The Nanny

•19•

"LUNA LET GO OF XAVIERS HAIR NOW" I shouted as I ran to separate the fighting children. Lord knows what they had argued about now. It was hard to understand their babble.

I grabbed both of their arms pulling them apart. "You know what happens now right?" I said as I pulled them along with me as both of them cried out for me to not punish them.

I put each child on the little stools dotted around the room. "Face the wall" I said in a stern face as Xavier tried to turn around causing him to cry louder.

"You will sit in time out for five minutes. No talking or moving from the wall. You talk or turn I add more time. Understand?" I stood waiting for a response.

"Are your ears for decoration? I said do you understand?" Earning a sad yes and sniffles from Luna and Xavier.

I sat with them in the room waiting for the time to run out. I said five minutes but I can't be asked to wait that long so it's actually three.

When my phone beeped both toddlers stood up sniffing coming to stand in front of me. "Sorry" both children turned to each other making amends.

I smiled and was about to tell them they could go and play when Loai came running into the room telling them to follow him and just like that they were gone.

The rest of the day went smoothly and at dinner we prepared for pancake Wednesdays. Valentina had said Luciano and herself would be joining in with the pancake festivities. She wanted to smash up fruits with them.

Dinner time soon came and everyone watched as I tried to put Luna in her high chair. She thought kicking her legs was funny so she wouldn't have to sit in it. "Luna" I warned but she found it funny and laughed. She quickly stopped when Luciano told her to behave.

"Amato tell me how does this work." Valentina asked me as we got started with dinner. I explained to her how we smashed up the fruits and mixed them into our batter and then fried them on the portable pancake stove that rested on the table.

Dinner was loud and full of laughter mostly from the children. I helped Loai make his, Valentina helped Xavier whist Luna being the daddies girl she is had Luciano make hers. We made small talk at dinner before Valentina decided to ask a question.

"Where did you learn this concept from?" To anyone else it seemed to be a normal question but to me it opened up old wounds. I had to get over the memories and so I decided to tell her.

"My boyf- ex boyfriend" I stuttered my voice faltering.

"Why did you break up?" Valentina continued to ask.

"mamma ferma" Luciano hissed at her in a very strong Italian accent. Valentina quickly slapped his arm telling him not to talk to her like that.

"We never officially broke up he killed himself before we got to talk about it." I said keeping my voice strong and focusing on picking at my pancakes.

The table stayed silent except from the sound of babies babbling to each other.

I looked up to see Luciano glaring at his mother as she looked at me.

" spiacente. I'm sorry I didn't know"she offered her condolences. I shook my head telling her it was fine. She didn't know it was a sensitive topic.

"Mamma tummy hurting" Loai shouted breaking me out of my bubble of self pity. I pulled Loai out of his chair and into my lap rubbing his stomach for him as he stood up in my lap. Loai grabbed my hair seeing something to play with. "Loai leave my hair alone." I said his giggles growing as he tangled his hands in it

I busied myself adding berries to my pancakes. As I raised my fork to my mouth a shrill cry from Loai caused me to drop my fork. I quickly looked to him seeing the source of his fear.

My hair was tangled around his hands now detached from my head. It had scared him. I quickly moved to remove the dead curls from his hands telling him it's okay and nothing to be scared about but he wasn't having any of it.

"Dad" Loai screamed reaching his hands across the table to Luciano as he rushed to get away from my hair.

Luciano quickly pulled him into his lap rubbing Loai's back as he snuggled into Lucy.

Ouch. I know it scared him but it still doesn't feel good to watch your own child run away from you in fear. I hadn't noticed I had zoned out staring at the table till I jumped at the feeling of a hand on my shoulder.

"I'll put the children to bed" Valentina stated patting my shoulder and taking Loai off Luciano and telling the children to follow her.

Luciano began to tidy the table and I made the move to as well. We tidied up in silence.

"We are cutting it tonight." Luciano said breaking the silence as he emptied the plates into the bin.

"Yeah I think that's best don't need anymore children running away from me." I stated letting out an awkward laugh.

"My mamma can sometimes go overboard so excuse her." Luciano commented as I loaded the dishwasher.

"It's okay she didn't know." She didn't know what I would've said so I didn't hold any hard feelings towards her.

I watched as Lucy emptied the last plate placing it in my empty sink.

I gasped at the thought of him leaving another dish for me to wash when i has just emptied the sink.

"Put it in yourself Lucy." I teased him as he stood beside me I turned wanting to see his reaction but regretted it as soon as I saw how close he was pressed up against me.

Ok. maybe regretted is an exaggeration I mean you can't deny he's sexy so having him up against me isn't that bad.

I awkwardly placed my hand on Luciano's chest. "You're a bit close." I said as internally face palmed.

A stupid smirk took over his face as he placed his hands on the countertop behind me trapping me between him and the sink. He took a step forward enjoying my discomfort.

"My bedroom in 20 minutes." Luciano said in a low husky voice and all I could get out was a muffled "pardon?"

Did he say his room? Before I could ask he had already began walking away. I quickly collected myself as I shouted to him "why?".

He made a cutting motion with his fingers before leaving the room and I internally cringed. To cut my hair of course. He's probably laughing at me. I thought he was gonna you know.

I ran my hand through my hair ignoring the few curls that fell to the floor.

"That bastard." I shouted noticing the plate he had left behind.