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Catalytic Reaction: A Live-In Nanny Story.
Chapter Two: In Which We Spend Our First Day.
Isabella's POV.
Dear Diary,
Today my parents have been married for the last fifteen years of their lives. My mother will be the first to tell you that their marriage is far from perfect but the love they held for one another was what held them together all these years. In her words it was the balm that soothe the wounds that resulted from the fights and the warmth when it cold.
Today my parents celebrate fifteen years of marriage; imperfect and perfect at the same time and I find myself praying to have marriage like that. I don't need riches or power. I need love and I'll survive everything else.
From the Diary of Isabella Swan. Age: Fifteen
It was well after ten that night when I was allowed entry back into the Cullen's apartment by a wide awake Ms. Anna and Ethan.
"Shouldn't he be asleep?" I asked softly as I walked into the apartment, my hands filled with bags.
"He should be but today he seems to be very irritated and just won't settle down." Ms. Anna said with a sigh as she swayed slightly with a whimpering Ethan.
"Poor baby. Let me just rest these in my room and I'll take him from you." I said as I made my way to my room that was next to Ethan and Carolina's room.
"No worries, dear. Is this all your stuff?" Ms. Anna asked kindly.
"No. I still have some more stuff but Dylan and Raul said they would have the rest up soon." I said soft as to not wake the other inhabitants.
"Raul as in the doorman Raul? The man who forever has a scowl on his face, Raul?" Ms. Anna asked, shock lacing her voice.
"Yeah but he was nice to me. I guess that's what a smile and a simple 'good evening' can do to people." I said as I reached out for Ethan having placed my bags in my room.
"Hey, baby boy." I said gently as he whimpered when my skin touched him. "Oh poor baby. Your skin is a bit hot but not too hot." I said gently as I rearranged him on my chest so that his ear was directly over my heart hoping it would put him to sleep like it did for my little cousins.
"You are really good with him." Ms Anna commented as she made her way to the door, no doubt to let the men in with my other bags having heard a gentle knock.
"Good evening, Ms. Anna." Both men chorused politely as they walked into the apartment.
"Where would you like these bags, dear?" Raul asked.
"Could you please just rest them there? I'll move them shortly." As I ran my hand over Ethan's back.
"Nonsense dear." Ms. Anna interjected. "Would you gentlemen be so kind as to carry them to her room? I would be more than happy to show you the way."
"Lead the way then, Ms. Anna." Dylan said with a soft smile as his gaze flickered between Ms. Anna and Raul and with that Ms. Anna led both gentlemen out the room living me with a whimpering Ethan.
"Oh, baby. What's wrong? You were ok when I left this evening." I said as I gently rubbed his back.
"I think he's starting to teeth." I heard Ms. Anna say as she re-entered the room as both men left with a slight wave of their hands; choosing not to call out their good-byes for fear of irritating Ethan further.
"Well, that would explain a lot." I said softly as I made my way over to the sink to wash my hands before putting my finger into Ethan's mouth only to feel his gums where swollen.
"Do you have a teething ring for him?" I asked as I pulled out my finger and with a nod of her head she left to go get it.
"Okay baby boy, let's get you settled okay?" I said softly as I sat down in the living room.
"Here you go, Ms. Swan." Ms. Anna said softly as she handed me the teething ring as well as a bib. "You might need that. If he is anything like his sister, you will be covered in dribble very soon."
"A little dribble doesn't frighten me, Ms. Anna. I'm kinda immune to it now." I chuckled.
"You like children?" Ms. Anna asked softly.
"Yes and well I've got a big family; lots of pseudo brothers and sisters and now they are having families of their own so I am the ever dependable and greatly abused favorite aunt." I said fondly thinking about the family I had left back in Forks.
"So why are you here then dear?" Ms. Anna asked kindly.
"I have family here too." I replied vaguely knowing I could not tell her that the real reason I am sitting here was because I was blind-sided by Angela and then guilt trapped into actually coming to the interview.
"So, I am assuming that along with a hot meal, you want to hear about what your job entails." Ms. Anna said as Ethan settled down a bit as he chewed contentedly on his teething ring.
"Please." I said graciously as my stomach growled.
I waited patiently as Ms. Anna plated two sets of food and brought out some juice before we sat down together by the kitchen counter.
"Well dear, I think it is as good a time for me to tell you what you are required to do." Ms. Anna started. "Your job title is that of a nanny. Really and truly you will be a mother to these children; the only parent they will know."
"Ms. Anna." I said trying to interrupt her but she shooed me with a wave of her fork.
"I know you don't want to hear this dear but it is the truth. I have been employed by the Cullen family for more than forty years and never once, though the three generations of Cullens that I have had the chance to see and grow in front of my eye, have I ever had the joy of watching this family be a family. Truly the blame for this discourse and unpleasantness was caused by the decisions made by two men who have long gone to their graves."
"Yet the living find no peace even though there is nothing that they can change." I interjected.
"Exactly." She responded. "Truly the only sane one is the patriarch, Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He tries. I will give him that. He truly is the only one with enough sense to know the actions of his children will leave this family broken and beyond repair when he passes."
"What do you know about this family, dear?" She asked abruptly.
"Not much." I admitted feeling a bit sheepish.
"Well we need to change that. It's time for a crash course in Cullen Family History head of the family also known as the father is Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Dr, Cullen is the top pediatrician in the northern hemisphere. He spends most for his time treating the elitists of society from the children of Royal families to the children of company executives. He spear heads the operations for some of the leading research centers and has, over time, developed many treatments and procedures to better treat many illnesses that plague children. After his children left for their university educations, Dr. Cullen founded the Guardian Angel Foundation centered on the protection of children as well as Cullen Pharmaceuticals as a means of funding the foundation. Presently the wealth that has been generated by Dr. Cullen through his company stand at a little over a billion dollars and it is rumored that Judge Cullen is in line to inherit the company. But if there was anything that I admired Dr. Cullen for was that, no matter how busy or frustrated he was, he always had time for his children. He made sure he was there for every ballet recital, soccer practice and birthday. His time was always his children's and he loved their laughter and happiness more than anything in the world.
The mother-figure in this family is Elizabeth Masen Cullen and please note that I said mother-figure. This woman could care less what happens to her children. She comes from old money and over time through very wise investing on the part of her father, the wealth possessed by the Masen family, grew exponentially and stood at an estimated eight hundred million dollars at the time of her father's passing. The world thought that all of that was going to Elizabeth. Imagine how shocked we all were when she walked out with a vacation house in Aspen and ten million dollars while everything else in her grandfather's estate went to Judge Cullen."
"Isn't that favoritism? Doesn't Judge Cullen have siblings?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes he does but truly I don't think it was favoritism. I think he got was accorded to him."
"What…."I started to say only to be stopped.
"He was the one who took care of his grandfather for the last two years of his life. When his grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Judge Cullen was the one who begged his father to move his grandfather in. His mother wanted nothing to do with the move and instead wanted to put her father in a home but Judge Cullen fought until he got what he wanted. He did everything from bathing his grandfather when he was too weak to feeding him. He spent his days tending to his grandfather and his nights studying. He never once complained. His brother and sister could care less what happened. Those two truly are their mother's creation but I'll get back to that. Two weeks before his grandfather passed, he had his will redone making Judge Cullen his sole heir leaving everything for him sans the money and house that belonged to his wife. That is what he gave to Elizabeth. So on June 16th; two days before his sixteenth birthday, he became a mutli-millionaire."
"Should you even be telling me this? And wouldn't he be angry?" I blurted out; feeling the weight of what she was saying settle on my shoulders.
"Yes and no. You need to know this because you work for this family now. You have to understand what you are getting yourself into and understand that people are going to try and use you to get access to Judge Cullen or worse, his children."
"Now back to Mrs. Cullen. She is a cold, unfeeling woman. She has these ideals that she sees appropriate and her daughter Mary Alice and her daughter-in-law Rosalie are her clones. None of them think that it is necessary to take care of their own children. That's what nannies are for. They have teas and spa dates and are sometimes gone weeks at a time while their children are left at home. Their children mean nothing to them unless they are needed for an appearance. And that right there is all the Cullen women in a nutshell; educated women with the potential to do great things in the world but wasting away while shopping for the top brands and turning a blind eye to their husbands' infidelity." She said so nonchalantly that I choked on my food.
"What?" I shrieked out.
"Oh yes dear. The only ones who, as you young people say, can keep it in their pants are Dr. Carlisle and Judge Cullen."
"Oh." I said softly with wide eyes.
"It's sad but true. And that leads me to the last two members of the intermediate Cullen family. Emmett Cullen, brother of Judge Cullen and Jasper Whitlock, his brother-in-law. And on that note, if for any reason you fell uncomfortable with either of them and if either of them prepositions you for anything, please inform Edward immediately. He may seem cold to you and I agree with you, Lord knows he hardened his heart after Tanya but he cares more than you'll ever know."
"This is a lot to take in." I said softly as I looked at the now sleeping baby in my arms.
"As time goes along you will know more. I think that's enough for tonight but before you go take this." She said as she handed me two folders. "You'll need this to take care of the children. Don't stress yourself out too much about getting through all that. I'll give you a break down of the children's activities for tomorrow in the morning and when you get a little breathing time, we'll tackle reading the folder." Ms. Anna said. "What's with the face? Ms. Swan?" Ms. Anna asked as she took our plates to the sink.
"It breaks my heart to know these children's lives are broken down to black and white in a folder." I said softly as I passed m finger on Ethan's cheek.
"Welcome to the family then. I'll see you in the morning." She said and walked out leaving me and Ethan behind.
After settling down a cooing Ethan for his nighttime sleep, I made my way into my room where within seconds of lying down, I found myself in a dreamless and content sleep.
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It seemed like only minutes later when my alarm started to go off. With a heavy sigh I pulled myself up and got ready for the day. Not more than twenty minutes later I found myself in the kitchen hunched over the counter nursing a cup of coffee as I looked on as Ms. Anna cooked up some pancakes for the children.
"Good morning Anna. Good morning Ms. Swan." We heard Mr. Cullen say as he entered the room immaculately dressed in a tailored suit with a cream tie.
"Good morning, Mr. Cullen." I murmured. "Would you like some breakfast?" I asked as I pointed to the spread that Ms. Anna already had on the counters.
"No Ms. Swan. I will be heading out now." He said as he picked up his briefcase on his way out.
"You know," I said softly as I looked out at Mr. Cullen's form as he walked out. "My dad always had to be there before I left for school. I would always find myself giggling like a fool as he strapped me into my seat and scrunching up my face when he would kiss me on my cheek. I feel kinda sad that these children don't get that. Just a little kiss so I know that their dad cares." I said with a small smile has he fumbled slightly in his steps but none the less slamming the door with a bit extra force causing Ms. Anna and I to wince slightly.
"Why on earth would you say that when you very well know that he could have heard you?" Ms. Anna chastised as we looked at the front door.
"I needed to see if he cared." I shrugged taking a sip of my coffee.
"And what did you learn?" She asked in a nonchalant manner.
"I learnt that he cares. Just how much….well I'm not sure yet." I said as I looked at her.
"So there'll be more slamming doors in my future?" She smiled softly.
"Yup and maybe a broken glass here and there." I said "So what time do I need to wake up the kids?"
"Carolina does not have to get up for another half-hour. With Ethan, however I'm not sure how long he'll sleep for with last night. All you need to do is to get Carolina dressed. I will have her breakfast cooked and lunch packed. Edward is a bit over protective with his children and as a result you will be required to go with Carolina to her school. You can take Ethan if you wish. You will also have a driver."
"Surely that's not necessary." I stuttered trying desperately not to choke on my coffee.
"It may not be necessary in your eyes but it is mandatory in the eyes of Judge Cullen. He has put a lot of bad people behind bars, sweetheart. Even I have a driver so please don't argue with this." She said softly.
"Okay. I won't. So what else do I need to know?"
"Well I should have mentioned this last night but I think we were both too tried after our talking so I'll say it now even though it's in the file that you'll be reading soon. Carolina is involved in a lot of activities. Her tutors always come here for four-thirty and will leave by seven. Today is Tuesday so she'll have her foreign language tutorial session."
"Foreign language? Which one is she studying?" I asked completely baffled by what I was hearing.
"German, I think." Ms. Anna said. "And it's time for you to wake her majesty." She said pointing to the stairs.
"Ok." I said before putting my cup in the sink and making my way to Carolina's room.
As I entered her room, I quickly clamped my hand over my mouth so that I wouldn't burst out laughing. Carolina was sprawled across her bed with her head at the foot side of the bed and her butt sticking up in the air.
"Carolina, it's time to get up." I said softly as I walked into the room. "C'mon sweetheart, let's get you up so that you could go to school."
"I don't want to go." She grumbled as she nuzzled her head into her mattress. "School's boring."
"Well then fine. If you don't want to go to school, I just lie down and go back to sleep." I said smiling. "And I think here is as good a spot as any." I said as I dropped down onto her bed and draping myself over her body ensuring none of my weight was on her.
"Bella." She giggled.
"Wait, is my mattress talking? It's kinda lumpy. Maybe I should tickle out some of the lumps." I said playfully as I began tickling her.
"Bella." She screeched. "I'm gonna pee myself." She giggled uncontrollably.
"I'll stop if you promise to get up." I said laughing at how scrunched her face had become.
"Yup." She giggled again and as soon as I released her, she ran into her bathroom, slamming the door in her wake.
Ten minutes later she emerged from the bathroom all refreshed and clean but wearing a scowl on her face.
"Bella, could you help me? My hair is too tangled. I wanted to cut it but my aunties and grandmother said that as girls we should have long hair even though I told them I couldn't manage it." She said softly and with a ting of sadness in her voice.
"Of course I'll help you, sweetheart. Did you talk to your daddy about it?" I asked as I began to pass the brush through her hair.
"Yeah but he told me to just do what they told me. I miss my daddy." She said; her eyes swimming in tears.
"What do you mean, baby girl?" I asked softly as I bent down so that I was level to her.
"He used to be there all the time but now he's never here. I don't think he likes me anymore." She said.
Acting on impulse, I pulled her to my chest.
"Now listen to me baby girl. You're daddy loves you and I promise you that tomorrow morning he will be here seeing you off to school. Okay?"
"How are you going to do that?" She asked as she gingerly wiped her tears away.
"I can't tell you my secrets." I said before tickling her. "Now why don't you go get some breakfast while I get your brother, ok? He told me last night that he wants to drop you off to school today."
"Silly Bella. Ethan can't talk." She giggled before placing a very sloppy kiss on my cheek before taking off.
With a heavy sigh, I stood up swearing to myself that I actually heard my joints creek as I stood.
Before I even opened the door, I was greeted with the soft cooing coming from inside Ethan's room. I could not help the smile that spread across my face.
"Hello, my little prince. How are you this morning?" I asked softly as I reached down to pick him up. In return all he did was offer me a toothless grin as he stuffed his fist into his mouth. "I see the teething is kicking into full gear." I commented as I moved him to his changing table.
Quickly, I changed him out of his sleeping wear and placed him in a cute outfit I had found complete with baseball cap and sneaker before making my way down to meet his sister.
"You ready, sweetheart?" I asked as I entered the kitchen.
"Yup. Bye Ms. Anna." Carolina screeched as she bolted from the kitchen leaving behind her backpack and her lunch.
"Carolina, could you come help me take your bags to the car. I do also have your brother." I called behind her. In my mind, I could actually picture the way her face scrunched up when she realized she forgot her bag.
"Sorry," she mumbled as she came back into the kitchen.
"It's okay, sweetheart. I just want to take your brother with me since I would like to meet you teachers." I said softly as I fixed a bottle for Ethan who was now staring at his hand in awe.
"You need to make an appointment to meet them." Ms Anna said as she walked in holding a baby carrier. "All this is found in the closest next to Judge Cullen's office."
"That's okay. Do you have a number that I could use to call the school then? I'll do that on the way and see if they could fit me in." I said as I slung Ethan's baby bag on my shoulder and leaned down to fit him in his carrier.
"Of course." She said before turning to sift through so cards lying next to the phone. "Here you go." She said softly before handing me a very elegant and expensive call card with the name St. Andrew's Catholic Preparatory School printed on it.
"Jesus. How much do they pay to have this things printed?" I asked staring wide eyed at the card.
"Welcome to high society, dear. Dominic will be waiting for you at the elevator. Carolina knows who he is so she'll be able to show you." Ms. Anna said as she walked me to the door.
"Thank you and I'll be back shortly. I have some questions for you." I said as I slipped on my shoes.
"Of course. Have a wonderful day, Carolina." Ms. Anna shouted as Carolina sprinted down the corridor and collided with a man who picked her up with a smile.
"I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you are Dominic." I said as I approached the man.
"You are right in your assumption and I would like to make the same assumption and say that you are Ms. Swan, the new nanny." He said holding his hand out to me.
"Please. If the only name that I have for you is Dominic, then I would greatly appreciate it if you call me Bella. Shall we get this show on the road?" I asked as he took Carolina's bags for her.
"Yes we shall. We have a forty-five minute drive to the school." Dominic said as the elevator door slid open.
Ten minutes later we had pulled onto the road and I decided to feed Ethan. The feeding process was surprisingly easy. He grunted appreciatively as he gulped down his milk as well as hit his tiny fist against the bottle. Carolina had the world of time laughing at the noises her brother made. When he finished I took him out of his car seat, burped him and then placed him back into the car seat just in time to see his eyes close.
"Typical guy." I murmured with a fond smile before turning my attention to Carolina. "So sweetheart, do you like school?" I asked as I reached across Ethan's car seat to touch Carolina's hair.
"No but I have to be a good girl and go every day like my grandmother told me. Papi told me that I should have fun and play with some of the children in my class but grandmother said that it was unacceptable; that I went to school for an education and not to make friends." She said fidgeting with her school skirt.
"You should listen to your Papi. He sounds like he knows what he's talking about." I said as I fought down the urge to strangle her grandmother.
"We're here." Dominic said as the car came to a stop.
"Oh crap. I didn't get to call the school." I sighed. "Maybe I should go and see if I could make an appointment." I mused out loud as Dominic opened my door for me.
"It shouldn't be a problem." He said as he opened Carolina's door and lifted her to the ground. "The office is the first door on your right when you enter the building. I'll wait for you."
"Thank you." I said as I pulled out Ethan' carrier and his bag as well as my own.
"Why don't you lead the way, sweetheart?" I said to Carolina.
"Really? No one's ever asked me to lead the way before." She said as she grasped my hand in her own. "The girls are going to be so jealous that I have a best friend and they don't." She babbled as she led me to the entrance of the building.
"This is the office." She said as we stopped in front a door. "I have to go to class." She said as dropped my hand. "Well see you later." She said.
"Wait." I said before kneeling down in front of her. "I want to do something my mama used to do when she dropped me to school. Want to know what it is?" I waited before she nodded.
"Okay." I said putting Ethan's carrier next to me on the ground as well as our bags before sweeping Carolina into my arms. "Possano gli angeli che proteggono dai danni in modo che io sono in grado di tenerti tra le mie braccia. Non dimenticate il mio amore per te in modo che sarò sempre vicino." I said before kissing her forehead and both her cheeks.
"What did you say?" She asked as he fingered my collar, her eyes wide with curiousity.
"I'll tell you later, okay? But you need to run to class." I said.
"Ok. Later Bella."
"Later Carolina." I said as I watched her scamper of no doubt in the direction of her class.
"You know, my mother used to say the same thing to me." A voice behind me said causing me to jump up as I came face to face with the baby blue eyes of an elderly man
"I did not mean to frighten to. My name is Marcus Demivito. I'm the headmaster here. May I help you with something?"
"Um yes. My name is Isabella Swan. I was recently hired as Carolina Cullen's nanny and I came to see if I could possibly meet with her teacher to just see where she is academically." I said as I lifted Ethan's carrier and our belongs of the floor.
"Well this is definitely a first. It will be difficult for you to see her teachers considering she has more than one. We do have a parent-teacher meeting scheduled for next two months. However, if you would give me a moment, I will see if Mrs. De Luca is free. She is the head of the first grade department."
"That would be wonderful." I said softly.
"Wel, let's step into the office and see what I can do." He said as he opened the door allowing me to enter with Ethan before he walked off to his office.
Fifteen minutes later, a plump woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Cope, informed me that Mrs. De Luca was waiting for us in her office and then offered to walk me there all the while giving me a tour of the school. She made sure to show me Carolina's classroom. My heart stuttered painfully as I took me Carolina sitting away from all the other children; isolated and alone.
After a thirty minute tour, I found myself in front of Mrs. De Luca's office. After making me promise to bring Ethan for her to see when he was awake, Mrs. Cope left and I hesitantly knocked on the door and was automatically granted access.
"Good morning, Mrs. De Luca, I presume. My name is Isabella Swan." I said with a warm smile as I extended my hand to the immaculately dressed woman seated in front of me.
"Ah! Yes. Good morning Ms. Swan and who is this little gentleman here?" She asked in a motherly tone as she shook my hand.
"This little sleeper here is Ethan. He's teething and very irritable. He only went to bed at three this morning." I said looking at Ethan, frowning at the pain he was in.
"That is a terrible time." Mrs. De Luca nodded sympathetically. "Now Ms. Swan what can I do for you?" Mrs. De Luca asked, curiosity oozing out of her.
"I am actually here about a student, Carolina Cullen. I was very recently hired as her nanny and I want to know about her progress and school, you know where she is weak and needs the extra push. I also would like to know how the school curriculum is structured, what the children are required to know. Don't get me wrong and assume that I am trying to tell you all what to do or that I am questioning what you all do. It's just that I want to be involved with every little detail. I want Carolina that gets the best of what is offered to her and I want of her to feel comfortable doing what is expected of her and not pressured." I said as passionately as I could.
"Ms. Swan, firstly let me say that never on my fifteen years of teaching and being at this school has a mother far less for a nanny come and asked what you have asked and for that I admire you. Having said that and as you are quite aware, as a private school our curriculum is a bit more demanding than that of a public school. Academically," she said as she stood and walked over to a filing cabinet and pulled out what I assumed was Carolina's file, "Carolina has been performing above what is except of her. She is constantly at the top of her class so much so that is she keeps this up, she may be able to skip the next grade."
"Really?" I asked. "I had no idea she performed so well."
"Academically she is well on her way. Socially, we may have some problems." Mrs. De Luca sighed.
"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously as Ethan stirred slightly but did not wake up.
"Once every two weeks, we have a psychologist sit in the classes and just observe the children's interactions with one another to make sure that everyone is developing correcting. While children that age should be sociable, the psychologist has noticed that Carolina tends to stay by herself and does not let anyone in even though many of the children on more than one occasion has extended the hand o f friendship to her. That truly is the only thing you should be concerned about." Mrs. De Luca said as she closed the file.
"Is there anything you could suggest that would help to correct this?" I asked deeply concerned.
"Simply getting her involved in various activities would help. The academy has several after-school programs. She could start with some of those but really and truly Ms. Swan I would like to suggest something that might be a bit extreme in the eyes of the Cullen family. Lord knows the amount of money and power that family holds." She said with a shake of her head.
"And what is that?" I asked cautiously.
"Simply take her to the park and let her be a child." She said simply leaving me confounded as to why that was difficult in her eyes.
"Huh?"
"Ms. Swan. I know I may be stepping a bit over the line when I say this but Carolina has been a student at this academy since the age of three. After this phase of schooling, she has already been enrolled and accepted to an all-girls boarding school in England where the Cullens are originally from. After she has graduated, she will be sent to top university where she will graduate top of her class in a field that will add more renown to the Cullen name and that after all that she will be married off into a family where her marriage will be nothing more than a power merger."
"Mrs. De Luca!" I exclaimed. "That is out of line."
"No, my dear. That is the future of every single little girl who has entered these academy doors. It truly is sad but it is a cycle that just does not end. All the mothers here are they same. They have all lived the same life and they know nothing else so they see nothing wrong with their daughters living the same way but you are different. You care."
"Off course I care. Shouldn't I?" I asked skeptically.
"The others don't." She said simply before reaching into her draw and pulling out a card. "This is my daughter's number. Her name is Kate. I will call her as soon as you leave this room and inform her to expect your call. She has twin girls Lily and Lola and she has been looking for a playmate for them but has been unable to. If you think that it is reasonable, then set up a date with her for the girls to meet and I promise you that this social problem will be taken care of."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. De Luca. If it isn't too forward of me, would you like to have my number so that you could contact me if anything comes up?" I suggested as Ethan started to wake up giving of little coos.
"That is an excellent idea." And with that we exchanged numbers and I left.
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I walked back into the apartment feeling as if the weight of the world had fallen on my shoulder. Ethan was now awake and cooing up a storm. Dominic had kept my mind of things on the return trip but now without the endless chatter, I felt as if my heart was heavy.
With a small sigh, I knocked on the door to the apartment having to only then realize that I did not have a key.
"Back already. Well I shouldn't day that since you took a while. Everything okay?" Ms. Anna asked with concern shining through her eyes.
"Yeah." I replied sounding like I had aged ten years. Um… where can I find the things to give Ethan a bath and where does he normally get a bath?" I asked as I walked to his room.
"He has a bathroom in his room. All his bathing stuff is there." She said as she followed me.
"Really? I didn't notice it." I said in a surprised voice.
"It's opposite his crib." She said as she opened the door of the bathroom for me to see. "You seem a bit flustered, dear. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Just give me a minute to give this little guy a bath and we'll talk." I said as I stepped into the bathroom.
The bath itself was an easy task. Ethan seemed to be a water baby. He would smile for every little thing. However, getting him into clothing seemed to be a problem. He wailed at the top of his lungs as I put his pamper on. He wiggled and wiggled making it difficult to put his onesie. However I won the battle and he was soon fully dressed and we walked out into the kitchen where I knew I could find Ms. Anna.
"when is he given solid foods, Ms. Anna?" I asked as we entered.
"They haven't given him an yet even though Dr. Cullen said that they should." She said as she flattened out a pie crust.
"Well I guess we should try but we should take him to see his pediatrician before we do that." I said as I moving to give Ethan a bottle.
"Giving him a bottle already?" Ms. Anna asked.
"Well it eleven and he got his first bottle at around eight so I wanted to see how much he would eat now. Oh but isn't he scheduled for one now?" I asked as I tested the temperature of the milk against my skin.
"Before I answer that where are the files that I gave you?"
"On my bed side table. Why?"
"Let me get them and then we'll take." She said as she wiped her hands and then left to get the files.
Shrugging my shoulders a bit, I made back to Ethan who was now babbling to his feet.
"Why is it that every time I see you that I can't help the smile that always comes. " I said softly as I pulled him into my arms. Once I had him settled and offered him the bottle, he latched on to the bottle and started to drink like he was a man lost in the desert. Of course he added his grunts that caused to chuckle
"Alight let's start at the beginning." Ms. Anna said as she re-entered the room. "Before you, a woman named Jessica Stanley was responsible for taking care of the children. While she possessed a degree in children's care, she failed to put her theoretical knowledge into practical use. She never took care of the children. I would have to do everything. Judge Cullen was not aware of what was going on and I chose not to tell him for fear of her taking it out on the children. So I did everything for dropping to school to homework to doctor visits until it became too much."
"That doesn't sound good." I said as I turned the bottle in the mouth of the now sleeping Ethan to see if he would drink so more.
"No, it doesn't. We were having a family dinner at Dr. Cullen when I collapsed due to hypertension. I was hospitalized for two days and I got here just in time to see Judge Cullen fire Ms. Stanley. Obviously, since she had not taken care of the children before, she had no clue what she was doing and Judge Cullen does not play around with his children. When I walked in, I was also given the pink slip since I was enabling her in her neglect. So I gathered up my belongings and moved in with my sister. Two weeks later however, I walked into the living room of my sister's apartment to see Dr. Cullen as well as Judge Cullen sitting there. To make a long story short, I was offered my old job back. I accepted and moved back in. When I moved in however, I realized something had gone very wrong. I would later find out that nanny by the name of Laruen Mallory was hired to take care of the children and she is worst than Jessica from what I have heard. You were hired two days after she was fired."
"You mean to say that she was fired last week?" I said as I burped Ethan.
"Yes and now the children's schedules are out of order. Ethan now eats when he wants even though he may or may not be hungry, If he wants food he gets food. Carolina while sweet and wonderful on the inside has a it of an evil streak that has resulted I some cuts and bruises for those who cross her."
"That woman did all that in two weeks?" I asked kinda shocked, looking for a playpen to put Ethan in as he napped. "Where's the playpen?"
"In the closet." Ms. Anna responded with a jerk of her head. "Mrs. Cullen as in Judge Cullen's wife hated having children's stuff in any area that was not their area so….."
"Why are they like this?" I said and picked up the files and Ethan. On entering his nursery, I placed him in his crib and then made my way to the rocking chair in the corner of the room where I went through their files and with each word I read, my heart bled a little more for this children.
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The afternoon passed without much fanfare. Ethan woke up around two and had found himself in Ms. Anna's arms and refused to do anything unless Ms. Anna was helping him. So it was decided that I would leave Ethan with Ms. Anna when I felt to pick up Carolina.
Dominic found himself at the door at two-twenty to pick me up and we then left to go get Carolina. As we pulled in, I notice a group of women congregated at the steps of the school.
"Fellow nannies like yourself." Dominic commented when he saw what had caught my attention.
"Yeah wonderful." I responded as I stepped out the car. Thankfully, I did not have to wait too long until the doors opened and I enveloped a brown haired angel into my arms.
"So how was school?" I asked as I buckled her into the car.
"It was school." She said. "I have homework. Some math. So I'll do it when we reach home." And that was the end of the conversations until she reached home even though Dominic and I tried to get her to join in the conversations.
By the time we reached to the apartment, Carolina was absolutely silent. You could see the dark clouds looming over her head and she withdrew. Ms. Anna tried speaking with her but she grunted and walked into her room.
"What happened?" Ms. Anna asked as soon as Carolina left.
"I don't know she just withdrew." I replied as I took Ethan into my arms. "We need to find things to do, Bubba." I said as I tickled his tummy. "You can't just sleep and eat all day."
When it was time for her class with her tutor, Carolina emerged from her room and made her way to the table where she normally had her sessions. On her way there, she handed me her homework assignment to check over for her. Her tutor came, introduced herself to me and then got straight to it. During the course of her session, Judge Cullen returned home. He walked over to Carolina where he kissed her on her forehead and she flinched. Her wide eyes let me know that she was not accustomed to him showing her affection. Ethan however, squealed and giggled as his father scooped him into his arms and by dinner I was damning Angela into the pits of hell for what I knew I would have to see to the end.
It was after dinner and I was pacing my bedroom floor like a caged animal. I knew I had to speak with him but I was torn between strangling him and hugging him until he was alright.
When I first heard his story, I wanted to believe that he did not care but truth be told it was that he did not know how to care. All he was shown in his life was indifference. He did not know a parental love. He never had the comfort of his father or the adoration of a mother. His siblings wanted nothing to do with him. All he had in this world is his children and he did not know how to show them he loved them.
With a sigh, I looked at the clock and realized that it was time to put Carolina to bed. It did not take me long to track down the little one. I also could not help the tears that fell from my eyes when I found her in her brother's nursery telling him all about her day and the promises she made in regards to the things she would teach him or the places she would take him.
"Carolina, honey. It's time for bed." I said softly not wanting to wake Ethan.
"Okay." She said softly before she stepped up onto her little step and kissed Ethan's head. "See you in the morning, baby brother. You'll always have me." She said before walking out the room and into her own.
Biting my lip as my heart broke for these children; I followed Carolina into her room. Without waiting, she crawled into her bed and pulled her comforter over her body.
"Nite Bella." She said with a yawn.
"Good night, my sweetheart. If you need anything just call me or come to my room, okay?' I said as I sat next to her, tucking her in tightly.
"You don't need to do that." She said as he eyes started to drupe.
"Do what?" I asked as I smoothed her hair away from her face.
"Tuck me in. No one has to do that for me. I'm a bug girl." She said as she finally drifted off.
"No you're not a big girl. You're a precious angel who deserves more. So much more and I intend to see that you get that." I said passionately as I watched her sleeping form.
"You're not in a position to demand that anything happen, Ms. Swan." I heard Judge Cullen say.
"You're daughter thinks you don't love her anymore. She thinks you want nothing to do with her. In all my life, I have never seen any child who does not want to be tucked in." I said softly, not moving from my spot or turning to face him.
"She's my daughter. They are my children." He sneered as he stepped into the room.
"Your children. She isn't an investment Judge Cullen. She is a child; a child so broken she is having problems with regard to social interactions." I said softly turning to meet his eyes.
"What?" He said softly; his eyes widening.
"I met with the head of her grade today and told me about her problems. I would like to deny it and call the teacher a liar but she is correct with her assessment. Carolina is so withdrawn that she acts more like twenty year old than a child. I know I am stepping on my toes here and I very well know that by the end of this speech, I might very well be looking for a job but I need to say this: I grew up in a small town and as demanding as my father's job was I never felt that I came second to that. I knew from as young as I could remember that my father loved me. With all his heart he loved me and I was first.; always first."
"What have I done?" He whimpered; his eyes reflecting his pain.
"Start with breakfast tomorrow. It's not too late." I said to him as I stood to leave the room. "I was right about you, you know."
"And what's that?" He said as she stooped down so that he was level with Carolina.
"You love her more than anything in the world. You are just to broken to know how to love them in return." I said.
"One day into the job and you're breaking through the walls I've built." He said as his green eyes pierced right through me.
"I care too much for these children. They need their father so be prepared to go through a world of hurt." I said softly as I turned to leave and just as I was pulling in the door I heard the words I knew he would utter to Carolina; I love you.
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After leaving Carolina and her father, I walked into my room and grabbed up my phone. With shaking hands, I dialed the number for the one person who comforts me while giving me the strength to carry on.
"Heya baby girl." She cooed as she asked her phone.
"I don't know what to do." I cried out.
"Bella!" She called out. "What is going on? So help me God if you don't start speaking I will be on the first flight out there."
"Auntie, they're so cold. The children are like accessories. The children don't laugh. They don't smile. Nothing. They are all so lifeless."
"That's life in high society, baby girl." My aunt sighed.
"It's a hard thing to swallow. I can't see myself living here for a long period of time."
"What do you mean, sweetheart?"
"I want laughter. I want smiles. I want these kids to have the childhood I did. I remember bathing in the rain with you and mama. Then papa had to nurse as all back to health the following day. I remember trick-o-treating and eating way to much candy. I remember getting put in time outs one after the next for having done something wrong I remember climbing into bed with my parents every single night because of the monsters under my bed. I remember Christmas and birthdays and dance recitals and I remember that my family was there for every single one. Is it wrong of me to want that for these to little ones?"
"No sweetie but not everyone wants that type of happiness for themselves. Sometimes all people want is to be content with their lot."
"Why should these children have to settle? Children won't made to be content." I responded heatedly.
"I know that sweetie but others don't." She said soothingly.
"I don't know what to do?" I said as I walked out onto the balcony; savouring the cool air that blew against my face.
"I call bullshit to that. You know exactly what to do."
"Oh really and what is that?" I asked sarcastically.
"You love them. You care for them and you show high society what real parenting is all about. And you make an impression on those children so that no matter where they go in life, they would know what it's like to be love; truly and unconditionally so that they won't settle."
"Thank you and I love you Aunt Esme."
"I love you too, sweetheart. Always remember that." And with that we ended our call with the promise to call each other soon.
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With a surprisingly shaky hand I lowered my hand and placed my phone on the balcony wall next to me and then raised my hand to finger the cross necklace I wore.
"Father, lord of all that is on earth and in heaven; I stand before you humbled by the task that You have placed before me. As my strength wanes, keep me on the right path so that Your Will shall be done. Please Father; strengthen me so that I may be able to heal this family. Let them be able to see through You Grace and Goodness, all that they have been blessed with. Let them see the bounty placed before them so that they may be able unite once more and love each other most unconditionally. Let the greed and jealousy that plagues this family exist no more and let father and son embrace once more like mother and daughter. Amen." I whispered my pray into the night sky, hoping beyond hope that my little pray would be answered.
Third Person's POV.
His hands clinched tightly at his side as he took in the absolute beauty that stood in front for him. Her head was turned upward to the sky with her eyes closed and with a small smile playing on her lips. With one hand she fingered the delicate necklace she wore and with the other she held onto the balcony. She looked like a goddess; a goddess brought forth from his own personal hell. Never once had temptation threatened to overpower him like this. He wanted nothing more to run out onto the balcony and pull her exquisite form into his arms; claiming her as his own.
Was it selfish of him to give her a job so that he may see her every day?
Was it through sheer cowardice that he was unable to tell her of his true intentions?
Was he a fool to think that she would ever belong to him?
May be he was but stupidly he needed her here. Her presence soothed him. Her smile made it a little easier to carry on but above it all she made it hurt less. She made it all hurt less.
Translation:
May the angels protect you from harm so that I shall be able to hold you in my arms again. Forget not my love for you so that I shall always be near: Possano gli angeli che proteggono dai danni in modo che io sono in grado di tenerti tra le mie braccia. Non dimenticate il mio amore per te in modo che sarò sempre vicino