Nanny Undercover

Chapter 14: A Plane Ride

Getting ready to go to England for two weeks with one year old triplets really was like a circus, Goldie reflected. Even though the adults tried to cultivate a minimalist vibe, it only extended as far as themselves. The babies had so many cute clothes and accoutrements, and of course they wanted to bring them all.

"This is ridiculous," Jeff said at one point. "We're going to England, not the North Pole, they have clothes and toys there, too, right? And I'm sure my mum has lost her mind buying them things in all the shops in London. We could probably take them over there naked and not struggle one bit after we arrived." He was trying to close the zip on a suitcase that was stuffed.

"Oh, but Jeff, we have to take these," Goldie exclaimed, turning from their closet holding matching sweaters in three different shades of purple.

"You're not helping," he chided.

"Sorry," Goldie responded, slipping the sweaters into another bag.

"I saw that."

"But Jeff!"

He sighed. "I'll grab the bigger bag."

The number of bags they took didn't really matter, since they were taking a private jet, but this much luggage seemed excessive.

Goldie was in awe of the idea of a private jet.

"Jesus, how rich are you?" she laughed.

"Not as rich as you'd think," Jeff replied. "However, I would never inflict these three, even at their best, on a plane full of strangers." He gestured toward the girls, who were sitting in various open suitcases, 'helping.' "At least on a private plane they'll have a place to sleep and all."

They sent most of their luggage ahead to be dealt with, so they only had to wrangle the girls and their diaper bags on the actual day of travel.

"Okay, I think we're finally ready," Jeff said as they waited for the car.

Goldie laughed and leaned in to kiss him. "You're so cute."

Pippa saw the kiss and came to kiss her father, then Goldie. "Kiss," she said. "Kiss."

"Yes, Pips, thank you," Goldie said to the baby with a smile.

Jeff got a text saying that the car was downstairs, so they gathered everyone and everything and left. "I hope we're not forgetting anything," Jeff worried in the elevator.

"Like you said, they sell shit in England," Goldie reminded him. "We'll be fine."

Jeff nodded at her.

The plane was bigger than Goldie was expecting.

"Well, even though it's just the five of us, it still has to be big enough to get to England, right?" Jeff said sensibly. It did indeed have three little travel cribs, which would make nap time much more comfortable for the girls.

"If you think about it, we'll only be on this plane a couple hours more than we were in the car when we went to my house for Thanksgiving," Goldie mused out loud. "Not even seven hours. I don't think it will be so bad.

But all three girls were wailing during the first part of the flight because the altitude hurt their little ears.

"Ouchie," Genie wept miserably. grabbing at her ears.

"Ouchie," Pippa agreed, touching her own ears.

Gemma merely reached for Goldie, wanting comfort as she cried.

"So sorry, little ones, so sorry," Jeff fretted. "It'll go away soon, I promise."

They comforted the weeping babies as best they could until they adjusted to the altitude, after which they spent their time reading to them and playing, trying to keep them entertained.