Unexpected Encounters [B.H.M.]

41

And then Saturday came. And admittedly, I was nervous. Of course I was nervous. I wanted to make a good impression on his kids. We weren't romantically involved, and we were never going to be, but still, I wanted them to like me.

I got up early and got ready, I packed my bag with some food and drinks, one thing I wanted to avoid at all costs was to make the children think I was taking advantage of their father. Because I wasn't. Or at least I didn't want to. I also brought my camera, as it was better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Because it took me about half an hour to get to Brian's house, I had to leave my flat at half past eight in the morning. I was used to early hours as a teacher, but it was a Saturday and knowing that didn't make it so easy. But I had promised I'd be there at nine, so I would be there at nine. And I made it. Traffic wasn't the best at this time of day, but somehow I pulled into the driveway of Brian's house on time, a couple of minutes before it turned nine.

With my backpack in my hand, I rang the doorbell of Brian's house, taking a deep breath. I was nervous. Of course. But I tried to hide that. The door opened, but it wasn't Brian who had opened, I was getting a déjà vu. It was a young boy - not little, just young, he was tall and it was easy to tell who his father was. "Hello," I greeted him with a smile. "I'm Frida," I introduced myself. "I'll be going to the zoo with you today."

The boy smiled at me. Good. "I know, Miss. My Dad told us about you. Would you like to come in?"

He was so polite. I knew he was, but it still amazed me. "Yes, actually that would be lovely. Thank you. Your name is Jimmy, right? Can I call you that?"

"Of course, what else would you call me?" He asked - a fair question.

"That's a good point. Okay, Jimmy. You can call me Frida," I told him as I followed him inside.

"Alright," he said. "My Dad is upstairs with my sisters, but I'm packing my backpack."

"That sounds good, do you need help with anything?" I asked him. It was a little stiff, a little awkward, but I was certain that was because we were alone and he probably remembered our first meeting. Where he had assumed I was his father's new Anita. And now that I knew more details about his father's old Anita I knew why kept looking at me in such a questioning way. He was ten, he was intelligent, he knew more than he was being given credit for, but I had talked to Brian and made sure he knew to tell Jimmy that I was not like Anita. I was just a friend, and Jimmy certainly didn't need to know about our nightly adventure the weekend before. That wouldn't help the situation. I could only hope that Brian had had this conversation with his son. 

"I think I'll be fine, but thank you," Jimmy declined my offer for help politely. "Maybe Dad needs some help, upstairs," he pointed out, giving me a smile.

"I'll have a look, thanks." I placed my backpack in the hallway before I went upstairs where I could hear quiet voices from one of the rooms. I knocked on the door that was half open and seemed to lead to Brian and his daughters. "Brian?"

"Frida," he exclaimed, walking into my field of view. "How did you get in? I didn't hear the doorbell. Did I give you a key?" He asked, seeming slightly confused.

"No," I told him amused. He looked like such a father right now, it was adorable. "Your son was kind enough to let me in."

"Oh yes, Jimmy, I told him you'd come by around this time. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without him," he admitted, smiling. "So, Louisa, Emily, this is Frida, she's coming to the zoo with us today."

"Hello," the older girl greeted me quietly. She seemed shy, but lovely.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you two," I greeted them both, Emily on Brian's arms, and Louisa behind them. "Uhm, do you need any help with anything?"