Curved Edges ✔

(116) Supernanny

♡ MONA

I look at mister Alderidge... Harold. He wants me to call him by his first name and I wonder what the hell he is going to say. It feels like something big is going to change. 

And that I still haven't gotten my period is not helping with my anxiety at all. I'm going crazy.

I tap on the table with my nails and he covers my hand with his, I look into his eyes and I see kindness in there. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much.

"Mona, there's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to come out and say it. My wife and I have decided to separate. I'm going to live somewhere else."

Oh lord have mercy. He's not leaving me alone with the dragon, is he? Small beads of sweat start to form on my forehead and my breathing becomes shallow.

He sighs, "My wife only wants the kids on Sundays. She is leaving all the parenting decisions to me. Mona, I have no clue what I am doing, but I want to raise my kids right. If it's not too late that is. And I was hoping you would be willing to help. Things will change and I don't know how or what. But..."

He sighs again and pulls at his hair, while I stare at him in disbelief. My inner Ama is rising. What the fuck? She only wants her kids on Sundays? What kind of mother says that? Those poor babies.

I clear my throat, "Whatever you need mister Al-." 

His head snaps up and I close my mouth. 

"Harold. I think the kids will do much better without their mom involved."

I cover my mouth with my hand and stare at my boss in shock. Mona. Tuck inner Ama back! You can't say that out loud. I start to sweat again and carefully look at Harold.

He blinks a few times and then bursts out in laughter, like full-on belly laugh, making the entire restaurant shake. He holds onto the table as the tears roll down his cheeks. As he calms down he takes a sip from his water, "Thank you for that. I have been worrying so much about ruining my kid's lives. But hearing that from you makes me feel so much better."

"Seeing Benny play baseball has opened my eyes so much. He looks so happy when he gets to run around with boys his age. That joy is infectious. And I want him to feel that way every day. I'm sending them to a normal school. So no more homeschooling. I want you to take them and pick them up if you're up for it. And you can do whatever you want in between.

Although I might need you to sleep over sometimes if I have to go out of the country for work. But yeah. You get to keep the car. I will put it in your name. I was also hoping you could take care of the kid's meals..."

His eyes show how insecure he is about all of this. He's a professor and a very successful businessman but scared to death right now. "Mona, I'm so scared I've already screwed up my kids. And I don't want to make it worse."

I sit up straight and smiles at him. "Oh Harold, you are going to be fine. I will do my research and plan this carefully. I'm a professional. You can leave it all to me. Your kids are going to thrive like never before. But..."

Should I tell him? Will he change his mind about keeping me on? What would Ama do?

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Let's go with honesty here. I'd like to be more open and honest, without always worrying about other people.

"Harold. I might be pregnant. And if I'm not, I'd still like to be in the future. I see a future with Montell. And I want to be open and honest about it with you."

He smiles, "You sound a little like Ama right now... Believe me when I say that I would never stand in the way of your happiness. I'm just freaking out right now because I have no clue what I'm doing and what I should do first. I need a house. With rooms for the kids. And a school for them to go to near the house. Preferably near you. And I was looking into becoming a full-time professor to be home with the kids more. But the pay is very different. And if I have to pay for my wife..."