by Sadie Grubor
"The suite?" She gasped. "And where is it Sophia is staying?"
Collin started walking toward me as she began her questioning. He stopped next to me and kissed the side of my head before turning back to her.
"Oh God Collin, could you get anymore clichéd? Really, the nanny? You are sleeping with your nanny?" Allison's voice had risen and was laced in disgust.
"No," he responded and silence fell over the room. My insides twisted. "I am sleeping next to my fiancé."
The moment was face to palm worthy and that's exactly what I did. This was not going to go well.
"You can't be serious?" she spat.
"Oh, I'm quite serious." He grabbed my waist, spun me around, and lifted my hand to her. "I plan to marry Sophia and you will respect the fact that you are in 'our' home."
Allison's mouth was wide open, but nothing was coming out. For a moment, I had to stop from laughing in her face. Though, I knew nothing good would come out when she started to speak again.
"I cannot believe this. You're just like our father," she growled.
"Allison," he warned. "Our father had an affair, who am I cheating on?" He pulled me closer to his side.
She opened her mouth and then closed it before she walked out of the room.
"Please don't let her get to you. It will take time, but she will accept things." He kissed my lips this time. "She has no choice in the matter." He grinned before kissing me harder.
"Daddy," Victoria skipped into the kitchen, "welcome home." She smiled brightly. "Mommy is making spaghetti and meatballs tonight." She climbed up to the counter and sat on a stool.
"I can smell that." He smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I'm going to go clean up before dinner." His hand and fingers trailed against my back as he walked away. I shivered. Those damn fingers were talented.
"Did she just call you mommy?"
I spun and met Will, who had an amused look on his face. My face reddened and I felt the warmth of the blush. I nodded.
"Wow, so Allison is telling the truth." It wasn't a question, it had been a statement.
"What?"
"Oh, she is up there growling about men always sleeping with the help, marrying the damn nanny, etcetera." He shrugged, but then caught the look on my face. I really did feel like a cliché. "Soph, really, it's not that big a deal. It's the same as people who meet at a bar and end up together."
"You are so full of crap," I laughed at him.
"It's true. Think about it. You are just two people who met through a means and now you're a couple. I'm happy for you, if you are happy?" Now that was a question.
I turned with a large smile on my face. "I am."
"Then that's all that matters."
Will helped to make extra salad before going to get the twins for dinner. Victoria helped me to set the larger dining room table, since we had more people in the house. Once everything was placed out, everyone started to file in for dinner.
Collin took his seat at the head of the table, Allison sat to his right with the twins between Will and her, Victoria pulled my chair out for me putting me on Collin's left side, and then she took a seat next to me. Collin's hand rubbed my knee briefly before starting to place food on his plate. Halfway through the meal of silence, Collin addressed Allison.
"So, are you in town permanently, or will you be returning to Whidbey?" He pulled his wine glass to his lips and looked over the rim at Allison. She patted her mouth with her napkin before answering.
"I had to come back to finalize the divorce." She tried to be calm, but you could see sadness behind her eyes. "I have to meet with Jonathan on Tuesday evening to discuss some final terms before we get it all taken care of." She placed another bite of the pasta she doesn't care for in her mouth.
"So, you've decided to go through with it then?" He asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?"
"Allison, we know you've been through a lot and we know John is no angel, but you two did share something –"
"Just stop right there. If it was so special then perhaps he wouldn't have ruined it."
That was the last they discussed the subject. The topic was turned to registering the kids for their transfer to St. Johns as well as Victoria discussing the school project she was working on. When dinner finished, I was happy to have Will help clean with me.
We talked a little about Amber and him, as well as about the time they spent in Whidbey Island. Apparently, Allison had come to terms with Juliette and staying with her had been interesting. I also found out the reason behind Connor staying with us instead of Juliette for so long.
From what Will said, Juliette wanted to spend time focusing on helping Allison. While, Allison was hesitant with Juliette and downright rude to her at times, Juliette did not give up. They ended up bonding through Juliette's interior design business.
"I think we are staying in Seattle and Allison is going to start her own interior design business."
"Really?" I was a little shocked. The snobby princess was actually going to work and it surprised me.
"Yeah, I guess she likes it and I overheard her telling Juliette she doesn't want or need a man in her life anymore."
"Wow," I finished loading the dishwasher.
"Yeah, but it's still not as wow as your news." He smirked at me. I threw a dishtowel at him.
Bedtime that evening was a little crazy. The twins were wound up and didn't want to settle down. William finally got them into the bathtub when I was climbing in next to Victoria on her bed to read to her. We were about five pages into 'The Little Mermaid' when Gregory and Michael burst into her room and jumped onto the bed.
"We heard you reading," Gregory spoke.
"Can we listen too?" Michael finished.
"I'm sorry Sophia," Will rushed in after them. "Let's go boys." He ordered and they groaned.
"Do you care if they listen?" I raised my brow at him.
"You sure?" He looked at me questioningly. I nodded. "Okay, I'm gonna go clean up the bathroom."
"Okay," I waved him off and continued to read.
Gregory and Michael were full of questions about mermaids and the story itself. Victoria was getting irritated, but I told her they didn't get to hear from the beginning, so they needed to catch up. She took their questions for as long as she could.
"Listen, if you ask one more question then you have to get out," she barked at them.
"Victoria," I hissed. She looked up at me with a scowl. "Apologize for being so mean."
"But they keep…"
"Apologize," I warned.
She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Sorry," she grumbled.
I continued reading and the boys didn't ask any more questions.
Once I finished with the chapter they were all asleep. Victoria was on my left, Gregory on my right, and Michael was curled up with his head on my right leg. I fought the chuckle about to burst from me. I was stuck. Eventually Will showed up.
"Looks like you have a magic touch for bedtime." He smiled and picked up Michael.
I slipped to the end of the bed and grabbed Gregory into my arms.
"I can come back and get him." Will argued.
"I've already got him, so get moving."
We took the boys to the sofa bed in the suite, which surprised me. Allison wanted the boys in the suite with her. She was shocking me with things left and right. Though, her tongue was still sharp, there did seem to be some small changes about her. I told myself to focus on these good changes going forward.
Stopping back in Victoria's room on my way to bed I ran into Collin at her bedside. He was running his fingers through her hair lightly as he said goodnight to her. It made my heart flutter and my chest warm at the sight.
I moved to his side, picked up the book and tucked her in with a kiss to her cheek. He smiled when I turned to look at him, took my hand, and walked us to bed.
There was nothing I wanted more, after spending a couple of hours over a stove making spaghetti and meatbal
ls, than to shower, but when I got into the bathroom I saw there was a bath drawn in the tub. Collin wrapped his arms around me.
"Did you do this?" I craned my neck to the side to look at him.
"Who else?" He chuckled. I rolled my eyes.
He grasped the bottom of my shirt and tugged on it, until he had removed it. When he unlatched my bra, he kissed my shoulder blade, and when he pulled my jeans off, he kissed a warm trail down the back of my left thigh. Once all of my clothes were removed, he took my hand and helped me into the tub. Before I even had a chance to ask, his clothes were piled with mine on the floor and he was climbing in behind me.
Lying back against his chest I closed my eyes and relaxed, until his hands began to wander. Starting at my shoulders he manipulated them firmly, I moaned. His brilliant fingers slid over my collarbone to my breasts, where he cupped, massaged, and rolled my nipples through his fingers. I moaned louder. One hand slipped down over my stomach and between my thighs. I moaned and pushed my hips up toward his hand. His lips pressed to my neck, just below my ear as his long fingers slipped between and into me. I gasped and ground against his hand.
"I love you, Sophia," he murmured against my skin and inserted a second digit.
"Oh…ah…Coll…ungh," his fingers moved quick and smooth between my legs. When his thumb found my swollen and sensitive nub I lost it, having to cover my mouth to muffle the moan. His fingers slowed as did the roll of my hips.
We lay in the tub for about ten more minutes before he carried me to the bed, soaking wet. His mouth descended upon mine and his hands grabbed the back of my knees, pulling them up and apart. The feel of his warm, wet, smooth shaft rubbed against my folds. Without the help of hands, he found my entrance and pushed forth with a low growl.
Moving slowly I lie under him watching his shoulder and bicep flex, the tension in his arms was beautiful. Just as my body coiled within Collin grabbed my ankles and placed them on his shoulders. Moaning loudly, I rolled my head back, pushing my chest forward. He moved with definition and purpose, until he moaned loudly and reached his climax.
I was so close my hips kept moving against him trying to reach ecstasy. He caught on quickly.
"We need to do something about this, don't we?" he whispered into my ear. He remained moving and brought his fingers in for assistance. I growled and grabbed his hair roughly. The ministrations were all I needed to continue my journey to oblivion.
The bed was damp from not toweling off after the bath, but I didn't care. I was so relaxed and sated I quickly slipped into slumber next to Collin. The next morning Victoria burst into the bedroom.
"Mom, Dad," she called as she bounded in.
My eyes shot open and I grasped the covers tightly over my naked body, sitting up. Collin mimicked my actions.
"Hey," I sounded a little flustered. "What's going on?" I looked to the clock. She had twenty minutes before she had to get up.
She shrugged. "I woke up."
"Okay, well, why don't you go get cleaned up and dressed for school. I will meet you in your room in ten minutes."
"Can't you come help me now?" she whined.
"Give me ten minutes and I will be in, okay?" I smiled and nodded.
"Fine," she huffed. Collin chuckled.
I sighed in relief when she left and threw myself back onto the pillows. Soon the feel of his warmth was against me, his arm slipping over my waist.
"Good morning, mommy," I felt the smile on his lips as he kissed my collarbone.
I tugged on his hair teasingly. He growled and moved his mouth lower.
"Ah, ah, ah," I slipped out of the bed and from under him. "If I don't get moving, she will be back in ten minutes. Not a good idea to start that." I said from over my shoulder.
I entered the bathroom and quickly wrapped up in a robe. Grabbing my toothbrush and the paste, I went to work on my morning breath. I leaned over the sink to spit out the foamy toothpaste when I felt him behind me. Standing and wiping my mouth I looked into the mirror at his reflection.
"What are you –?"
He pulled the robe up quickly and slipped into me from behind. My toothbrush slipped from my hand, landing in the porcelain basin. The palm of his left hand pushed me down toward the counter. My hands grasped the sides of the sink as he moved in and out of me, grunts and moans falling from his lips.
It was amazing and dangerous. At any moment Victoria could come back into the room, and while that worried me, I couldn't help but drown in the excitement of the whole thing. He pumped in and out a few more times, and then grabbed my right leg, pulling it out to the side. The change in position sent bursts of heat through my body and when his other hand moved from my hip to press down on my back I lost it. My body convulsed around his hard flesh.
"That's it baby," He growled and returned his hands to my hips. With a loud moan he followed me.
Panting heavily against the counter, he pulled my robe back down and slipped away and into the shower.
"Good morning to you to," I gasped out. He chuckled.
"That was the proper way to say good morning to you." His voice carried from the steamy shower.
"That was a dangerous risk of getting caught by a seven year old." I countered, though inside my inner girl was doing back flips.
"You liked it." He laughed. I didn't say anything else. I had to dress quickly and get to Victoria's room.
When I got to her room she was trying to brush through her hair. I walked up behind her and helped her brush and braid it before we went down stairs for breakfast.
Since we had extra time this morning I made pancakes and bacon. The twins slowly drug themselves into the kitchen with their uniforms on and Will carrying their backpacks. They sat down, perking up at the sight of pancakes.
"Can we have some?" they asked at the same time.
I giggled and nodded.
"Are you sure?" Will asked.
"I made extra for them." I smiled at him.
"Thanks," he smiled.
"I thought they had to register with the school?" I questioned.
"They do, but Mrs. Bed, I mean, Ms. Bishop is pretty sure they will get shown to class today."
I nodded. Of course she could get them signed up and attending in the same day, she was a Bishop of course.
Allison had been correct, because William and she returned from the school without the twins. Allison went directly up to her room and Will to his. I didn't hear from either of them for a couple of hours; however, I ran into Will while he was on his way to the laundry room.
"Are you doing her laundry too?"
He shook his head. "No, she has everything dry cleaned."
"Oh."
And that was the extent of the conversation between us, until Will met me at the front door to go pick up the kids. We decided to drive over at the same time, but still in separate cars since Victoria and the twins had separate after school activities. Apparently Allison had gotten the twins in with the fall soccer league, even if it was a month after registration.
Pulling up to Victoria's horseback lesson, she was going on and on about Halloween coming up and she was already starting to think of different costumes. I had to admit I was surprised she didn't say a mermaid again. Instead she was talking about dressing up as a princess.
Victoria was halfway into her lesson when ten years was taken from me. I was sitting on the fence talking with Anna, another nanny, when I heard the horse's loud "Neh", Victoria's scream, and her instructors call for her. When my head snapped toward the commotion a multitude of things washed over me. Anxiety crashed unto my shoulders as Claire grabbed for the reigns of Victoria's horse, fear coursed through my veins as the horse jerked her body around roughly, and panic grasped my chest when she flew from the horses back and hit the hard dirt.
I was off the fence and sprinting toward her without any concern of a horse trampling me. Screaming her name the entire way, she didn't answer and didn't move. I slid toward her body like she was home plate of the World Series
. Fighting my instinct to wrap her up in my arms, I appraised her body for damage.
"Don't touch her," Claire yelled when my hands reached out for her instinctually.
I placed a hand on her forehead and yelled her name to her. Nothing, there was no response at all.
"I called 911," a random voice yelled from behind me.
Claire appeared next to me on her knees.
"Victoria, sweetheart, can you hear me?" Again nothing.
Tears began to roll in large drops down my face.
"I tried to get her, I thought I could get the horse in time…" Claire chanted and rocked slowly as she looked down on Victoria's still body.
Laying my head on her chest, I could hear her heart beating ferociously. I breathed in relief and then placed my cheek next to her mouth. Warm breath collected on my cool skin. More relief washed over me. Then she stirred.
"Victoria?" I leaned over her.
Tears started quickly when she tried to move and then came the cries of pain.
"What hurts, baby?" I scanned her body for the hundredth time.
"My arm," she cried.
I looked to her right arm, but it seemed fine. Her left arm however had a bright red patch and purple was already forming. Closer examination of the arm and I assumed it was broken.
"Is there anything else?"
"My head," she sobbed and tried to sit up.
"Stay lying down," I slipped next to her and curled to her body.
The sirens announced the ambulance's arrival and the paramedics surrounded us quickly. They checked her over, asked some questions and then braced her before moving her body to the board. I followed them to the back of the ambulance and pulled out my cell phone.
During the ride to the hospital I called Collin to let him know about the accident. I got his voicemail, which was normal, so I left a message and sent a text message to his phone.
When we arrived to the hospital and after I answered some preliminary questions, I told the nurse to have Dr. Bishop paged. Once she realized Victoria was his daughter, she rushed from the room. The emergency room doctor was going over her diligently before he ordered her to get an x-ray of her arm and an MRI of her head.
Victoria was conscious and still upset, but they had given her pain medication and an IV to settle her down. I wiped at the tears still streaming down my face as I watched everything.
