Daddy's Christmas Date

by Piper Sullivan

  It was also one of the reasons I had been pressing so hard for custody. Billy Baker was not a stable person, and he seemed to be leading Jo into his degenerate lifestyle. It wasn’t an environment I wanted my children to grow up in. I was sincerely worried about their welfare.

  “Let me get this straight.” I closed my eyes. I could feel a headache starting to thump behind my eyes. “You are just dumping the kids so you can frolic in the South of France with your lover?”

  I could hear the sigh on the other end of the line. “Don’t be so dramatic, Zane,” she said. “The kids are fine. They understand. And you are getting what you’ve been fighting me for, don’t forget.”

  “Okay.” I swallowed. She was right. “So, the kids and Rosa will be there tomorrow?” Rosa was the kids nanny.

  There was silence on the other end of the phone. “Just the kids,” she said, eventually. “Rosa has quit. Honestly, the woman is a handful! Said she couldn’t do it anymore.”

  “Are you telling me that you are bringing the kids to Birrimba without their nanny?” I couldn’t believe this. “I just told you, I am heading to Singapore tomorrow. There is no one to look after them!”

  “Get Mrs. Price to do it,” Jo said.

  “Mrs. Price is sixty-five years old!” The headache was getting worse. “She can barely keep up with the housekeeping. She’s due to retire at the end of the year, for God’s sake!” I swallowed my anger. I simply couldn’t believe this was happening. Jo had been getting more unstable since she had taken up with Baker, but she had always managed to put the kids’ welfare first. Not anymore, apparently.

  “I’ll handle it.” It took all my effort not to scream down the phone at her. “Have a great trip.” I pressed end on the call. My hands were shaking.

  Then Bryce had come to my rescue, inviting me out for dinner with his new wife and her sister who was visiting from the States.

  I had acknowledged Bianca when we had been introduced, but I was very preoccupied with the bombshell Jo had just dropped. But I had noticed she was a very pretty woman, with dark hair and big blue eyes. In any other circumstance, I would have appreciated that fact.

  It was Cara who had suggested it, that Bianca take over temporary nanny duties until I found a permanent replacement. I had been ringing around agencies for over an hour, and not one had anyone free. I was getting desperate.

  Bianca had looked shocked, but then she agreed. I had quickly booked a flight for her to the Territory and arranged for Roland to pick her up from Alice Springs airport, flying her the rest of the way to Birrimba in the private plane.

  I had spoken to Mrs. Price once, from Singapore. She had confirmed that the kids and Bianca had arrived, but there hadn’t been time for a full brief.

  I felt the wheels of the plane hit the tarmac, bumping unsteadily as the plane landed. The brakes came on, and we careered to a stop.

  “Touchdown, Mr. Connelly.” Roland’s voice came over the PA, slightly fuzzy. “You may disembark.”

  I unclicked my seat belt. George was already up, gathering the luggage. I was home.

  Out of the frying pan and into the fire. All I wanted to do was rest, have some downtime. But a sixth sense told me that I was dreaming.

  Three unsettled kids, and a new nanny. A nanny who had never worked at the job before, either.

  Let the fun and games begin.

  “Daddy!”

  I was almost bowled over as soon as I opened the front door. Two little girls were upon me, their arms encircling me so that I could barely walk.

  I laughed, tousling their heads. “Okay, okay, let me walk,” I laughed. They refused to let go. In the end, I had to walk with them, putting one leg in front of the other like I was walking through heavy snow.

  Mrs. Price walked out from the kitchen. “I thought I heard the plane,” she smiled. “Did you have a good trip?”

  “Adequate,” I replied. I frowned, looking at her. She was walking a bit stiffer than last time I had seen her. Her arthritis was obviously playing up, again. Poor Mrs. Price. She had been the housekeeper here for as long as I could remember, and she was getting old.

  I glanced around. “Where’s Max?” Max was my oldest, a seven-year-old bundle of mischief.

  Mrs. Price rolled his eyes. “Out with Robbo, as usual,” she replied. “Thinking that he’s the man of the house.” She pursed her lips. Mrs. Price found Max trying. It was one of the main reasons that I couldn’t have left her in charge of the kids.

  “Do you have presents for us, Daddy?” Poppy, my five-year-old, looked up at me expectantly. Harper, her little sister who had just turned four, nodded her head. “Please, Daddy?”

  I laughed. “Go and see George,” I said. “He’s got all the presents.” They ran off, trying to locate my personal assistant.

  A woman walked into the kitchen, smiling.

  Bianca. The new nanny. I approached her, smiling back, with my hand outstretched. “Bianca,” I said. “Good to see you. Thank you so much for taking on the kids at such short notice. You really are a life saver!”

  Bianca shook my hand. “Well, it’s certainly been a baptism by fire,” she said. Her American accent rolled around the words.

  “Could we have a coffee, and you can fill me in?” I said, walking to the kitchen. “Mrs. Price, could you bring coffee for Bianca and I into my study, please?”

  Better to get the worst of it over with. I headed to the study, indicating for Bianca to follow me.

  She sat opposite me, not speaking. Mrs. Price brought the coffee and cups in for us, then shut the door as she left.

  I took the opportunity to study Bianca while I poured us both a cup.

  She was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, which showed off her tan. She was smaller than I remembered; she barely reached my shoulders. The same dark hair, twisted into a casual top knot.

  But it was her eyes, which struck me. I remembered she was blue eyed, but not how amazing they were. Huge almond shaped eyes of cornflower blue, fringed with long, black lashes.

  Wow. I knew she was very pretty, but this was the first time I had felt it. Well, I had been very preoccupied when we first met.

  She couldn’t be more different than Rosa, her predecessor. Rosa had been a forty-year-old sullen woman, who rarely smiled and had the charm of a toad. Jo had employed her because of her impeccable reputation, but also, I suspected, because she was so plain. No one would look twice at Rosa, and if they did, she would probably have eaten them for breakfast.

  “How have you settled in?” I asked, trying very hard not to stare at her crossed legs. Long legs, for such a petite woman.

  “It’s been…interesting.” She squinted those amazing eyes. “The children are very high spirited, aren’t they?”

  I laughed at that. “They most certainly are,” I agreed. “Some might say a handful.” I paused, looking at her. “Let me give you some background. My children have been living with their mother and new partner, and haven’t had a very settled life, from what I’ve gathered. They are also dealing with the aftermath of our divorce. So they are a little more…temperamental, than usual.”

  Bianca raised her eyebrows. “That explains a bit,” she said. “They haven’t been very keen to get to know me. I’m trying, but every move I make is rebuffed.” She looked down, a little sadly.

  Shit. The last thing I needed was for her to do a runner. “Give them time,” I said. “It will be okay.” I stood up. “It’s almost lunch time, Bianca. The kids need to be rounded up for lunch. I will join you, presently.”

  She looked surprised, but stood up also, leaving the room.

  I collapsed wearily back into my chair. My head was spinning.

  I knew my kids. They were up to their old tricks. And the beautiful, blue eyed nanny was their new target.

  Bianca

  I closed the door behind me with a decisive click. I had been dismissed, well and truly. So much for the coffee I had been promised.

  I walked down the hallway of the old hou
se, thinking of rounding up the children for lunch. I sighed. The children were harder to wrangle than the cattle that surrounded us. I still had to pinch myself that I was here. Stranded. In the middle of nowhere, in charge of three rambunctious kids. Me, Bianca Harris, who had once dreamed of being at the cutting edge of fashion in the States.

  I had bitten off more than I could chew, that was for sure. And Zane Connelly, my new boss, didn’t seem to be willing to help.

  I thought of him as I walked. A man used to his bidding being done, obviously. Mrs. Price, the crusty old housekeeper here, had filled me in on Zane and the station as soon as I had got here; almost as soon as I had stepped off the plane.

  “So, you’re the new nanny,” she had sniffed, looking me up and down. I don’t think she approved. “Do you have a uniform?” She frowned, looking at the cut off shorts and tank top I was wearing. Hey, it was as hot as hell out here. And what was this crap about a uniform? I hadn’t realized I was supposed to be rigged out like Mary Poppins.

  “Don’t have one,” I had said, meeting her eye. I wasn’t intimidated by her. The woman had obviously been here forever, and thought she ran the whole show. “Is it a requirement?”

  Mrs. Price had sighed. “Rosa always wore one,” she had said. “But then, Rosa was formally trained by one of the leading agencies in Australia.” Her eyes narrowed. “What are your qualifications?”

  “I don’t have any,” I replied. “I’m just helping Zane out, temporarily.”

  “Mister Connelly, you mean,” she had said, crisply. I shrugged. How old school was this place? I had been introduced to him as Zane, so I didn’t see what the problem was.

  “The Connelly’s are the royal family of the Outback,” she had continued, her mouth pursed. “Birrimba was founded in 1894. It is the biggest cattle station in the Northern Territory. The history is vast. Proper respect for that is essential, if you intend to work here.” She fixed me with a penetrating stare. “Come and meet the children. They arrived only two hours ago.”

  I followed the old biddy down the hallway, feeling like I was about to meet my executioner. Why, oh why, had I agreed to this? I hardly knew any children. You couldn’t say I was the most maternal of women. I barely even thought about kids.

  And now, I was about to be put in charge of three of them. I was quaking in my boots, just a little.

  “Children.” Mrs. Price walked into a large room, where three children were watching a movie. “Please turn that off, for the moment. There is someone you need to meet.”

  An older boy pressed pause on the television, looking at us curiously. Two little girls, who had been reclining on bean bags, stood up. They all looked at me as if I had just landed from outer space. I forced a smile onto my face.

  “This is your new nanny,” Mrs. Price continued. “Her name is Miss Harris.”

  “Bianca will do,” I said, smiling wider. Mrs. Price frowned, but didn’t say anything. The three children looked at me, not blinking.

  “This is Max, Poppy and Harper,” continued Mrs. Price. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.” She walked out of the room. I looked after her, startled. She was just going to leave me with them? What was I supposed to do?

  “Where’s Rosa?” asked Poppy, her blonde head cocked to the side. Her little sister, Harper, nodded. The boy, Max, was still looking at me silently.

  “I’m not sure,” I answered. “I think she had to leave. So I’m taking her place.”

  “You?” Max said, finally finding his voice. “You don’t look old enough. Rosa was an old lady.”

  The two little girls nodded, solemnly.

  “Where’s Mummy?” Harper asked. “I haven’t seen her.” Her little lip trembled. “I miss her.”

  “She’s gone to France, silly,” said Max, frowning at his sister. “Remember? She had to leave with Billy.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Harper, but she still looked bewildered. I was starting to get an idea of how complicated and confused these children’s lives were. And here was little old me, joining the fray. Another adult to learn how to trust. It must be hard for them.

  Desperately, I looked around the room. I spied a bookcase filled with games. “How about we play something?” I asked, walking over to it. “Snakes and ladders?”

  “We were watching Shrek,” said Max, in a bored voice. He walked back over to the television, putting the movie back on. The two girls followed his lead, sitting back on the bean bags. Their eyes riveted back onto the screen. I was ignored.

  Well, that went down like a lead balloon, I thought. What now? I stood awkwardly, watching them. But they never even glanced at me.

  Eventually, I sat down on a sofa, and watched the movie with them.

  And it had only got worse from there.

  I called out to the children that their lunch was ready. Poppy and Harper arrived, but Max was nowhere.

  “You really need to show them you are in charge,” said Mrs. Price, frowning. “Max will stay outdoors with the station hands all day, if you let him.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Price,” I said, through gritted teeth. I gave the girls their lunch, then walked outside.

  The heat hit me in the face. It was so hot here; I was still getting used to it. It was a dry heat, that entered your lungs the same as the eternal red dust that swirled around the house. The landscape was vast, and barren; mile after mile of unrelenting desert. Sometimes I felt as if I had landed on the surface of the moon.

  I walked to one of the cattle yards. I could see Max, leaning on the railing. He was with Robbo, the station master.

  “Lunch is ready, Max,” I called. He turned to look at me, then turned back. I could see Robbo frown at him.

  “Max, Ms. Bianca is talking to you,” Robbo said, frowning. He looked at me, his old craggy face full of sympathy. I smiled, a bit unsure of what to do next. “You know your manners, young man.”

  Max sighed theatrically, then jumped from the railing, running back to the house. He didn’t look at me.

  “It will get better,” Robbo said to me. “Give it time. These kids have been through the wringer.”

  “I’m trying,” I said, looking at the old man. “I just can’t seem to connect with them. Either they ignore me completely, or they play pranks on me. Max put a small goanna in my bed, did I tell you?” I still shuddered at the thought. I had just got into bed, and my foot had touched a hard, scaly item. I had shrieked, jumping out. Mrs. Price had come running, and so had Max. I had seen him laughing as he scurried back to his room.

  I hadn’t even known what the creature was; Mrs. Price had kindly informed me. A very ugly lizard, apparently.

  “You need to think of something that you can do together,” said Robbo now, breaking into my thoughts about strange lizards. “You know, a project, or an event. Something that you can engage them with, get to know them.”

  “Yes,” I answered, slowly. “You’re right. Any thoughts?”

  Robbo scratched his head underneath the cowboy hat, laughing. “I’m just an old stock hand,” he said. “I’ll put on my thinking cap, but don’t be too hopeful. Maybe Mrs. Price might have some ideas.”

  “Not likely,” I said, a bit sourly. “She doesn’t like me, that’s for sure. I don’t think she’d go out of her way to help me.”

  Robbo laughed again. “Just set in her ways,” he said. “She’s been here forever, and she’s wary of newcomers. Especially a pretty young American. Can’t say we’ve ever had one of your mob here before.”

  I thanked Robbo, then walked back toward the house. At least someone was being kind to me, and welcoming. I was very grateful to him.

  I was walking along the veranda toward the front door when I almost collided with someone coming the other way.

  “Excuse me,” I laughed, stepping back. Oops. It was the boss. Zane Connelly himself.

  He looked different. He had changed out of his business clothes, and was wearing the type of thing all the stock hands wore around here. But it looked completely different on Zane.
In fact, it looked downright sexy. Old, faded denim jeans and a flannel shirt. He was also wearing a cowboy hat. I was suddenly very aware of his bright blue eyes, his rugged good looks.

  I could feel myself blushing. Stop it, Harris, I said to myself.

  Zane looked down at me, his eyes boring into me.

  “Do the children have their lunch?” he asked, brusquely. He wasn’t smiling.

  “I just rounded up Max,” I said. He nodded, then brushed past me, walking toward the cattle yard.

  I gazed after him. A man of few words, obviously. Not used to making small talk with the employees. But then, I suppose he was a billionaire. They probably didn’t make time for the small people, did they? I thought of Bryce, Cara’s new husband. No, he was a friendly man, very approachable, despite being obscenely wealthy.

  Maybe it was just me. I was rubbing everyone the wrong way, apparently. A fish out of water, in a big dry dustbowl.

  I walked into the house. At least the children were at the table, eating their lunch. I sat down next to them, thinking over Robbo’s words. Find something to engage them with. A project, or an event.

  “Will Mummy be home for Christmas?” Poppy suddenly asked, swallowing her vegemite sandwich.

  “Christmas is ages away,” replied Max, scornfully. “Why are you thinking of that?” He picked up his glass of orange juice, draining it. “And anyway, Mummy and Daddy don’t live together anymore. You are silly, Poppy.”

  “No, I’m not,” the little girl replied. “Will Santa be able to find us, if Mummy isn’t here?” She cocked her head to the side, looking for all the world like a little bird. It was an endearing habit of hers.

  “Santa will always find us,” said Harper, nodding sagely. “He is clever. He knows where all the children are.”

  Christmas, I thought to myself. Would I still be here, then? It seemed unlikely, the way things were going. Perhaps I would be back in California, licking my wounds after being run out of the Outback by three small children and one very stuffy old housekeeper.