Babysitting

ChapterSix

"Clive and I decided to go on the film tour directly from our little holiday," Debbie said to me over the home phone. "So we'll be staying in Paris for two weeks longer and then go to all our premieres from here. We'll be gone for about another two or three months."
"Two or three months?" I squeaked, looking at Kira fiddling with her iPad. "The kids will need you."
"They're used to this, Luciana," Debbie sighed. "We Skype once a week and text every other day. You've been caring for them by yourself for over a month now. It won't make a difference."
I bit my bottom lip, inhaling deeply.
"Alright," I sighed heavily. "Has Nathaniel spoken to you recently?"
"No," she snapped. "As far as I know he's in Florida, working with his assistant for another top hotel."
I glanced to Nathaniel, who was sitting across from me, a grin forming on his face when he caught my eye.
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason," I looked away from his gaze, gulping. "I'll have to go now Debbie."
"Alright Luciana," she chirped. "Goodbye."
The dial tone rang in my ear before I could say bye. I placed the phone back in its holder and stepped nearer to Nathaniel.
"Debbie doesn't know you're here," I whispered and he shrugged.
"The less she knows, the better," he said.
"I don't want to lie to my boss," I sighed again.
He slumped, looking at me with a frown.
I looked away, walking towards Kira.
"Come on, we're going to go out," I told her. "Go shower."
She nodded, getting off her seat and heading to her room.
"Where are you guys going?"
"I have a few things to get at the store and one of Kira's friends is going to the playroom," I looked at Nathaniel.
"You wanna go for lunch?" He asked, standing up.
"Is that really a good idea?" I raised a brow. "You don't like me."
"Just because I don't like you doesn't mean we can't get something to eat together," he shrugged. "But whatever, suit yourself."
He shoved passed me and out the kitchen.
I clenched my jaw at his rudeness, forcing myself to not take the steak knife and run after him.
I breathed in and out a few times before heading upstairs and into my room. I hopped into the shower, washing my body and hair. A few moments later I was standing in my cupboard deciding what to wear.
A heard a few knocks on my door and the door opened.
"Uh, Luciana?"
"Fucking hell," I muttered, tightening my towel and stepping out the cupboard. "Yes?"
"I'm ready," Nathaniel smirked.
"That's just absolutely fantastic," I said sarcastically. "Go wait with Kira."
"Nah, I think I should wait here," he grinned, flopping on my bed as his eyes roamed my body.
My cheeks flared up and I stepped back into my cupboard, pulling the door closed and locking it. I then turned back to my clothes, taking out a burgundy peplum shirt with lace sleeves and tight black skinny jeans. I paired that with black high-heeled pumps and stepped out the cupboard.
"Does this look alright for our lunch date?" I asked an awestruck Nathaniel.
He cleared his throat after a few seconds, nodding.
I laughed, sitting at my dressing table and pulling a brush through my two-toned hair. The balayage looked just as great when my hair was straight. I was happy that I didn't have to curl my hair if I wanted to look good.
I sprayed a bit of vanilla perfume onto myself before putting on some mascara and matte maroon lipstick. I smiled in the mirror, pleased at how I look.
I was never one to have body issues despite my too-wide hips or my lack of height. I did have the "perfect" hour-glass figure.
I got up, turning to Nathaniel.
"Does this look alright?" I asked.
"Yes," he nodded, getting off my bed.
I took a look at his clothes. He wore slightly skinny black chinos with a body-hugging cream shirt. His feet were encased in black sneakers and his sleeves were rolled up, showing the muscles in his forearms.
I shivered. Successful and handsome went really well together.
I turned my slightly red face away from him and walked out of my bedroom, Nathaniel in tow.
"Will we be taking two cars?" I asked as we stepped into the elevator.
"Why the hell would we do that?" He looked down at me.
"So you're going to hang around while I shop?" He shrugged, turning his face.
The doors opened and we stepped out. I made my way to Kira's room.
Alex and Sasha were visiting their aunt while Jake was by Luke again.
"You ready?" I asked as I stepped into the room.
There were a few articles of clothing laying around as Kira searched through her cupboard, a towel around her.
"I'm almost done," was her muffled reply.
I stepped next to her and bent down, picking up a pair of jeans and a plain pink shirt. She took it from me, blushing slightly.
"We'll be waiting in the kitchen," I told her before walking back to the kitchen.
Nathaniel was sitting on one of the bar stools by the island, his eyes focused on the phone in his hands.
Curiosity got the better of me and I silently stepped forward, peaking over his shoulder.
Kerrie: Are we meeting up tonight handsome? It's far but I promise, I'll make it worth your time.
I mentally gagged, stepping back, my heels now making a noise on the tiles. He whipped around, shoving the phone in his pocket.
"You scared me," he breathed.
I faked a laugh at him, avoiding his eyes.
"I'm not ready to go," Kira stepped into the kitchen, a brush and hair tie in her hands. "Please do my hair."
I walked up to her and brushed her hair into a messy top knot on her head, tendrils framing her face.
"Okay, are we all ready?" Nathaniel asked, on his phone again, probably answering Kerrie.
"Yeah, let's go," I took Kira's hand and we walked outside.
A sleek white Range Rover Evoque beeped as Nathaniel pressed the button on the keys.
"I'm only allowed to drive the family car," I pointed at the Chevrolet Suburban sitting on the other side of the parking circle.
"Who says you're driving?" Nathaniel got into the drivers side of his Range Rover, slamming the door.
I buckled Kira up on the backseat and then got in the passenger side, feeling tiny in the huge car. The interior was soft beige leather and smelled like new car.
"Bought it two days ago and this is the first time I'm going to drive it," Nathaniel grinned.
"Oh god, we're going to die," I gripped the sides of the seat as he reversed then shot forward.
He drove surprisingly well to the mall and pulled up close to the entrance. We got out and Kira immediately dragged me to the doors.
We headed straight for a woman with a small girl with her.
"Sally!" Kira squealed and ran to hug the girl.
I caught up and held my hand out the the woman, who was obviously snobby.
"Hi there, I'm Luciana," she eyed my hand and I dropped it quickly. "I'm Kira's babysitter. Thank you for inviting her on this play date."
She scoffed, turning to walk away but her eyes met with something.
"Nathaniel!" She beamed, holding her arms open.
Nathaniel stepped into her arms, squeezing the lady slightly. Realization dawned on me that I wouldn't be accepted by people that Debbie knows for a very long time.
"Hey Helen," Nathaniel stepped back, smiling. "It's good to see you and little Sally."
Sally cowered away, blushing slightly.
"Well we'll be on our way now," he stepped next to me, throwing an arm over my shoulder.
My skin felt a lot warmer where his arm was resting and I swallowed.
"You're leaving with her?" The woman, Helen, sneered.
"Yeah, we have a date," Nathaniel looked down and wiggled his eyebrows at me.
Helen gasped, stepping back.
Dramatic much?
"You have a date with an average girl?" Helen had paled as she said that and I felt Nathaniel holding in laughter.
"Yeah, I do. I love eating McDonalds almost everyday and saving up for things, it's the best," Nathaniel gushed.
Helen had looked like she was about to barf all over me and nodded in shock, taking Sally and Kira and speed walking away.
Nathaniel burst out laughing and I shoved his arm off of me.
"Oh my god, did you see her face?" He wheezed out, clutching his stomach.
I crossed my arms, not finding it funny at all. Anger started boiling inside of me as I continued watching him laugh. My hand itched to slap away the silly look on his face.
"I'm so glad that you find my financial state funny," I snapped. "I'm so glad my feelings are a joke."
His smile immediately dropped and I turned away, walking as quick as my heels would let me.
"Hey, hey, hey," he got into step next to me. "I didn't mean it like that."
I breathed deeply, urging myself to see it from his point but I couldn't.
"I'll always be a joke around here," I hissed. "I'm just the poor babysitter. That's probably what Debbie told all her friends."
He grabbed onto my arm.
"Woah," he pulled me to a halt. "You're not just the poor babysitter to me."
"Oh right, I'm also the one you loathe," I ripped my arm away from him and carried on walking.
He didn't try follow me and I was grateful. He riles me up way too much.
I walked into the supermarket, getting a trolley. As I walked, getting my necessities, I got lost in my thoughts about Nathaniel. He acted nicely towards me some days and other days he couldn't be more rude to me. I don't understand what his problem with me is.
I walked up to the cashier and checked out the few items I bought.
After, I walked around a few clothing stores, two shopping bags in my hands. I found myself drifting towards the food court and my stomach grumbled.
I pulled up a chair on the outside of a Mugg&Bean and sat down, sighing. A waiter came and gave me a menu before walking away.
So much for a lunch date.
I scanned the menu, the price of each meal was unbelievable. The waiter came back after a few minutes.
"I'll just have chai tea and a Cajun chicken and avo wrap please," I handed back the menu.
"Make that two. Except with strong coffee."
I squeezed my eyes shut, gritting my teeth as I turned to see Nathaniel sliding into the seat across from me.
The waiter wrote it down before walking away.
"Fuck off," I snapped.
"Ouch," he grinned.
"I don't want to see you," I spat.
"Too bad you live with me," he shrugged.
"Go please," I sagged.
"I'm having lunch," he gestured around the restaurant.
"At my table?" I scoffed.
"Last I checked, your name wasn't on here," he lifted an eyebrow, a smirk plastered on his face.
I sighed, looking away from him.
"I'm sorry, okay?" He finally said. "I get it. I crossed a line. I've been walking around for three hours bored out of my skull."
"Just go to Kerrie," I muttered.
"What?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?" I looked at him.
He stared at me for a while before shaking his head.
"Weekly fucks, yes. Girlfriend? Hell no. After seeing what high maintenance you are, I think I'll avoid that," he gave me a lazy grin, letting me know he was joking.
I smiled a bit before focusing my attention back on twirling a strand of silver hair.
"You've really never cut it because of him?"
My head snapped up and I was met with concerned aqua blue eyes. I never noticed how it was almost a gradient of blue. The outer ring so dark then fading to a pale blue around his pupils.
"What?" I swallowed.
"Your story that I overheard. Your fiancé. You never cut your hair because of him? Really?" He asked.
"Uhm yes," I looked away from him.
"Why?" He pressed.
"I'm really not comfortable discussing myself with you," I coughed out a laugh.
"You shouldn't let a man dictate how you want to look," he said.
"I didn't," I suddenly snapped and there was a twitch of a smile on his face. "I chose not to because he loved my long hair. I chose not to because I loved him! That's none of your business."
"He's gone, Luciana, you can cut it," he purred.
I felt tears settle along my lash line and looked down.
"I know he's gone, Nathaniel," I whispered.
There was a tensed silence after which was broken by the waiter putting down our plates and drinks before walking away.
I took a long sip of the scolding tea, avoiding Nathaniel's gaze.
"I've never heard my name come out of your mouth until now and my god, it's the hottest thing I've ever heard."
I choked on the tea, my entire face flaming.
"That's probably a lie," I wiped my mouth with a napkin before cutting my wrap in half.
"I don't think so," he took a bite of food and chewed before swallowing. "You have a very seductive voice. Your body works in your favor as well."
I gulped, focusing back on my food and taking small bites in case he says something inappropriate again.
I finished eating before him as he had ordered another wrap.
"I didn't cut it because of him, you're right," I leaned back in my chair, looking at Nathaniel. "I just wanted to be good enough, you know?"
His eyes focused on me and he nodded as he chewed.
"He said that he loved my long hair. He could tug on it or run his hands through it when we kissed. He hated when I got the brown highlights, it made my hair slightly rough for the first few days. He couldn't enjoy the feeling of my hair," I told him, folding my lace covered arms.
He finished his second wrap and took a gulp of his coffee.
"You really loved him a lot," he stated.
"With everything I had, I loved him. I gave myself to him willingly. I was ready to start a family with him. We had actually been trying for a baby before he left," I confessed.
He seemed to choke on his coffee before putting the cup down.
"You're a mother?" He whispered.
"No!" My face flushed. "Obviously we didn't succeed. And I think that's fate just seeing what would happen."
"What happened on that day? Your wedding day," he looked into my eyes.
I smiled ruefully.
"I was in my dressing room, getting dressed. I thought he was already in the room across the venue, getting dressed as well. I was clueless. We weren't supposed to talk two days before the wedding, even through text so I assumed he was back, healthy and happy. His best man came into my room. He looked so sad, he had known Cristiano since they were two. I was confused because he didn't have a tux on, he looked so casual! I remember being infuriated because it was literally five minutes and then I had to walk down the aisle. He then told me to sit down because he had to tell me something. In my angry state, I refused. He just bluntly said it after. "Cristiano's plane is missing. You can't get married" and he walked out the room. I broke down. I sobbed my heart out, I called him, texted him, I even phoned the airline. They confirmed the plane was missing and were searching for it. That wasn't good enough for me. I screamed at them. My mother took me home, changed me and put me to bed. I didn't sleep. I just cried," I looked down into my hands, a tear escaping my eye. "It was exactly thirty nine days after that they said the plane was found and no one survived. They called me to the site because I was on his emergency details. I had to check to see if it was him."
I shoved my face into the palms of my hands, the memories of his burnt body flashing through my mind.
"I'm so sorry," Nathaniel got into the chair next to me and threw his arm over my shoulder.
"I thought I was over it," I mumbled, wiping underneath my eyes. "I thought I moved on."
"It doesn't mean that you can't cry about it," he shrugged. "You have every right to cry because you were dealt a shit hand during that time. But one day you're going to be perfectly fine again."
"When did you get so wise?" I giggled, wiping the last of my tears and smiling at him.
He shrugged, chuckling.
"Don't you worry," he picked up a strand of my hair, twirling it around his long fingers. "You'll be fine."
I nodded, my chest constricting as I watched the silver go through his slightly tanned fingers.

Kerrie Green