One Big Happy Family

Chapter 16: The Search for a Nanny Begins

"I don't want a nanny!"

Lorie was sitting in the family room, a scowl on her pretty face. She crossed her arms over her chest, and kept shaking her head 'no,' over and over again. Viktor was running out of patience. It had been more than a week since he had initially made the suggestion, and his daughter continued to refuse... adamantly. He ran a hand through his dark hair, feeling exasperated.

"Lorie. I already explained this to you," Viktor sighed. "You need a female presence in this house... beside Ana."

"Why?" The little girl's hazel eyes threw daggers at him.

"Because," Viktor paced, trying to stay calm. "As I already told you... a few hundred times by now... you are a little girl. And you live with four grown men. As wonderful as we may all be, we cannot properly take care of you."

"You've been doing fine so far," Lorie replied hotly. "Why would a stranger do a better job?"

"Because... women are just better at it than men," Viktor said, running short of excuses. "Women are mommies... and mommies raise children."

Lorie narrowed her eyes. "That's not always the case. What about single dads?"

"Single dads hire nannies," Viktor answered quickly, feeling like he just made a masterful move in a complicated game of chess. "Ergo... I plan to hire one for you."

"Why can't Ana just take care of me? She helped you out in Vienna when... Maman was at work," Lorie added the last part sadly.

"Oh, no," Viktor thought. "She's bringing up Josette so she can emotionally blackmail me. Smart." He watched his daughter closely. Lorie was about to start crying. And then, their entire conversation would fall apart... once again. Checkmate Lorie.

Determined to prevent that from happening, Viktor quickly approached the little girl and crouched down in front of her.

"Ana is getting old," he said gently. "She already has so much on her hands... cleaning this huge house, doing all our laundry... and with five of us to look after, it's getting to be hard to handle."

"Did she tell you that herself?" Lorie asked, seemingly unconvinced by his argument.

Viktor nodded. "Mm-hmm." He stood up and started pacing again. "And since the time you... made her fly... she's been having aches and pains all over."

"That wasn't on purpose," Lorie defended herself. "You know that! I already apologized to Ana... and she forgave me. She said so."

"I know, I know," Viktor put his hands up defensively. "And I'm not blaming you. But, the truth of the matter is... Ana did sprain a wrist and twisted an ankle when she landed. Not to mention her bruised bottom."

Lorie growled. "But she'll get better, eventually..."

"Yes, but not soon enough," Viktor remarked curtly.

"Why? What's happening soon?" Lorie widened her hazel eyes.

"I have to return to Vienna," Viktor answered. He hadn't wished to mention his upcoming trip quite yet, but it was becoming necessary.

"When?" Lorie jumped out of her seat and rushed toward him. "How long will you be gone?"

"I leave in two weeks," Viktor told his daughter. "And I'll be gone for at least one month... maybe more."

This time, Lorie allowed her tears to start flowing down her cheeks. "No! Papa! Don't leave me! Take me with you! Please!"

Viktor was afraid of this exact reaction from the little girl. He sighed and sat down heavily. He then beckoned to her, and placed her on his lap.