Curved Edges ✔

(114) Changes

♡ MONA

I've been chasing these kids all afternoon and I'm done. I need to catch my breath. I take them into their huge backyard and let them run around there as I sink down on one of the benches. I sigh and close my eyes for a second. Not too long, of course, I'm a responsible nanny.

I look at the girls practicing their ballet moves and then at Benedictus bending down to pick up a worm from the grass. Oh hell no. He turns his head to check if I'm watching him and his little jaw drops, along with the worm. Nanny-stare is still on point.

He comes running up to me and climbs onto the bench, cuddling up to me as I wrap my arm around him. He sighs and closes his eyes as I kiss his blonde, messy hair. This kid, so wild and naughty, will always own a piece of my heart.

I hear footsteps behind me and I'm about to jump up, afraid it will be Mrs. Alderidge. But the male voice doesn't belong to her, it belongs to the father of these kids.

"Please don't get up Mona. Benny looks comfy cuddled up to you."

Yes, he said Benny. After Ama accidentally let it slip to my boss and it stuck. Mr. Alderidge has been to every single one of Benny's baseball games since. 

He sits down at the other side of Benny and smiles at me.

"I'm sorry for having you work late today. But there's a reason for it. I will explain it when there are no little ears to listen in. We're going out for dinner."

I look at him and try to figure out why we're going out for dinner. I didn't forget about a birthday, did I? I start to panic and he puts his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it in a comforting way. 

Benny lifts his head, looks at his dad, and whines, "Nanny doesn't have to leave us, does she?"

Mr. Alderidge breathes out slowly and rubs his hand across his face. "Not if I have a say in it, my boy. But I need to talk to nanny alone first to see what she wants."

Well, guess what? My anxiety just went through the roof. What the hell is going on here. I look at my watch and see it's almost six, I bet the dragon will be home soon.

And right on cue her high-pitched voice sounds through the backyard and I immediately sit up straight.

"Where are my babies? Oh, I see my beautiful girls!"

The girls run up to her for a hug and I feel Benny stiffen up next to me. I cup his face and give him my sweetest smile, "Go say hi to your mom. Nanny knows you can do it."

He rolls his eyes and climbs down from the bench, running over to his mom. She holds him at arm's length, "Ewww, don't hug me. You look dirty."

A sad sigh escapes me and I wish I could shake that woman. Vigorously. I try so hard to raise these kids well but she is impossible. My hands form fists and I close my eyes to push my anger down. 

I hear Mr. Alderidge whisper: "I know. I'll explain everything over dinner."

He gets up and turns around to face his wife, closing the distance between them.

She huffs and drags the kids inside the house. I look over my shoulder and watch him let out a long sigh. He looks at me and I see the hurt in his eyes. Oh, this is going to be a stressful dinner. 

My thoughts go to Montell, wondering how his dinner with Donté will be going.

♡

♡ MONTELL

I manage to beat Donté in the race up the stairs and we both stumble towards the fireplace laughing our asses off. We both needed this. We're always serious at work, as we should be. But it's been a while since we had time to hang out, just the two of us.

Donté starts the fire and gets up, "I'm grabbing the wine and glasses. Or do you prefer dark rum?"

"Nah, I'll join you with the wine bro. Only one glass, I want to get home safe to my woman later."

Donté sits down next to me and hands me an empty glass, opening the wine bottle and pouring the wine royally. I grab my phone and order two meat lovers pizzas. 

What? We like the same one. So what? That little competition wasn't about the pizza. It was about having fun.

Donté raises his glass and says: "To your woman! You've found a great one bro! Treat her like the queen she is."

I used to hate his respectful ass. Especially during the time I was taking a different girl home with me every night. He kept judging me. Not openly, that's not his style. But he is not the type to have one-night-stands. He easily could though. The girls are all over him every night.

I raise my glass too and say: "I gladly drink to that hermano. Not letting this one go. I'm marrying her." I grin at him as he chokes on his wine.

I have to admit I kinda shocked myself with that one too. But it feels great to say it out loud. I can't wait to make her my wife.

Donté takes another sip of wine, looking me in the eye. "Wow bro. You've found her. Your future wife. I'm happy for you man. And jealous."

I lean back on my elbow and study his face. We normally don't talk about our feelings much but I know he's hurting about this whole Ama situation.

He knows I'm about to ask him about it and I watch him close off physically; knees pulled up, arms around them loosely, pretending to be relaxed. I've seen this pose so many times at the shelter, he's trying to protect himself from the pain.

I sip my wine and wait for him to speak, staring into the flames to avoid pressuring him.

"Is she ever going to pick me, Montell? Be honest with me please."

I look at him and think about my words carefully but decide to go with my honest opinion. 

"She might. But I hope she doesn't pick either of you to be honest. She needs to learn how to love herself first. How to be happy alone. You think she's loving now, imagine her being happy in her own skin, imagine the kind of love she could generate if she was more confident about all of the parts that make her Ama. How loving she could be if her love was multiplying because of true self-love."

I see it click in his brain and a tiny smile appears on his lips. 

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Any thoughts you'd like to share?

I'm starting to fall in love with this story more and more.
Is that weird?

Well, I don't care. I am. Weird and in love. XD

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