Page 55 of The Accidental Nanny
“What’s sex?” Eden asks, taking it all in.
“Making babies. Daddies will—” Ace starts to say.
I launch myself at him and put a hand over his mouth before he can say another word in front of Eden. “Okay, I think that’s enough. Eden, come with me while your dad talks to Ace alone.” I let go of Ace, who looks at me confused.
“Why? I want to know,” Eden demands, her arms crossed.
“I’ll talk to her later. After this one,” Alex says to me as he looks at Ace.
Alex
This is not how I planned on telling the children. I should have put more thought into this. I haven't even taken Gemma out on a date, not without the kids. Forcing my mind to focus on the current situation, I sigh; I need to speak to Ace.
“Where did you hear the word sex? How did you find out?” I ask him, sitting him on my bed.
“George told me. His cousin told him. He’s going to be a dad. When he asked him, as he’s not married, he said he had sex and got her pregnant. Penny told George what happens. A man puts his penis inside the woman’s vagina and makes a baby.” Ace says it all innocently, getting the facts right, at least.
“But it’s not just like that.” I run my hands over my face. Explaining what I think a boy his age should know, I find myself talking about how it’s only consenting adults that do things like this.
“Are you and Gemma having a baby? Did you put your willy in her?” Ace asks, looking up at me.
“No, we’re not having a baby. She just stayed in my bed for the night,” I say, wanting to close the subject.
“Why?” he asks, raising his eyebrows at me just like I do when I ask a serious question. He isn't going to let it go.
“Because I wanted her to. That’s why," I say.
“Do you love her? Like you loved Mum?"
This one stops me. I did love Julia once, but now all I have is pure hatred for that woman. “No,” I say with finality, but now there’s a frown on my forehead. Gemma is different to Julia in the best way. Any memories of Julia irritate me.
“Why?” he persists.
“Stop with the whys. There are some things that should be between adults only." I leave him, going to find my five-year-old.
It seems Gemma isn't having much luck either. Eden is bombarding her with questions as I walk into the room.
“What’s sex? How do you make babies? Are you and Daddy having a baby? Are you going to get married? Can I be a bridesmaid? I thought you were having a nightmare?” She’s asking the questions in quick succession, her voice high-pitched as she hangs onto Gemma’s arm.
“Eden, enough,” I snap at her.
“Can we have a girl? I’m telling everyone at school.” She runs off before I can stop her.
Gemma and I look at each other. “I’ll stop her,” I promise.
Gemma doesn't look so sure. “Will you?” she asks. Her eyes fill with worry.
“Sure,” I say, but I'm not sure at all, and my answer isn't confident.
I manage to wrangle Eden and pick her up in the next room. My tongue ties itself in knots trying to give her a simple explanation for her age. I end up promising if anything happens between Gemma and me, she'll be the first to know. But she’s not paying attention, she’s talking about babies.
By the time I finish and get home from work, I find them all in the kitchen eating dinner. I want to go and kiss Gemma, but the three of them are talking about their day.
“Daddy.” Eden spots me first and dances on her chair excitedly. “Look, look.” She runs to get her school bag.
She is excited about something which doesn't necessarily bode well. Sitting down next to Gemma, my hand slides under the table onto her knee, squeezing it.
“Look, Daddy, look.” Eden slams her school bag onto the table, and her head goes all the way inside. “It’s here.”
