Page 58 of Sweet Surrender
Pulling my phone out, and once again bringing up the messagethread, I was about to type out a text calling Nash the biggest prick on the planet, when my eyes read over the first message he’d sent.If you need anything else, my housemaid, Jessica, will be able to help.
A smile graced my face. Surely Jessica would have a key to thelocked room?
Abandoning my quest for my sketchbooks, I went on the hunt for thewoman I hoped would find it in her to side with me, and not her boss.
Making my way downstairs, a soft voice echoed from somewhere andI followed it through the hallways, my anger at Nash fading, replaced with a tinge of worry at the panic in her voice.
As I reached the huge open-plan living area, I paused in the doorway,finding a woman, assumedly Jessica, with her back to me. She held a phone to her ear, and her whole body was rigid with tension. I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but with how distressed she sounded, I couldn’t help but listen.
“I’m trying to get hold of my nanny, but she’s not answering,” shepaused, waiting for a response. “I know the school policy, and believe me, if Dillon has got chicken pox then I don’t want him mixing with other kids either.” Another pause, this time followed by a heavy sigh of resignation. “No, there isn’t anyone else, it’s just me.”
The anguish in her voice was unmissable, and even though I didn’tknow this woman from Adam, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. It sounded like she was at her wit’s end, something I knew a lot about.
“I’ll figure something out and be as quick as I can.” She hung up thephone, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, instantly regretting speaking after shespun around to face me, startled.
“Oh, Mrs. Carson. I’m so sorry, I hope I didn’t disturb you,” she repliedpolitely, almost standing to attention, her frustration from seconds ago nowhere to be seen.
“No, you didn’t at all,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Andplease, call me Savannah.”
I didn’t want people referring to me as Mrs. Carson, I didn’t wantanother reminder that I was married to that asshole. The ring was enough.
She gave a small smile back. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you. I’mJessica, and if there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
The worry in her eyes betrayed her professional tone, and I couldn’thelp but frown. “I don’t mean to pry, but I overheard your call. Do you need to go?”
It was as if I’d given her permission to drop the professional act.Tears suddenly welled in her eyes, and her bottom lip quivered. “My little boy isn’t well. His kindergarten teacher thinks he has chicken pox, and I can’t get hold of my nanny.”
“Then go,” I said, crossing the room, and wanting to comforther. The poor woman was clearly torn between her loyalty to her son and her loyalty to her job.
“I can’t. Mr. Carson wanted me to have a nice dinner prepared for youboth for tonight. I haven’t started it, and -”
“And you don’t need to start it,” I interrupted, resting my hand on herarm. “Your son is far more important, and I am more than capable of cooking dinner.”
It wasn’t a lie either. I’d spent years cooking three meals a day when Iwas taking care of my mom, and then cooking for Liam for the short time we lived together. Cooking wasn’t exactly something I enjoyed, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t do it.
For a few seconds, Jessica looked torn, but her motherly instinctmust have kicked in as a look of relief washed over her face.
“If you’re sure?” she said, smiling gratefully when I gave a nod of myhead. “Thank you, I really appreciate it. I’m sure it’ll be just for today, hopefully my nanny can look after Dillon for the rest of the week.”
Ifollowed her out into the kitchen where she collected her bag when an idea popped into my head. Doing my best to hold back a malicious grin, I walked Jessica to the front door.
“Why don’t you take the rest of the week off? Kids always want theirmoms when they’re not well. Besides, this is mine and Nash’s first week at home together, it’ll be nice if I can do some things to take care of him.”
And I woulddefinitelybe taking care of him.
Jessica paused in the doorway, and a second later, she threw herarms around me, taking me by surprise.
“Thank you so much, you have no idea what this means,” she said,gratitude in her voice. As she pulled away, a tear leaked from her eye, and even though I’d given her the week off for my own nefarious reasons, I was glad she’d be able to look after her son.
“It’s really no problem.”
She gave me a smile, her eyes once again filling with tears. “Mr.Carson is a lucky man to have found someone as nice as you. Congratulations on your marriage.” She headed down the marble stairs, pausing when she reached the bottom one. “Oh, you probably already know this, but make sure you don’t cook anything with onions in, they make Mr. Carson unwell.”
I watched her walk to her car, a smile forming on my face. Only therewas nothing nice about it.
It was time for Nash to find out just howun-niceIcould actually be.
