Page 28 of The Accidental Nanny
"Good choice on flavours, guys."
“Gemma.” Eden’s face lights up.
I can't help but feel a little relieved. I didn't think anything would cheer them up.
“Eden," Gemma says with a small smile.
Gemma is so good with Eden. She is better with them than I thought."Well, I’m glad I spotted all of you. I need a lift home. I was going to call you to pick me up. Want some?” She gives me my spoon back.
The waitress who has been serving us comes over. “Do you need another spoon?”
“We’re okay,” I reply with a curt smile.
“You sure? You can’t leave your daughter out.” The waitress looks at Gemma.
“Yes, Daddy. I want a spoon,” Gemma says with a grin.
I am going to kill her, but Ace starts to laugh, and so does Eden.
“She’s our nanny,” Eden says and laughs like it is the funniest thing she’s ever heard.
The waitress’s face turns a deep shade of red as she scurries off, leaving us alone. Gemma joins in with the children’s chuckles and for the first time in ages, I laugh too.
“Why do you need a lift?” I manage to ask her as everyone calms down, and Eden and Ace start eating the melted ice cream.
“My family. Apparently, I shouldn’t have taken the car without asking. Dad said I can’t have the BMW as Brody needs it. He won’t drive the Lamborghini because it’s pink. She’s so beautiful; I don't know what his problem is.” Gemma shrugs her shoulders.
“Why did you go home?” I take another scoop of ice cream.
“To see if Dad would give me my credit card back.” She looks at me like I asked a stupid question. “Anyway, he said no because I left without telling anyone. Although I am allowed to take the Lamborghini, that’s because it’s mine. But nothing else.”
Ace and Eden take my phone and start watching YouTube, now bored with our conversation.
“Gemma, I think your dad is right. You left your home to prove a point, and when you found out that you didn’t have enough money to go shopping, you went straight back to him. Have a serious think, but maybe you should get your car and sell it. Buy something you can afford to run without your dad’s help. You could buy other clothes. You’re twenty-five, it’s time you stood on your own two feet.” I give her a generous smile.
I look at her bag of clothes, and so does she.
“But…”A worried frown settles on her forehead.
“You know I’m right.” My voice is quiet.
“They’re so pretty,” she whines.
“Let’s return them, Gem. How much have you spent?” I ask.
“Eight thousand,” Gemma admits, turning pink.
I have to stop the urge to roll my eyes.
“Guys," I say, turning to my children, "we are going to return some things. Gemma needs to do some shopping, then we are going home.”
Returning the clothes is probably the most painful part for her. Gemma looks heartbroken over each item that she has to hand back. I almost feel sorry for her. This is the life she's grown up knowing, and it's been yanked out from under her feet. No one's to blame, except her parents. They should have raised her better. Her brother and Gemma seem like totalopposites, but I prefer Gemma. Brody misled me too, after all.
Once we've sorted out her refunds, which I notice the sales assistants are rather snotty about, I take Gemma to a shop I know is popular with the ladies at work.
We walk in, and Gemma looks around hesitantly. I sit Ace and Eden down on a seat and give them my phone again for YouTube before joining them. We watch Gemma as she takes her time looking through the rails until she finds something she likes.
“Oh, this is kind of sexy… Why haven’t I been here before?” she asks me.
