After hanging up the call, Jones ca to tell , "Sothing urgent ca up at the hospital. I need to head out."
I nodded subtly, watching as Jones left.
"Ms. Brooks, we need to get Serena and Brandon their vaccinations today," Norah reminded as she walked in.
"Right, I almost forgot. Norah, you stay ho and look after Yara, and I’ll take Serena and Brandon," I slapped my forehead, almost forgetting this important task.
Norah seed a bit worried, "Ms. Brooks, are you sure you can handle it alone?"
I was getting the hang of it and my confidence level was rising when it ca to taking care of the kids.
"It’s fine, Yara doesn’t need her shots today, no need to bring her along. Just rember, Norah, don’t let Mitch in," I reminded Norah as I gathered the necessary paperwork for the vaccinations.
Norah nodded, "I understand."
Once everything was ready, I packed the docunts, settled Serena and Brandon in the car and set off for the hospital.
This was my first ti taking two kids to get vaccinated by myself. Even though I was confident before leaving, I found myself a bit overwheld once we arrived at the hospital.
The two little ones cried out in pain during the shots, and their cries were heart-wrenching. If I consoled one, the other would cry, and vice versa. "Don’t cry, Serena, Mommy will hold you soon!" After
comforting Brandon, I rushed to hold Serena.
But the mont I put Brandon down, he imdiately started crying again, with a pout on his face.
I was pushing the stroller through the hospital lobby, feeling like a headless chicken.
"Little ones!" Suddenly, Leo’s voice appeared. He was holding an airplane toy, leaning over the stroller, amusing Brandon, "Here’s a plane; it’s fun!" Brandon was attracted by Leo’s voice; he stopped crying and started looking around curiously.
I must say, Leo’s appearance was tily and effective.
He kept talking to Brandon with the toy, even singing so songs, distracting him completely from crying...
I finally managed to soothe Serena and put her back in the stroller.
As I bent down, I noticed a wound on Leo’s cheek. It looked serious, like he had taken a fall.
"Leo, how did you get that wound?" I asked in surprise, "Where are your parents? Why are you alone?"
Leo touched his injured cheek, flinching in pain. As he was about to answer, Damon’s voice echoed from behind.
"Leo."
Leo imdiately ran towards Damon, hugging his thigh, "Daddy!"
I turned around to see Damon holding so dication, probably just collected.
I asked worriedly, "What happened to Leo? His face looks terrible."
What kind of parents are Damon and Catherine?
"He fell off his skateboard and hit his face," Damon explained, bending down to pick up Leo, "Does it hurt?"
Leo, hugging Damon’s neck, shook his head obediently, "No, Daddy. I won’t go down the stairs on the skateboard again. Can you not tell Mommy?"
I got the feeling that Leo was more afraid of Catherine.
The look of helplessness and concern in Damon’s eyes as he looked at Leo’s wound was genuine. "Even if I don’t tell your Mommy, she’ll find out."
"Okay then, I’ll apologize to Mommy myself when we get ho, so she won’t be angry," Leo agreed surprisingly maturely.
I wasn’t sure if Catherine would be angry, but I was certain Lisa and Silas would be, seeing Leo in this state.
But that wasn’t my business.
As I was ready to leave with the stroller, Damon called out to , "What brings you to the hospital with the kids? Are they sick?"
"Getting vaccinated," I replied, "Serena and Brandon are healthy. They don’t fall sick easily."
Damon glanced at the two little ones in the stroller. His gaze was gentle, although not as affectionate as when he looked at Leo.
Suddenly, he put Leo down, "I have a condition."
"What?" I asked in surprise. I knew he was referring to the condition I had agreed to earlier, but I didn’t expect him to bring it up at this mont.
"I have a eting to attend, and Catherine has an interview at the new hospital. Can you look after Leo at your place for a while? I’ll pick him up after the eting," Damon sounded serious.
Norah and I already had our hands full with three babies, and now Damon wanted to add more to our plate?
Especially Leo. Although he was well-behaved at the mont, that was in front of Damon. I couldn’t guarantee he’d be the sa at my place.
If he managed to upset all three kids, I might lose my mind.
"You’re not willing?" Damon could tell I was hesitant.
Of course, I was. I wasn’t a professional nanny.
Before I could answer, he raised an eyebrow. "This condition doesn’t violate your terms, does it? Are you going back on your word?"
"No," I blurted out. In fact, the condition was quite simple. It was just that I was already overwheld, and I wasn’t sure I could handle more.
"Then I’ll leave him with you. I’ll be there to pick him up around three," Damon nonchalantly left Leo with .
Leo looked at Damon, then at , and finally tugged at my sleeve with a cute smile, "Don’t worry, Ms. Brooks. I’m a good boy."
I had never seen Leo being a good boy before, and it only made my head spin.
"What about his grandparents?" I suddenly rembered Silas and Lisa. With them around, why would I need to take care of Leo?
"They had to go back for so urgent matters. They’ll be back in a couple of days," Damon’s answer made my head spin even more.
What a coincidence!
Just then, Damon’s phone rang. It was his assistant reminding him about his upcoming eting. He glanced at Leo and , gestured with his eyes, and strode out of the hospital.
Leo and I exchanged a look, both feeling a bit speechless.
The child of my ex-husband and his old fla was now my responsibility for a few hours. No matter how I looked at it, it felt strange.
But it was at this point, and the kid was already handed over to , I couldn’t possibly neglect him.
"Leo, let’s get going," I said, sounding more resigned than I’d intended to.
Leo nodded, his hopeful eyes on . "Ms. Brooks, do you have a video ga console at your place?"
His question sent a wave of unease through . Leo was pretty hooked to video gas, but his mother, Catherine, always set strict ti limits for him, worried about straining his eyes.
Now that the boy was my responsibility, should I allow him to play? What if he exceeds the allotted ti?
Reviews
All reviews (0)