Page 62 of The Accidental Nanny
Ben and I have exchanged messages and now I have the information I need. Closing the lid on my laptop, I sit back in my chair. I don't know how to feel right now. What I do know is everyone is waiting for me to go out and celebrate. The new app is working, and my team want to go out for drinks. I'll have to throw some sort of party for the official launch, but all I want to do is go home to my family.
I told Gemma earlier in the day that I was going to be late home tonight, so when I walk in, I’m surprised to find Aceand Gemma cuddling on the sofa. Eden must already be in bed, which is strange because Ace and Eden have the same bedtime, he just gets to stay awake a bit longer. There is an empty pizza box and ice cream tub on the coffee table.
“Hey.” I kiss both their heads, they stir and look up. I can see by Ace’s face he wants to ask me something, but he doesn’t. Not until Gemma starts touching my hand.
“Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?” He rubs his eyes.
“We are very good friends,” I reply. “Why are you still down here?”
“We need to talk to you.” They both look at me, and I’m worried.
“Ace, shall I tell him?” Gemma asks.
“Tell me what?” I wish one of them would tell me what’s going on.
“Teddy and George have been mean to me about Mum leaving. Teddy pushed me, so I pushed him back,” Ace says. He sounds scared of how I will react.
I am instantly angry that my child has been bullied. “Go on,” I say.
“I’ve dealt with it,” Gemma tells me.
What the hell does she mean, she has dealt with it? “Ace, we will talk in the morning, I’ll be up soon.”
“You’re angry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You haven’t upset me,” I reassure him.
He looks back at Gemma. “You’re mad at her.”
“No,” I give him my hand, helping him off the sofa. He doesn’t want to leave.
“Don’t shout at her, Dad. She made it better,” Ace says, looking distressed.
“I won’t,” I say, unsure I can keep that promise. My eyes feel like they are bulging. Ace leaves the room, and Gemma gets up to dispose of the pizza box and ice cream container.
“Don’t,” I say in a deadly voice. She stops and turns to me. “My son is being bullied, and I’m just now finding outabout it,” I hiss at her. "You have no right keeping this information from me."
“I only found out today,” she replies in a calm manner.
Crossing my arms, I seethe inside. “Why didn’t you ring me?”
“He asked me not to tell you, so I didn’t.” She picks up the items and goes to the kitchen. She chucks the cardboard in the bin.
I take it out and put it in the recycling bin, when I return, I stand in her way. “So, you’re keeping secrets from me.” I stand in her way.
“Yes, but I persuaded him it was for the best that you knew, so he stayed up to tell you. So, everything is fine.” Her steady look bores into me.
My voice rises slightly. “I had a right to know. You should have told me as soon as you found out.”
“I will not break my promise. They've had enough of that,” she snaps back at me.
I run a hand through my hair. “He’s eight. He doesn’t get to keep secrets from his dad.”
“No, but if he knows he can trust us, then he'll be more willing to come to you.” I don’t notice that she is standing next to me until her hand is stroking my arm.
“Us?” I ask, shocked.
Her head tilts sideways. Now she’s pissed. “I’m his nanny.”
