The Butter And The Beast

2

It was some few minutes to 8 a.m. Fastening his seatbelt, Dr Peter Cromwell, took a sip of coffee from the paper cup, as his mind wandered about like a lost sheep in a desert. He had just 15 minutes approximately to leave for South Africa. Plus he couldn't help thinking about his daughter and her "you'll regret it" smile. It was kind of creepy and it got him wondering what the worst she could do would be.

Well, the least she could do was to make life unbearable for the nanny or scare the shit out of her. So he hoped Mrs babysitter was a tough one too. He'd not even gotten a chance to meet her. But since she'd been highly and excessively recommended by his really hard to please best friend and sister, Patricia, then there was a probability she was even perfect.. Really.

Still yet, though, a part of him knew he had to see her. After all, even the devil was once an angel.

"What's on your mind?" Patricia seated a few inches away on the driver's seat of her car, asked, looking as if she'd been staring at him for a while.

"You." He said, with a smirk.

"Oh please. Since when did you become infatuated with me?"

"Since forever. You're my favorite person, you know." He winked.

"Pete," she smiled, "We both know I'm not what or who you were thinking of, so spill"

He laughed.

"We also both know who your favorite girl is. I'm not even a girl." She said, rolling her eyes.

He smiled at that. His daughter was his favorite girl. His everything. And this pretty woman in her early forties just a seat away, his second best person in the world.

"So..? "

"Nothing much.. Just.. I wish I could meet the nanny before I leave."

"Oh," She whispered, a small smile forming on her lips. "We can quickly stop by at the house before we go.. If you want it that much."

"No" he replied, almost immediately.

It's not as if he didn't want to see her, he just couldn't.

The whole babysitting arrangement was just organized yesterday. In fact, he didn't even know he'd be crossing oceans up until yesterday evening, when a critical report of a 5 year old with a severe case of glioblastoma multiforme, a serious brain disease, was brought in from South Africa to John Hopkins hospital.

He'd gotten a call late evening yesterday, about how his help was urgently needed. Considering the fact that this was a very rare brain disease for a 5 year old, expert hands were needed. Top class neurosurgeon that he was, his hands seemed to be the ones for the job.

Based on what he was told, the tumor had considerably spread to critical structures and any more delay would be fatal.

And he sat here. In the parking lot of the hospital. With 10 more minutes to start the journey of departing this continent. To help save an innocent child's life. Yes, he felt like an hero, he felt honored.

Neurology and the whole world of medicine itself, was his passion, his joy. The way he felt each time he performed a surgery successfully could only be compared to the way he felt when he held his daughter in his arms for the first time. That feeling of "this life exists because I was involved"?... Pure bliss.

And so he'd accepted the offer with great eagerness, immediately calling Patricia to help out. But she had work, which she always came back late from. Plus her house was like a thousand meters away from Anita's school. So, staying with her wasn't an option.

So she'd suggested a live-in nanny, which he wasn't actually cool with at first. Not until she started talking about this really great friend of hers who was like a mother to her, an amazing woman with a heart of gold, a perfect mother figure and the best nanny you could ever wish for. Well, that was how she described her. And considering the fact that this came from Patricia, he knew he could let his guard down a bit. So he'd agreed.

And now Mrs nanny was probably in his house.

Wait, how did he even know she was a "Mrs"? He didn't know. He didn't care. As long as she was a good old granny who'd take care of his daughter, he was cool.

For the record, he knew her name. And he had her number.

And he had to go now.

"As much as I want this, we can't. I'll miss my flight and booking another will take time. I shouldn't be delaying this" He replied, sighing.

"Don't worry Pete, Anita will be more than just fine. Juliet's a great woman. Plus, I'd go check on them from time to time" Patricia said, taking his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. "She'll be perfect."

Giving him a wink and a reasurring smile, she started the car and off to the airport, they went.

He thought about this whole new adventure he was gonna experience soon.

Africa, here I come.

****

And the adventure starrrts.. Now!
I hope it's been OK so far. I know i have really smart readers, so if there's any need for correction, I'd wholeheartedly accept.

Click on the star icon if you've not been bored to death reading this :) .It'll be very appreciated .

Love,

🌹 Lyn.