Against Reason (IN EDITING)

Chapter Twelve - First Days Suck

She wipes her nose with the back of her hand, then nods. "Can we go to Maccies?" She asks innocently, but I know she's using her tears to persuade me. 

Although who am I to say no to McDonald's?

I laugh. "Yes, we can," I smile, and we begin our journey back through the art gallery and out to the car. Walking through the glass doors of the busy McDonald's Bridie and I place our orders on one of the large iPad screens. 

Taking a seat in the corner, Bridie sits patiently in the seat in front of me and I can't help but stare at her as she absorbs the surroundings around her. 

She's such an adorable child, her hair is a dirty blonde that when let downs sits just at her collarbone and has an outa layer of frizz as if she got electrocuted. 

Her eye's match Danny's, but are much wider and bigger than most people's that they entice you - and she knows it. It's why things tend to go her way, and she most likely will get what she wants. 

That's a solid difference between her and Hallie. Bridie is straightforward, confident and doesn't care at all. She'll tell you exactly what she thinks, what she wants, when she wants and she doesn't have much of a filter. 

That can be a good and bad thing. 

Hallie however is much more calm, compared to her sister's wild nature. She's composed and a little shy, but it's not as much she's afraid to talk to people, she's just a quiet girl. Perhaps in her own thoughts and lost in her own mind, forgetting the people around her at times.

She's also incredibly witty and smart, she never ceases to impress me with how much she can learn at such a quick rate. She's great at picking up and remembering information, whereas I forget where I placed my phone every two seconds. 

"Hey Bridie," I say and she turns to me, her wide green eyes now giving me their full attention.

"Yeah?" She smiles.

I lean forward, and she reciprocates my posture. "Did you know I use to work at McDonald's, this one specifically when I was younger?" I say, and her eyes widen.

"Really?!" She yells and if it wasn't for the constant volume in a McDonald's, every head would've been turned our way. 

"Mhm," I nod.

She gasps. "You're so lucky! I wish I could work here," She says. Girl, you really don't. But I won't stop her dreaming, even if working here was literally the worst thing ever. 

"Maybe when you're older you can get a job here," I say, and she nods in agreement. 

Her attention goes back to the outdoor playground, as she watches kids play on the germ central plastic playground. "You can go play if you want, I'll get you when our foods here," I tell her, and she bolts out of her chair faster than The Flash. 

Watching her run to the playground and start talking with other kids creates a sad feeling over me. The thought and knowing I won't see these girls grow into teenagers, and then eventually to adults in a way makes me grey. 

Which is weird because i've nannied so many kids, and then left for another job, never once having felt that grey sad feeling of not being able to watch them grow up. 

But something is different about these girls, this family. I feel apart of it. Maybe it's because I spend every waking hour with them and actually live with them, instead of seeing them on certain days and hours of the week. 

Or it's something else...

Nope. It's not. We're not going there. 

And thankfully my thoughts are washed away when I hear our number called for our order. I go up to the counter and get the black tray with our food, placing it on our table. Then getting Bridie's attention through the glass window, I usher her in and she sprints inside probably excited for her Happy Meal. 

"Dig in," I tell her and she all but rips open her Happy Meal, like it's filled with diamonds. 

Kids and their love for Happy Meals. 

***

"Hallie!" I yell over the crowd, and she makes eye contact with me and starts running over. 

She sprints and catapults into my arms, I hug her tightly to me as she does the same. I pull her back, her hand filled with some sort of art and her back pack slung over her shoulders that looks so big on her it's adorable. 

"Hey," I smile brightly. "How was your day?" I ask her.

"Good," she smiles. Told you so. 

I smile down at her, then buckle her into the car, Bridie cheering with happiness when she see's her sister. I begin the drive back home, Hallie explaining all about her day from meeting her teacher, to what she did at lunch and snack break. 

"Is daddy home yet?" Hallie asks. 

I peer at her through the rear view mirror. "Not yet, but he'll be home by dinner," I tell her and she pouts.

"He works to much," she says, and Bridie mutters a small 'yeah'.

"I know, but he has to and his business expects a lot. But he does everything in his power to be with you as much as possible," I tell them and they only nod dimly. 

"Plus, you get to hang out with me," I say, and they giggles.

"You're much better at playing Barbie's than daddy," Hallie giggles.

"Yeah, he always messes up," Bridie adds and I smile, imagining the rugged, intimidating Danny playing Barbie's. 

Getting home, the girls run upstairs to play and I unpack Hallie's back pack, taking her lunch box and water bottle out. I walk into the kitchen, re-filling Hallie's water bottle and placing it into the fridge ready for tomorrow and then unzipping her lunch box to see what she did and didn't eat.

Hopefully nothing is spilled, because that's gross and I don't want to clean that up - as if it's actually the grossest thing I've come into contact while nannying.

Inspecting the dinosaur themed lunch box, a few apple slices are left in the zip lock bag and a few pieces of salami. I take the pieces of salami and carefully throw it over to the dog who gobbles up the pieces in the speed of light. Then I take the left over apple slices and throw them into the garden.

"Hey," A deep voice startles me, and I almost jump out of my skin. Jesus Christ. 

I look up and see Danny leaning his hip on the island, his arms folded over his chest and my throat instantly runs dry. 

"Hey," I compose myself and he walks over towards me. 

I busy myself unpacking the rest of Hallie's lunch box, trying to ignore the deep flutter in my stomach and the way my skin pricks when his scent engulfs me. 

"How was today?" he asks.

I meet his green eyes. "Good, Bridie and I went to an art gallery ,and Hallie had a good day at school which is great," I tell him and he nods. 

"Good," he says and I catch a drift he's isn't completely interested in what I did today, but instead something else lays on the tip of his tongue. 

A tongue I want shoved into my mouth- stop. 

"Danny?" I question his behaviour.

He hums, stepping closer towards me and I take a small step backwards. Why? I'm not sure, but the vibe he's giving off is making my body light on fire like it does every time he's near me. 

"Danny," I say more firmly. "What is it?" I mutter out, my hand up and almost touching his chest. Which I so badly want to run my fingers over. 

He looks up to me, eyes hooded and lustful. Then in the quickest wave it disappears with one single breath, and I'm watching his back retreat as he walks out the kitchen. 

What the fuck was that?

***