Hold my heart, it's beating for you anyway

chapter 3

Thursday morning has arrived. I've spent the last 2 days packing my stuff. I don't have much anymore. I sold a lot of stuff to pay the outstanding bills, keeping only the most precious items. I've handed my notice in at work, effective immediately and handed the keys back to my landlord. I have managed to condense my worldly goods into 2 duffel bags and a suitcase. I take one last look at the place I called home for the happiest times in my life and start walking. With all this baggage, I have estimated at least an hour to make my way to my new home and job.

I see a car in the driveway when I get there and make my way to the front door. Carol answers and ushers me in.

"Come in Cate. Good to see you again. I have to go and fetch Tony from the hospital in an hour or so, so I thought I'd run through everything with you. I've left a list of food that Tony can't currently eat, due to the operation. He's fairly easy to cater for. This is what the doctors have recommended. Other than that, it will just be some housework, running Tony to hospital appointments and looking after Scarlett. I saw on your CV that you have experience with children so I know she will be in capable hands." I smile at her and read through the list she gave me. She shows me where the laundry room is and also where my room is. She looks somewhat surprised by my lack of belongings but doesn't say anything.

I hear Scarlett waking up in what I assume is her room, next to mine. I go in to her and pick her up out of her cot, giving her a smile and receiving one back. I carry her downstairs and Carol shows me where her baby food and milk are kept. I pop her into her high chair, tie a bib around her neck and give her some lunch, promising to have something ready for when she returns with Tony.

A little while later I hear the front door open and I look around to see a dark haired man glaring at me. I start to panic when he shouts "Who are you? What are you doing here? Where's Carol?"

"I'm the new nanny for Scarlett and housekeeper for Mr Perry" I stammer.

"You don't look old enough to be able to do anything like that" the man sneers. Scarlett starts crying so I pick her up out of her high chair and start rocking her while making shh sounds to calm her. The man, who still hasn't explained why he's here or who he is, lunges towards me as if to snatch her away from me, so I step back. He could be a psycho for all I know.

"Who are you anyway?" I hear myself cry out.

"Tony's friend" he shouts.

"Stop shouting, you're scaring Scarlett" I plead. He looks at the crying infant and shakes his head. I reach for her drink of water and she starts suckling it, calming herself down. I go to the sofa and sit down with her in my arms, gently patting her back. She smiles up at me so I give her a little kiss on the forehead, earning me another glare off this man.

The door opens again and Carol walks in, supporting who I guess is her son. He looks pale, as if the walk from the car has been too much. I look at him and quickly move off the sofa to allow him to sit down.

"You're Cate, right" he gasps. I nod and smile at him. He looks like he's been to hell and back, poor guy.

"What's going on Carol?" the shouty man asks.

"Tony is going to need help with Scarlett and other things around here so we agreed to get him some help. I interviewed Cate here a couple of days ago and after seeing her CV, thought she was the best person who replied."

The shouty man looks at me again and walks over to sit with Tony. I head for the kitchen, Scarlett still in my arms. I put her back in her high chair so I can prepare the food I should have had ready for Carol and Tony's return and would have if that man hadn't interrupted.