Page 30 of The Accidental Nanny
Looking up at her, I notice her nipples poking through her thin t-shirt. She is in a pair of pyjama shorts and a matching top. Does she know I can see her breasts?
“Are you cold?” I ask.
“A little.” Gemma shrugs. “I came out to stop you.”
I throw the shovel on the floor next to the lawn. It makes a loud noise as it clanks against the concrete path, sending the birds flying from the nearby trees.
“I don’t know what to do. For the first time in my life, I don’t know how to handle this situation,” I admit to her.
“What did she do?” Gemma crosses her arms, trying to keep warm.
I remove my thin jacket and hand it to her. She takes it graciously, putting it on.
“Drink?” I offer.
Gemma
“Gin and diet lemonade. If you have it," I add.
“I’ll see what I’ve got,” Alex replies.
He leaves me, and I sit down on the garden chair. Alex soon joins me with a dark-looking drink and a blanket.
“Diet Coke and vodka, no gin, sorry.” Alex gives me a boyish grin by way of apology.
I take a sip through the straw. It isn't bad, but a bit weak for my liking.
“What’s wrong with it?” Alex asks when he sees my face.
“Nothing. It’s nice, just more mixer than I’m used to.”
He takes it from me without a word, going back to the kitchen before I can protest. He must think I'm an alcoholic.
I wrap the blanket around me and look up at the night sky. It's quiet in this neighbourhood. Alex soon comes back with the drink and hands it to me. I watch as he sits down and sighs.
“She wants nothing to do with the children,” he admits to me. “She said she doesn’t love them.”
No wonder he was in such a bad mood last night. I can’t imagine my parents ever saying that to me or even Brody. We have our differences, but I know they mean well and that they love me.
“Did she say why?” I ask.
“Just that she never wanted them,” Alex says in anger, as though he has been blind this entire time. Maybe he has.
“Alex, I’m sorry.” I reach out to put a hand on his, but he pulls away.
“Don’t be, they have me,” he grinds out between clenched teeth.
“And what an amazing dad you are.” I want to make him feel better, but I don't know how. So, for the first time in my life, I listen.
“She’s the one missing out: she’ll miss out on them growing up, their birthdays, graduations, weddings, and grandchildren. She’ll miss out when they turn out to be beautiful humans. She will miss out on everything.” He standsand throws his glass across the garden in anger. It shatters, and I worry that it will wake the children.
“Alex.” I stand up, putting my hands on his arms I want to comfort him. The blanket falls to the chair.
“Hate me, but not them… Don’t take whatever I did out on them." He sounds desperate.
“Did you do anything wrong?” Whatever is happening right now, I want him to know I’m here for him.
“I don’t think so… maybe work too much. I never cheated on her or hurt her. We argued now and again, but all couples argue. I didn’t know anything was wrong until she left. How could I not know? I had a call from the school to say she hadn’t collected them… She just left.”
