Maybe try calling? You know well how it is to be penniless. The ad, pasted right on a lamppost, was indeed nearby. Natalie read it.
Yes, a caregiver with medical education was needed. Without hesitation, she dialed the number right there. A man picked up and explained the matter in a quite pleasant voice.
He has a daughter, 6 years old. She’s a bit unwell now, needs care from an experienced nurse. When he learned Natalie worked at a school, he even rejoiced.
He gave the address and asked to come tomorrow morning. Only requested not to be late, as he’s leaving on a business trip. Steve, by the tone of the conversation, immediately understood the job offer suited Natalie.
She even cheered up. A weight lifted from her heart, she started thanking him. Phew, they took me.
Even if temporary work, still better than none. There’ll be something to live on. Thank you.
Why are we standing on the street? Come, I’ll feed you dinner, give you tea. True, I don’t have delicacies, I live modestly, so don’t judge, what we have, we’re glad to share. Stephen perked up.
He was glad for the invitation, they had tea for a long time and chatted leisurely. Natalie told about how she was left without an apartment and about her husband’s betrayal. And Steve shared his pains too.
I understand you very well. My girlfriend left me after the accident too. Didn’t want to share the hardships.
Found herself a richer beau, it’s so offensive. After all, I did so much for her, helped her parents build a cabin, tried to please her in everything. And here’s the gratitude.
And now I don’t look for anyone. Who needs a custodian with a penny salary? So I live alone. Keep trying to save a bit for the surgery, but it doesn’t work, barely enough for living.
They parted warmly and decided to be friends. After all, it’s important when there’s a person nearby with whom you can just share and know you’ll be understood and not judged. The next morning, Natalie arrived exactly on time at the given address.
On the threshold of a luxurious house, not far from the center, a man dressed in an expensive suit was already waiting for her. Nearby stood a shiny car with a bored driver behind the wheel. Introducing himself as Vincent, he led Natalie into the house, explaining on the way.
The girl’s name is Alice, his biological daughter, no mother, died a year ago. Now the man is married, his wife’s name is Zoe. You understand, feeling a bit awkward, Vincent explained in a half-voice.
The child somehow didn’t get along with my new wife, and now the daughter is somehow listless, nothing interests her, eats poorly. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to deal with this right now, work piled up, I get home late in the evening. The daughter lacks maternal affection, communication, I’ll be calmer if you play with her, walk, and follow all the doctor’s prescriptions.
The working conditions Vincent offered Natalie were simply luxurious. Per month, it came out three times more money than at school. Here she could eat for free too.
It was felt in everything that Vincent was not stingy, loved his daughter very much, and was ready not to spare means for the caregiver. The main thing was to see results. Meanwhile, they entered the children’s room.
On the bed, covered with a blanket, lay a small pale girl and, turning her head, looked at the newcomers. – How are you, sweetie? – the dad asked affectionately. – Want to eat maybe? Now this aunt will be with you all the time.
Her name is Natalie. I think you’ll become friends. And forgive me, I have to run already.
Kissing his daughter, hugging her dad, she didn’t let him go for a long time. The host hurriedly left the room. Natalie sat by the girl, took her hand, counted the pulse.
Well, more or less normal. On the table next to the bed lay a bright toy, a duck made of soft material. – Your favorite, probably? – she asked.
– Yes, – she answered quietly. – I take her to bed with me at night. Only Aunt Zoe, that’s what my new mom is called, laughs.
Says I’m already big to sleep with toys. – And what’s wrong with that? – Natalie answered cheerfully. – I did the same in childhood, like you, loved to play.
Only I had a bunny. I’ll tell you a secret, – she lowered her voice conspiratorially. I took him to school too, hid in my backpack.
The girl’s eyes warmed, gradually they started talking, she began to tell about her childish affairs, what she likes, what not. Natalie always managed to find contact with children, although not every adult can do that. So, in casual conversation, unobtrusively, Natalie convinced Alice to get out of bed, change, wash up, and even managed to feed her.
The housekeeper, who was also the cook here, was very surprised when Natalie came with Alice and asked for tea, and with it a bun with chocolate spread. – Oh, Alice, good girl! Start eating properly, – she praised the girl, or you’ve completely wasted away, skin and bones. Amid conversations, they didn’t notice how a tall girl in a luxurious patterned robe entered the kitchen.
Yawning widely, without greeting anyone, she threw to the cook in a commanding tone. – Brew me coffee, no sugar. And only then noticed Alice finishing her tea, under her gaze she shrank and, lowering her head, quietly said «Good morning.»
– Good, good, – she answered slightly irritably. – So you decided to eat finally? Should have done so long ago, instead of pretending to be sick. No way to approach you, everything’s wrong this way and that.
Finally noticing that there was someone else in the kitchen, she asked Natalie. – So you’re the one my husband hired to look after Alice? Well, well, go ahead, try to get her on her feet, and I’ll watch what comes of it. Don’t think it’ll all be easy here.
I’ll be watching too, whether you can do the job or not. And in the future, coordinate the daughter’s menu with me. Pastry isn’t the best breakfast option.
Only sides grow from it. Natalie immediately understood that building normal relations with Zoe was unlikely. But I won’t fixate on that, what’s required of me is for Alice to be well.
That’s what I need to pay attention to. And gradually this idea began to come to life. Natalie befriended the girl, hurried to her in the mornings with pleasure, came up with various amusements, read fairy tales to her, they watched cartoons together.
In secret, Alice confided to the caregiver her most cherished. I don’t like Zoe, she’s mean, makes me call her mom. I tolerate her for dad’s sake, he asks for it.
But he doesn’t see that Zoe doesn’t love him either. Just pretends. When dad’s home, Zoe pays attention to me and hovers around dad.
But as soon as he leaves, everything changes. Zoe becomes cold and rude. Yells at me, scolds for everything, I bother her.
And I miss my mom so much. You know what she was like? The kindest in the world. Called me dolly.
Braided different beautiful hairstyles. Every day said I was her happiness. And dad was different.
Always smiled, cheerful. Not like now. Natalie was struck and asked cautiously.
And did you tell dad that Zoe offends you? Maybe he doesn’t guess what’s happening? I see he loves you very much. The girl answered sadly. I used to complain to him, but he always frowns, thinks I’m jealous.
Asks to obey Zoe. And then, when he leaves, Zoe gets even angrier, calls me a tattletale. And I fell silent.
Don’t tell him anything anymore. What’s the point? He doesn’t believe me anyway. Natalie tried to cheer and calm the little one.
Yeah, not fun. But never mind, now we’re friends, you can tell me everything. It’s easier to overcome difficulties together.
The girl cheered up, reached out to Natalie, waited for her every morning, missed her. Natalie herself noticed that the relations between the spouses were far from ideal. And in conversation with the housekeeper, she found proof of that.
Zoe devoted every day only to herself, beloved. Taking advantage that Vincent was up to his neck in work, she behaved at home like a lady with serfs. Taught everyone, dissatisfied with everyone.
The household only sighed with relief when madam, as the cook nicknamed her, left for a massage, to wander boutiques or drink a couple of cocktails with girlfriends at a bar. Despite Natalie being a polite and neat nanny, and not a flirt at all, Zoe was consumed by raging jealousy toward her. And it would seem a normal mother should be glad that someone engages with her child, talks, walks, not just feeds, but not stepmom Zoe.