After getting over her initial sock, Mary walked over to the chair that held her bag. She looked around the room, realizing that it could use a little touching up. She dug in her bag for a lamp, clock, plant, and a hat rack. She pulled them out one by one and added them in various places in the room.

She pulled a nightgown out of her bag and walked into the bathroom to change. She brushed her teeth and looked at her reflection in the mirror while she took her hair down. It cascaded down her back, curled perfectly. She folded up her clothes and opened the door to walk back to her room. Unbeknownst to her, Bert was standing outside the door, waiting to get in. Bert saw Mary before she saw him and said "Mary, isn't it past your bedtime?" He said and laughed as she jumped and dropped her neatly folded clothes on the floor. He bent over to pick them up and handed them back to Mary. She immediately used the unfolded clothes to cover herself, shocked. She had never been in this kind of a position before, and didn't know how to act.

"Yes, actually it is. Now, if you'll forgive me, will you let me do just that?" She said as he nodded in response. He started to walk into the bathroom. Mary just stood there. She felt like she had to say something. She didn't know just what, but didn't realize the words coming out of her mouth. "I love you too." She whispered as she turned, shocked that she said those words. He barely heard her, but he was sure what she said. He smiled to himself and continued walking into the bathroom.

Mary hastened back to her room at the end of the hall. She neatly hung her clothes in the armoire across from her bed on the wall. Mary turned off the light and climbed into the big, comfy bed. She immediately fell asleep, having the best, most peaceful night of sleep that she ever had.

Bert finished up in the bathroom and walked back to his room. He was surprised that Mary would say those words so quickly, even if he had said them, he just wasn't expecting her to say them. She had never been the kind of woman who offered her feelings easily. Opinions, yes. Feelings, no. But her realized that things were changing…quickly.

Bert woke up early in the morning, and went to rouse the girls. They had school this morning. He fixed them oatmeal before he accompanied them on the walk to school. This was their morning routine they did every day. Before they left, Bert wrote a note and placed it on the bathroom door for Mary. Just to make sure she wasn't worried when none of them were in the house.

Mary woke up shortly after Bert left with the girls. She smiled and stretched in bed, not believing all that has happened in the last 24 hours. She got up and grabbed a dress to wear and other various things, and walked to the bathroom. She noticed the lack of noise and commotion she usually associated with children getting ready for school. She came up to the door and read the note Bert had left. 'He is so thoughtful' she said to herself. She opened the door and walked into the bathroom. She turned on the shower, waiting for it to get warm. She stepped in and let the water cascade down her neck and back, easing her muscles.

She stepped out and dried herself off. She spent a little longer on her hair and makeup, hoping Bert would notice the time and effort she put into it. By the time she walked out of the bathroom, and tidied up her room, she heard the front door close. Bert was home. Her butterflies in her stomach becoming evident now. How would things be after last night? She had never opened up to anyone before, but Bert was different. She would just play along with whatever he had to say. If one thing was for sure, she knew that this was the right thing. Only, how would his children react? Sure, she'd won over the hearts of many kids, but that was before, when she was a nanny. Now she was posing a threat of taking over the role of wife and mother. Oh no, she was starting to worry. What if they didn't like her? The only children's whose opinions really mattered…

She would have to have a talk with Bert about this…

Short, I know. But I'm stuck. I need more time to think…