Nanny Rachel
Colin Milton
Copyright Colin Milton 2011
Published by Rugrat Books at Smashwords
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Nanny Rachel
Colin Milton
I respectfully dedicate this book, to my dear pal ‘Gwen’ who passed away in January 2009.
A gentleman and a gentle man.All of his friends miss him dearly.
I
I remember clearly the first time I met Rachel. I'd just arrived home from a business meeting after an overly long journey home, punctuated by stop start traffic and increasingly frazzled nerves. I had wanted to be there when she arrived as my wife had made a point of arranging her visit so that I could be there.
I pulled onto the drive way, probably faster than I should have done. The gravel thrown up by the quickly revolving tires sounding like machine gun bullets as they hit the inner surface of the wheel arches.
"Oh well," I thought, "what the hell! I'm selling it next month. Let the garage worry about any stone chips."
I could see my wife's car and also a small VW Golf that I'd never seen before parked beside it. I assumed that it was Rachel's car.
I got out of the car, grabbing my jacket from the passenger seat. As I walked towards the house I could see Rhiannon, my wife, glance out towards me and then turn away - clearly mid-conversation.
"Sorry I'm late!" I yelled as I opened the front door. Poppy, our hyperactive Old English sheepdog, came bounding towards me beyond herself with happiness at seeing me after what to her was like a lifetime but was in fact four hours. I greeted her enthusiastically for a few seconds and headed for the kitchen from where I could hear female voices. Poppy walked closely beside me, face upturned looking for more praise and attention.
"Mike, this is Rachel. Rachel, this is Mike, my husband."
Rachel was stunningly beautiful. Long, straight auburn hair which stretched halfway down her back. Her eyes were dark and her smile lit up the room.
"Hello." I said, trying not to stare at this beautiful young woman. "Nice to meet you. Did you find us OK?"
"Oh yes thanks. No problem. I didn't expect such a big house though...it's beautiful. I can see why you'd want to live here!" she added politely.
"Oh thank you." I responded. "We've only been here about a year ago and we love it. We moved here just before Jack was born. There's loads of space here for him."
"How old is Jack?" Rachel asked.
"He's ten months old...just. Growing up fast - you know, as they do."
Both women laughed politely. "He's upstairs in his cot having his nap." Rhiannon glanced at her watch. "Actually, it's about time for him to be waking up. I'll just nip up and get him and bring him down so that you can meet him."
"That would be lovely," Rachel said. "I can't wait to meet him."
Rhiannon winked at me as she left the room. Clearly she liked Rachel so far. Rachel was the third applicant we'd seen for the job as live-in nanny for Jack.
The other two, although pleasant enough, hadn't 'clicked' with Rhiannon, and she wasn't about to leave her precious baby with someone she didn't trust totally.
"Would you like a coffee Rachel?" I said as I picked up the kettle and headed for the sink.
"No thank you. I don't drink coffee. I don't think it's particularly good for you. I tend to stick to water or fruit juices - soft drinks generally."
"Would you like a lemonade or fresh orange perhaps?" I asked as I filled the kettle - all too aware that my choice of beverage was being'frowned' upon.
"I'll have fresh orange please. Thanks."
I switched the kettle on and opened the refrigerator door to take out the orange juice when Rhiannon came back into the kitchen with Jack.
"Here he is!" Rhiannon cooed as she carried our still sleepy little boy to meet Rachel. The orange juice was forgotten as she leaned towards Jack.
"Oh my! He's absolutely adorable! Look at him!" Rachel enthused. She extended an index finger into his tiny hand and he grasped it which sent her into an even more excited state.
"He's still really sleepy and warm from his nap." Rhiannon said as she sat down carefully. Rachel sat beside her, and soon the two women were chattering like long lost friends...their entire conversation centred around the little bundle in my wife's arms.
I waited for a little while, listening as Rhiannon explained our working situation and what we would expect from a nanny, and of course, what we could offer her.
Rachel nodded as Rhiannon explained that I worked from home these days as my architect's business had done so well in recent years. She added that she worked as a hospital administrator which often required long hours and a good deal of travel. Although both of our sets of parents lived nearby, we needed a nanny who could look after Jack ("and Mike!") Rhiannon teasingly said. "I'm not sure which one of my boys will need looking after the most!"
Jack was with grandparents two days per week and Rhiannon was generally home at weekends. Rachel's job was to have full charge of Jack when not with grandparents and would be required to help around the house on a couple of days per week...although that was flexible. She would though, still be paid at her agreed rate. She would be invited on any family breaks and would have her own room with en suite which was totally private.
Rachel seemed pleased with what we were offering and it was clear Rhiannon was happy as she passed Jack to her. Rachel beamed as she cradled him in her arms, smiling and rocking him gently.
It seemed that everything was perfect. We agreed that she would start the following Monday. She asked if it would be OK to arrive Sunday to get her things moved in and allow herself to get settled. Of course, that was fine. Rhiannon and I were really pleased. We were getting a terrific nanny for Jack and an extremely attractive housekeeper.
II
Rachel
arrived mid afternoon on Sunday and, ever the gentleman, I helped her
bring her belongings into the house and carried them to her room. We
told her that she should treat the house as her home and that we
hoped she would soon feel like one of the family.
That night as we sat down for our evening meal, I discovered that she didn't drink alcohol of any type - as it was important to always be in 'full control' when one has a baby or small child to look after. For a young woman of 26, she had a wise head on her shoulders. She was only a few years younger than Rhiannon and they seemed more like sisters than employee and employee.
"I'm away early in the morning tomorrow Rachel. I have a breakfast meeting at 8:30 in Nottingham so I'll be leaving here around 7:15 or so. I'll just let Jack sleep but it's probably best if you have the baby monitor in your room tonight."
"Yes, of course. That's fine." Rachel replied.
"The monitor is one of the ones with a camera in it. Mike was adamant he wanted the best he could find...I think he just wanted another gadget to play with! You know what men are like! Overgrown little boys - that's all!"
Rachel smiled her agreement. "No, they never seem to grow up do they?"
"Well this one certainly hasn't Rhiannon laughed, gesturing towards me.
”Anyway...you know where everything is for Jack don't you? All of his things are in the nursery and his milk is in the fridge. There's enough there to keep him going I think!"
We chatted amiably until around 10:00pm when we all agreed that an early night was a good idea. Rhiannon had an early start; I had a conference call at 8:00a.m. and Rachel was 'on call' from around 7:00 depending on Jack's sleep pattern and hunger pangs!
As always, the 6 o'clock morning news came much too early. It was mornings like this that I really appreciated working from home.
Rhiannon leaned over and kissed me, whispering as she swung her legs out of bed,
"And don't think that you can lounge around all day in those old jeans and T-shirts that you've still got from when Paul McCartney was a boy! Make sure you're showered and dressed by the time Rachel is up and about. Make sure there's fresh coffee made and the kitchen is tidy!"
"She doesn't like coffee." I pointed out. "There's not much point in making a huge pot of it just for me. Anyway, it'll be like soup by mid afternoon! Anyway, why am I tidying the kitchen? Is that not something she can do while I'm making money to pay for giving her a job?"
The irony was either lost or ignored apart from a raised, tolerant eyebrow accompanied by a smile which simply said 'Just do as I ask?' Words weren't necessary. She knew I’d give in.
"Yeah...OK. I'll do it. After all, it would be silly not to tidy up before the housekeeper starts!" I tried to say it jokingly but it was hard to disguise my true feelings.
I lay with my eyes closed contemplating the day as I heard Rhiannon getting showered and dressed; the loud drone of her hair drier banishing any thoughts I might have had of getting any more sleep.
When she was ready to leave, Rhiannon leaned over me and kissed me gently on my forehead.