© rainthereader 2012 All Rights Reserved
Chapter 2
Lucas
"Uncle Luc, you’re here! Emilia and I are about to have tea! Join us!" Elizabeth eagerly pealed. My six-year-old niece jumped excitedly, pulling the sleeve of my shirt and trying her best to drag me from her bedroom door to a small table set with little plates, cups and bites of cookies. I stood in front of her little party and amusingly watched her as she grabbed a porcelain doll on her fluffy bed and placed it on a small, yellow chair. She patted its dark head and sat beside it soon after.
Kneeling across my older sister's daughter so I wouldn’t break her delicate seats, I asked her innocently, "What do we have here, Lizzie? Do you have my favorite scones ready?"
Observing that she placed the little treat that I brought her yesterday over the pink plates on the table, her face suddenly appeared crestfallen. "Oh... No scones, Uncle Luc. Just chocolate chip cookies...and tea. I'm sorry.”
"But I bet these cookies are good, huh?" I actively asked her so she would cheer up. Her face lifted when I popped a whole cookie in my mouth, "Mmm... it's delicious," I chewed.
Her eyes lit up. "Really? Here, have a sip this time," and she handed me a flowery, plastic teacup.
It was empty. "Uh, I think you gave me Emilia’s. See?" I turned the cup upside-down.
She smiled. "Oh, that's yours alright. You have to pretend that there's tea, though. Mom says I'm not allowed to drink it yet. I'm only six," she showed me five of her fingers and a pinkie on her other hand. I couldn’t help but laugh. She was loaded with cuteness.
I pretended to drink and patted my stomach to appear full. "You host a great tea party. Thanks, sweetie."
"Don't forget to thank Emilia, too."
Shaking the doll’s hands and thanking it, I told them both how their tea party rocked.
After kissing Lizzie’s forehead, I left the room and headed downstairs to go the study when I ran into Shannon across the hall. Her hair was secured by a pencil, and on her arms were a bundle of papers and a laptop. I kissed her cheek and followed her all-business form to the living room.
She placed the items on the coffee table in front of her, wiped her forehead and sat on the couch.
"You seem busy, Shan. What's up?" By flipping the papers, I gathered they were a bunch of applications.
Her laptop flicked to life and she spoke. "Yeah. I'll be interviewing prospective nannies today. Y’know, for my trip to London for the convention. I need someone to look after Lizzie 24/7 for two weeks while I'm gone. It's better than having occasional babysitters at home."
"But I thought you asked me to stay here? I can take care of her. I could just bring her with me to the office whenever I'm needed there. And home is just ten houses down. It won't be hard," I reasoned, trying to convince her.
Shannon sighed while typing on the keyboard. "I know you're the greatest uncle, Lucas. But I figured we wouldn't want to get in your way while you're working. And besides, Lizzie needs to prepare for the start of school, too. There’s bound to be kindergarten homework, or class trips. And—there's the girl stuff like bathing, dressing up, doing pigtails…the braids. Can you see yourself doing that?" She stopped typing and looked at me with her eyebrows raised. I couldn’t answer, and she moved her fingers again. “I thought so.”
She had a point there.
Patting my cheek twice, she continued to enlighten me. "Don't worry about it Luc. That was my original plan before you decided to move here. And besides, with a nanny at home you can have a nice, hot meal every time. I made it a point to include 'Knows How to Cook' in my requisites," she lifted her hands, making air quotations.
I accepted her explanation and imagined a motherly-type, middle-aged lady serving me and Lizzie our favorites. Hmm... I guess having a nanny around wouldn't be so bad, after all.
Nodding my head in concession, I asked my sister, "So what time does your interview start?"
Shannon checked her watch. "Um, nine am. I've reviewed the applications and filtered it down to ten, so I guess I'll be done by three. Why? You going somewhere?"
"Yeah. I'm meeting Blair and she'll help choose a decent couch for the house. I couldn't stand the one that the previous owner left there. It's hideous," I gave her cheek a peck and proceeded to the main hall. "Catch you later, big sister," I said a little louder as I stepped out of the house.
Her shout reached me as I closed the door, "'Later, baby bro! Love you!"
Starting the engine of my black RAM Laramie, I began to pull out of the driveway. As I turned the steering wheel back on the right side of the road, I noticed two women dressed conservatively heading to Shannon's. They must be the interviewees. I looked back on the street and took out my cell to speed dial Blair's number.
Her voice answered on the third ring. "Hi, honey. Are you on your way?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in 20. Pick you up at the entrance?" I suggested. It was always at the entrance.
"Sure. I'll just freshen up. See you."
"Bye.”
Twenty minutes later I was in front of the CNN Center in Marietta Street, waiting for Blair to come out. A precise minute passed, and there she was—tall and confident, smiling, strutting towards me. With her periwinkle eyes sparkling, she flipped her straight, black hair, twined her arms around my neck and gave me a full kiss on the mouth.
"I missed you. Oh, I hope I'm not dozing off by the time we arrive at the mall. I hate night shifts," she grumbled while I opened the passenger door and ushered her inside.
I went to my side and climbed on the seat. "I'll wake you once I hear you snore."
She smacked my right arm. "I know for a fact that I don't snore. Not loudly, anyway."
I chuckled. "We'll see."
An hour later I was paying for a wide, turquoise couch at a furniture store in Ansley. The velvet fabric was the perfect choice for the interiors of the house that I bought. I also purchased two, red armchairs to put across it. Mix and match had always been my thing. I wanted it cozy and eclectic. Comfortable.
I drove Blair to her apartment afterwards and she asked if I could stay. But I had to refuse because I needed to be at home for the furniture delivery. Purring a sexy “I’ll miss you, honey”, she kissed me one last time and I left.
Feeling rather sleepy, I walked straight to my room the minute I got home and decided to take a nap. There was still little time before the delivery came.
**********
"Stop it Luc, I can't breathe anymore!" She was laughing so hard and I couldn't stop tickling her. I loved hearing her laugh. We were on the carpet eating chocolate cake when she suddenly spread a thick icing on my cheek, starting a war. I went straight back at her, grabbed her by the hips and began tickling her. I knew her weakness.
"Okay, okay, please stop! I'm going to wash your face. Ha ha ha ha! I said no more!" She was yanking my hair but to no avail.
I put her down and placed my hands on her waist. Looking straight into her beautiful green eyes and heart-shaped face, I couldn't help but smile. Damn, she was so beautiful.
"What's with the look?" she asked softly.
"Nothing. I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About how beautiful you are."
"You're beautiful yourself," she whispered, adjusting my shirt collar.
I pulled out a sheepish smile. She was frequently saying that and I was beginning to feel like a girl.
Pretending to be offended, I furrowed my brows, "Shouldn't I be called handsome or... macho?"
Her laughter tinkled around the room, "You're handsome, yes. But macho? Hmm. I think gorgeous suits you better. Beautiful and gorgeous. That’s my man," she stated, patting my chest.
"Beautiful and gorgeous. Huh," I huffed. Sighing, I gave her a grim look, feigning exhaustion. I knew how much of a worrier she was.
"What's wrong, Luc?"
"C'mere!!!" And I grabbed her by the hips again but this time swung her on my shoulder. She was shouting and giggling the entire time I was running towards the bedroom.
But then, an agonized scream pierced my ears. Placing her quickly on the bed, I saw her blood-streamed face, and then she closed her eyes, becoming unconscious.
"Chloe!" I shouted.
And my eyes opened.
© rainthereader 2012 All Rights Reserved