The Meaning of Love

Chapter 5

I ring the doorbell and the muffled sound echoing throughout the house. I pull my cardigan tighter against my skin. Why didn't this woman just hire a nanny like the rest of the city?

I take the moment to properly admire the masterpiece in front of me. There are mirrors all around the house, and the house is painted in eggshell white. It practically screams 'modern'. A small breeze wheezes past, carrying the smell of the ocean close by, I swallow back the bile that threatens to erupt, silently praying for the door to open.

As if my prayers were answered, the door opens to reveal a petite woman. Her Lebanese features striking a cord in my memory, as if we've met before. She smiles widely as she sees me, her white teeth contrasting her blood red lipstick pleasantly. Black hair pinned off to the side in a low bun and clad in a midnight blue wrap dress. Suffice to say, this woman is stunning.

"Noelle! Come in, come in," she exclaimed ushering me into her home. I immediately make a mental note to ask for their architect's number. The inside is just as gorgeous as the outside. It is adorned in a blue, gold and white theme. There is a spacious living room which has a large blue L couch. On the right is a doorway to modern kitchen. There is a staircase on the left, leading to the second floor of the house.

"Thank you so much for agreeing on such short notice. My nanny fell sick this morning," She says as she walks towards the back of the house. She stops in front of a pink door, with Madison written in different colors.

"It's alright, I'm happy to help." I'd even be happier if I was back home sleeping. She sends me a grateful smile.

She opens the door to reveal a very pink room. Pink bedsheets, pink drapes, pink walls, pink carpet; I'm pretty sure that any shade of pink I wanted, I could find in the room. I step into the room, trying to hide my grimace from the torture my eyes are experiencing.

A little girl, no more than 3 years old, sits by a dollhouse in the corner. She jumps and runs to hug her mother's legs in glee.

"Mommy!" she exclaims. Maria laughs and leans down to kiss the top of her head.

"Maddie, this is Noelle, she'll watching you tonight while mommy goes out with some friends." Maddie hides behind her mom's legs, her brown doe eyes gazing at me in curiosity. I smile at her warmly and bend to her level.

"Hi Maddie, I really like your dress." she beams at my compliment and moves from behind her mother's legs. She runs to pick a doll and holds it out to me.

"This is Bwee. Play with me" she demands, mispronouncing her 'r'.

"Sure thing," I say taking the doll from her. She runs back to her dollhouse. Maria leaves the room and indicates for me to follow.

"She likes you." Maria comments before continuing "She already had her dinner, but there's pasta in the oven in case you get hungry. Her bedtime is at 8 but I won't be back till a little after 9. But I'm sure my stepson should be back by then, so you can leave if I'm not back."

She walks up to a man standing by the front door and kisses him. He's dressed in an expensive black suit, his black hair gelled back. "Noelle this is my husband, Philip. Honey this is Stella's daughter, Noelle."

He shakes my hand and smiles stiffly. He glances at the Rolex on his wrist and grabs his wife's hand impatiently. When he gets her attention, he simply taps on the watch screen twice.

"Noelle, enjoy yourself. We'll be leaving now" Maria says.

Philip opens the door for her and closes the door behind him once he steps out, leaving me in the house alone with a three-year-old. I go back to Maddie's room to find her organizing a tea party.