mouth to speak, a deep voice overtook the room with just two simple words: "Reece Knight?"

*****

2 weeks ago..

The Knight Nursery was bustling as always that Friday morning. Parents did their handovers, each key worker smiling through the agonizing stories or requests each parent had to give. Marjorie shrugged her bag over her shoulder as she struggled to unlock the door.

"Hey gorgeous-" Reece snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Marjorie grinned.

"Hey yourself." The door clicked open, allowing Marjorie into the office. She stopped in the doorway when she saw a smirking Autumn sitting at her desk. "You let me struggle to open the office door while you're sitting at your desk already?"

"You seemed to have it handled." Autumn continued to type as she spoke, a smirk tugging at her lips. Marjorie rolled her eyes, walking past Autumn's desk to her own.

"So-" Reece cleared his throat and perched himself on the corner of his girlfriend's desk. "Drinks tonight? It's been a while since we have been out to the bar." Marjorie had busied herself with stacking papers, half listening to Reece's voice.

"Mhmm- yeah, sure." She tucked her hair behind her ear, keeping her eyes on the mounds of paperwork on her desk. Autumn glanced in her direction, watching the interaction carefully.

"You didn't hear a word I said, did you?" Reece sighed.

"Mhmm- yeah, okay." Marjorie murmured again. Reece rolled his eyes.

"Okay, I suppose I will see you at 6 pm in that little lacey red number you keep hidden in the drawer."

"Wait- WHAT?" Marjorie dropped the stack of papers she was sorting into a mess on her desk. "What the hell did I just agree to?" Reece chuckled.