The Nanny

•24•

"Sir we only booked you for one visitor" the receptionist argued back with Luciano on the intercom. He grunted at her wrong but right argument.

"He's a baby for fucks sake." He retorted trying to control his temper so he wouldn't wake up Loai who was sleeping soundly in his arms.

"I'm afraid we can't-" the woman was cut short by an old woman opening the door.

"Hold the door please" Luciano rushed sticking his hand out catching the door and walking in leaving the woman to argue with herself.

He approached her desk feeling smug seeing her shocked face.

"Room number?" Luciano demanded ignoring her blubbering face. She looked like a fish with all the gawking she was doing. "I said you can-" "room number" Luciano repeated his voice lowering in anger.

"82"

She had barely uttered the number before Luciano walked off in a hurry eyeing the door numbers as he searched for the room.

He approached her door rounding the corner stopping suddenly when he came face to face with a doctor exiting her room.

Loai whined from the quick movement, Luciano quickly patting his back soothing him back to sleep.

"Mr Baraz?" Dr Wilson questioned his head tilting in an awkward manner. Luciano gave him a curt nod. Both men stood in silence.

Dr Wilson watched as as Luciano's upper lip curled in dissatisfaction as he struggled to ask the question he wanted to ask.

"She's doing well" Dr Wilson stated patting Luciano's shoulder and walking away.

Luciano took a deep breath before pushing open the door.

His chest constricted at the sight in front of him. Tubes ran all over her body weaving in and out of different places. A bandage dressed her head obscuring his view of her head. Her lips were chapped and skin washed out.

Luciano walked to the seat by the side of her bed. His heels clicking against the laminate flooring breaking the silence and rhythmic beat of her heart monitor.

"Wake up Loai" Luciano cooed as he lightly tapped Loai his focus still on the woman who lay in front of him. She looked so fragile and delicate, a sight he wasn't used to.

Luciano's head snapped at the sound of a cry from his lap. Never wake a sleeping baby.

"Look mummy's here." Luciano whispered to Loai who calmed down at the word "mummy" Luciano wiped away the tears on Loai's face before turning him to face her. Loai squealed reaching out for her.

Luciano grabbed Loai's arms pushing them back down. "She's sleeping, she's very tired, when she wakes up you can hug her."

Loai cuddled back into Luciano's chest grabbing his hand and playing with his fingers. To Loai Luciano's hands were massive and decorated with rings that were fun to twist around.

Luciano sat staring. The sound of the heart monitor drilling into his head. He couldn't stand it. It mad him anxious and fidgety. The machine made that same noise seconds before anyone flatlined and that thought scared him. The only thing soothing him was the small hands that twisted his.

He shifted forwards in his seat agitated taking her hand delicately in his own. He laced his fingers in hers and for the first time noticed how small her hands were in comparison to his.

Luciano snapped out of his daze when Loai stood up in his lap holding on to the arm of the chair.

His sudden movement caused Luciano to hiss as his little feet stood on a spot very close to home. Luciano placed him on the chair as he stood up moving to explore the drawers next to him.

He opened each door quickly recognising one full of her clothes and the other full of her belongings. He grabbed her bag of belongings curiosity taking over.

He sifted through the usual. Her rings, watch and jewellery. He knew she came with her wallet and seizure band but he couldn't find it.

"The fuck" Luciano whispered slamming shut the drawers standing up and hastily looking around the room for other places it could've been kept.

His head snapped to the door when a nurse popped her head in. "I have the rest of her belongings sir." Luciano's confusion becoming apparent as she spoke. "I saw you through the glass in the door." She quickly added pointing it out to him.

"Her wallet and seizure band. We have to keep them since they are valuable items." She rushed out handing them to him answering his unasked questions. "She also left something behind and asked me to give them to you."

The nurse reached into the pocket of her apron pulling out a bunch of envelopes in different colours. "She said in case she didn't make it." The nurse told him. "I'll leave you to it." "Thank you" Luciano replied in shock as she shut the door.

Luciano quickly turned moving to pick up Loai his emotions running around in different directions. "In case she didn't make it?" He seethed saying it out loud to himself his voice rising each time he repeated it at how ridiculous it sounded.

He only stopped when a little hand pulled at his hair tied up on his head. The motion of prying away Loai's hands and removing his hair from the bun slightly calming him.

He was angry and he didn't know why. He was always angry. He shifted through the envelopes seeing names addressed to everyone in the house. Even Geoffrey. Luciano stuffed the envelopes in his pocket making his way to the door.

He turned back to look at her his heart and mind pulling him in two different directions.

Luciano sighed and quickly walked over to her planting a kiss on her cheek before bending over so Loai could do the same.

"Bye mumma." Loai shouted waving as Luciano exited the hospital room.