“Blake, it's me.”
He recognized the voice of Jo, a woman he’d dated infrequently over the last weeks. “Hello, I've been meaning to call you.”
“I heard you got a nanny.”
“That's right. How did you know?”
“I called the house.”
If he wasn’t upset before, he was definitely upset now. “You spoke to the nanny?”
“No, your mother.”
“I see.” He was at least pleased his mother had been at the house.
“Anyway, I’m back and now we’ll be able to see a lot more of one another.”
Had she gone somewhere? He hadn’t noticed. “Okay.”
“You don't sound very pleased about it. Have I called at a bad time?”
“I’m sorry, I'm just distracted. I just got a speeding ticket.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
“It's a bad start to the day.”
“How about we go out for dinner tonight to cheer you up?”
She was trying hard. He wasn’t really that keen, but she wasn’t a bad kind of person. “Tonight would be too short notice, and I don't have anyone to look after Leo.”
“What about the nanny?”
He sighed. What he probably needed was a day nanny and a night nanny. “She's a day nanny.”
“You might have to get a night-time nanny.”
“Hmm. I was just thinking that. I could see if she could stay late one night.”
“You could?”
Blake knew he had to get on with his life, and he hoped to marry again so Leo wouldn’t be an only child. He wanted Leo to have two parents and not feel different from his peers. To achieve that, he had to date, and Jo was okay. She might be a good choice. “I'll ask if she can stay tomorrow night for a bit longer, how's that?”
“Thanks.”
“I'll call you tonight. I've got another call coming in.”
“Okay. Bye, Blake.”
With a flick of a finger, he ended the call. He didn't really have another call coming in; he didn't like to chitchat on the phone about nothing and that was what Jo was prone to do.
Later that day, Sonia came back to the house to see Leo as promised. Sonia entertained Leo in his playroom while Olive cleaned up.
“I’ll wash some of Leo’s clothes; his laundry basket is full.” Olive carried the basket downstairs and into the laundry. She’d already noticed there was a large electric washer and clothes dryer in there and she was keen to try them out. At her haus, she had no clothes dryer at all and in the wet weather they hung their clothes on a line in the barn. Their washing machine was gas-powered and nowhere near the size of the one in Blake’s house. With appliances like Blake’s the washing could be done at any time of the day, not just in the morning.
“Do you need any help, Olive?” Sonia called out, “I told you that we have people to clean once a week and that includes the weekly washing.”
“No, I’m almost done in the laundry.”
“Then when you’re done can you bathe Leo? He’s just drawn all over himself with marker-pens and Blake will be furious if he sees him like this. I would help but I don’t want to risk getting my dress wet.”
“I’ll be right there.” Olive hurried upstairs and gave Leo his bath. Just as she had him dry and dressed in his pajamas, Olive heard a door opening downstairs.
Sonia, who had joined them in Leo’s bedroom, said, “That must be Blake.”
Olive glanced across at Sonia, and they shared a knowing look.
Leo heard his father downstairs. “Daddy, Daddy.” He bolted to the top of the stairs.
Olive held his hand and helped him down, even though he was quite capable of doing it himself; Sonia followed along behind them.
When Blake scooped up Leo into his arms, Sonia asked, “Blake, how was your day?”
“Not good. Amongst other annoying things, I got a speeding ticket.”
“You shouldn’t have been driving too fast. Be careful next time,” his mother said.
Blake frowned and sat down on the couch. “Can you get me a glass of water, Olive?”
“Sure.” Olive walked into the kitchen, opened a bottle of cold water, poured it into a glass and just as she was about to walk back into the living room, she heard her name mentioned.
“I want to talk to you about Olive,” Blake said.
“Yes?” she heard Sonia say.
“I’ve been giving her a lot of thought and we don’t know anything about this girl. She also isn’t from our world. I’ve got nothing against her but we know nothing about her except the few things she’s told us. How can we have hired some stranger to look after my son?”
“I’m confident she’s the right person for the job. Qualifications aren’t everything. You just need to think positively. In fact, you need to be more positive in general. You’re always looking at the downside of everything. She’s no longer a stranger, and she's doing splendidly. Have you seen any bad behavior from the cameras around the house?”
Cameras? thought Olive. What on earth...
“Well, no.”
Their conversation ended when Olive came back into the room with the water. “Blake, would you like me to make you some dinner, or have you eaten out again?”
“I could do with a salad. That’s all I feel like.”
Olive nodded. “I’ll fix you one.” She hurried back to the kitchen horrified that he had cameras on her. Could he see her while he was at work? It certainly sounded that way.
“Leo is happy with her and she’s treating him as her own son,” Sonia said.
Olive was certain they had a few more things to say about her but decided not to listen. Whatever Blake thought of her was something she could do nothing about. If Gott wants me to work here, then things will work out, and if not, then Gott will place me somewhere else, Olive thought.
* * *
When his mother finally left, Blake told Olive he had a special request.
“I have an appointment tomorrow night, and I wondered if you’d be able to stay a little later?”
She nodded. “That should be okay.”
“Normally I wouldn’t ask, but I’m confident with you looking after him and I don’t want to ask my mother. I don’t trust anyone else with Leo.”
Finally, he trusted her. Olive was so pleased to hear it. So, if that's true, what is going on with the cameras?
“I can drive you home afterward. I wouldn’t want you driving home late on your bike.”
Olive gave a little giggle.
“What’s funny?”
“Riding home on my bike, not driving.”
Blake smiled. “Riding then.”
“That would be no good. Leo would have to be dragged out of bed for you to take me home.”
“That’s true. You could stay the night here if you wish.”
Olive shook her head; even if she were okay with it, her parents would never allow that, especially since he was a single man. “I’d be happy to stay later, but I can’t do overnight.”
“Good enough. You’ll be paid properly for overtime.”
Olive nodded slightly. She didn’t like talking about money although she liked receiving it.
“As I said, it’s a pesky work thing, but every now and again I have to attend these things.”
“I understand.”
* * *
When Olive was gone, Blake had no idea why he just hadn’t come straight out and told her he had a date. What did he care what she thought? It was then that he faced the truth; he was attracted to her. It made no sense. She would think him far too old and cranky. Besides that, she was Amish.
He ran a hand through his dark hair. If only he’d met someone like Olive years ago his life might’ve turned out differently. All he could do was wait for time to pass and the pieces of his life to merge back together. Now, he was grateful Olive was Leo’s nanny for however long she could stay in his employment.
Chapter 7
Olive made it a point to a
rrive early the next morning. She found Blake drinking coffee while watching Leo draw on a large pad on the kitchen table. They both turned to look at her when she walked in.
She saw a pile of clothes, and it appeared Blake had attempted to dress his son at some point. Blake didn’t bat an eye as he pushed the small pile of clothes toward Olive. “I give up; you dress him.” He continued to sip his coffee.
Olive had no trouble dressing Leo and not long after that, Blake left for work.
She cleaned up the breakfast dishes and searched the kitchen for the daily list, but there was none. “Well, well, well. I don’t believe it!” Olive stood in the middle of the kitchen shocked. Blake had conceded a tiny bit of control.
Leo often wore more food than he ate and today was no different. Olive took him upstairs and changed his clothes for the second time. When they were back in the living room, they settled into a serious building competition with Leo's wooden blocks. They were in the middle of it when someone came through the front door. In a panic, Olive quickly shielded Leo until she saw who it was. She let out a relieved breath when it was just Blake’s mother.
Sonia glanced across at Olive and said, “I was hoping to find you two at home.”
“Nana, Nana!” Leo yelled and clapped in glee as he struggled to get out of Olive’s hold.
Olive watched the toddler leap into his grandmother’s arms before she left the two of them alone.
The beautifully groomed woman followed Olive into the kitchen and sat down observing Olive. “So my dear, how are you doing with my boys?” The smile on her face hinted of mischief.
Olive tried to laugh but faltered. “I think that I’m doing okay. I don’t think Blake’s entirely happy with me, but we’re still getting to know each other.” She giggled to cover her nerves. “Things are improving. He didn't leave me a list this morning.”
Sonia watched her a bit longer then rose to her feet. “Good, and I think we should get to know each other better too. I have an idea for the afternoon.” She clapped her hands. “There’s a cartoon-character ice-skating show at the arena today; I think we should treat our boy to a fun afternoon. Let’s go; we have fun awaiting us.” Sonia’s enthusiasm was contagious, and soon Olive was preparing snacks and a drink for Leo.
They piled into Sonia’s luxury sedan and headed off for an afternoon full of surprises. Olive was equally curious and nervous about what the day would reveal, but she genuinely liked Blake’s mother.
When they arrived at the arena, Olive said, “Sonia, I won’t be comfortable going in. I’ll stay in the car.”
“You can’t go in?”
Olive shrugged. “Most likely, it's better if I don't.”
“I understand. I think the show goes for an hour or more. Will you be all right here in the car?”
“Jah, of course. I’ll just wait here. I’m happy to do that.”
Olive sat and watched the little boy pull hard on Sonia’s arm, eager to get to his destination. Over an hour later, grandmother and grandson returned. Sonia looked exhausted, and even Leo looked tired. Olive strapped Leo in his seat and wrapped a blanket around him to fight off the chill.
“How was the show, Sonia?”
“The skaters went onto the ice and the kids in the arena cheered and laughed. Leo had so much fun.” Sonia leaned in, and whispered to Olive, “He’s so much like his father you know. They are so happy and full of life.” At Olive’s disbelieving look, she laughed. “No, I’m serious. Blake was so full of life, so excited, but that all ended with the Mona situation.”
Olive knew heartache could change a person. Glancing around, she saw that Leo had already fallen asleep. “Will you tell me what happened, Sonia? I don’t want to pry, but he seems so angry now. It can’t be good for a person to hold all that inside.”
Sonia’s eyes watered as she nodded her head. She stared off into the parking lot and turned on the ignition. “They were high school sweethearts. Blake spent years building a name for himself in the business world before he proposed, and then a second later, they were pregnant.”
Sonia’s car joined the line leaving the parking lot. Olive wondered whether Sonia missed Leo’s mother. Could they have been close?
“Mona was demanding and impossible throughout the pregnancy. She did not understand that Blake had to work to pay for her increasingly more expensive lifestyle.”
Ah, that answers that question.
That was all Sonia said and Olive did not want to pry further about the matter.
“Are you able to eat lunch with us at a bistro?” Sonia asked.
“Yes, I eat out often. My friends and I go to the same coffee shop nearly every week.” Olive missed her friends; she had seen little of them lately. She looked at Leo again. “He’s asleep. I suppose I could hold him while we eat.”
“No. We’ll wake him. Blake doesn’t like him to sleep too much during the day.”
* * *
When they were parked at their destination, Sonia shook Leo’s shoulder and he woke up immediately and looked around. “We’re getting some food now. Come with us.”
They found a table out in the garden area. The women ordered their lunch and enjoyed Leo’s silliness as he raced around with other toddlers in the play area.
The afternoon would have been perfect except Olive could not stop thinking about Blake and Mona. He’d lost so much, it was no wonder he was angry all the time. Olive tried to imagine a happy and carefree version of Blake. The only version of him she could envision was the uptight, grumpy businessman who greeted her every day.
Leo exhausted himself and during the drive back to the house he fell asleep once again.
Once Sonia left, Olive cooked the dinner. With Leo having settled himself on the couch for another sleep, she concentrated on preparing a meal.
* * *
When Blake came home, he told Olive he wanted a word with her. She hoped it wasn’t to reprimand her about Leo sleeping so much. She really couldn’t help it if he had fallen asleep. It wasn't as though she’d put him to bed, and he'd been far too tired for distractions to keep him awake and happy.
He took a slow deep breath, then said, “I’m going on a date. It’s not a work function.”
“Oh. I see.” She wondered why he was telling her this.
“I don’t know why I lied.”
“It’s okay. I don’t need to know where you’re going.”
“I know that!” His dark eyes blazed.
Olive was taken aback, and kept silent.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m under a lot of pressure and I shouldn’t take it out on you.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. Not in the least.” He stood up and pushed the stool back under the kitchen island countertop. “I’ll be leaving in half an hour and it won’t be a late night.”
“Take your time.”
He gave her a nod and strode out of the room.
* * *
Once Blake had left for his date and she was bathing Leo, Olive couldn’t help thinking what it would be like to have Blake’s full attention. If he liked a woman, surely he’d talk sweetly to her. She found herself wanting him to like her as a woman. Pangs of envy toward the woman he was dating niggled at her.
* * *
On the way to the restaurant, Blake knew he couldn’t go through with it. He pulled to the side of the road, parked his car and called his ‘date.’ He told her Leo had come down with a cold and he wouldn’t be able to make it. She hung up in his ear. Apparently, his lie hadn’t been convincing.
There was no point in going to see some other woman when the one he wanted to spend time with was the same young woman who was under his own roof at this very moment.
If Olive was ever going to have feelings for him, though, he’d have to rid himself of the chip on his shoulder. He knew that. Even though they were from two different worlds, he could see himself with a woman like Olive.
* * *
Just as Olive was done preparin
g Leo's food, she heard the garage door open. She walked to the internal door and was met by Blake. “You’re so early. I have only just put Leo’s meal out for him.”
“She couldn’t make it after all.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that.”
He pulled an odd little smile. “I’m not.”
She stared at him not sure what he meant.
“When he finishes eating, we’ll get you home.”
“Okay.” She gathered up her things, a little disappointed he hadn’t suggested they have a cup of coffee. It would’ve been nice to have a quiet moment with him during the time Leo was occupied with eating. Who was she kidding? She was just the nanny.
“Ready?” he asked when he’d wiped Leo’s hands.
“Yes.”
“Come on, Leo. We’re going to drive Miss Olive home.” Leo held onto his father’s outstretched hand.
Olive followed them through the house to the garage.
There wasn’t much conversation on the way home, and Olive had to wonder why he hadn't been more upset his date had canceled. When things didn’t go his way, he normally got upset.
Chapter 8
Two weeks later, Olive needed time with her four close friends. She organized them to meet at 'their' coffee shop on Saturday morning. After Blake’s failed date with that woman, she had admitted to herself that she found him appealing, but she wasn’t ready to admit it to her friends.
Olive was pleased when one of her older brothers, Elijah, offered to drive her into town and come fetch her two hours later. Her legs ached from the constant bike riding over the past weeks to and from Blake and Leo’s house, although she had noticed her muscles were getting stronger and she didn't tire as easily.
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