Nanny with Benefits

The next morning, I showered and found myself greeted with breakfast in the kitchen, including hot coffee and omelets, which made for a nice change. Alexis sat with Clara and watched cartoons. It felt like everything was back to normal, except it wasn’t. There was still that unspoken elephant in the room, and that was frustrating me. I had to let it go for my own sanity and wait patiently for her to come to me when she was ready. The suspense of it all had been driving me crazy in between clients, though.

My eyes were still drawn to Karly as I sat down at the table. We were still in love it seemed. I wasn’t getting any weird vibes from her, just the secretiveness that stayed behind her gorgeous eyes.

The phone rang, and I got up and answered it, taking my coffee with me. “Hello, Mom.”

“Sweetheart, I need to steal Alexis off you for the day. The local art museum is having a kids’ day, and it’s interactive.”

“Oh, okay. She’ll love that. Does she need to wear old clothes in case she gets dirty with paint or whatever?”

“No. They’ll have smocks and all the equipment there. I think her friend Riley will be there too. His mother is in the book club I belong to. She said he was going.”

“Oh, great. She’s going to be so excited. Will you pick her up?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s on my way. I’ll be there within the hour.”

I smiled, feeling grateful. “Bye, Mom.”

“See you soon!” she said and hung up.

I was happy Alexis and Mom were going to spend the day together. Knowing Riley would be there would be all the ammunition I needed to get Alexis going.

Mom was on time, and she had a warm smile and a skip in her step. I barely got the chance to say good-bye to Alexis, who was full of a million and one questions for her nana. She wanted to know about the activities, what time Riley would get there, and if there would be ice cream or popcorn, two of her favorite naughty foods.

I moved into the living room, and Karly was standing there waiting for me. “We’re finally alone, so you can tell me now,” I said.

Karly looked at me, and I found that secret in her eyes again. Whatever it was, it was driving me insane. Had she been with another guy? Was she pissed at me? Did she want to quit? Fuck, I just had to know.

“I’m a little tired. I might go home and rest.”

I looked at her and held her shoulders. I moved my hand to her chin and lifted her head so her eyes met mine. I needed to be assertive. Otherwise, we were both going to go crazy. She would from not telling me, and I would from not knowing what the fuck was going on.

“Karly, if you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, we’re done, with everything. I will walk from this relationship, and I won’t come back.” I gave her my most serious face. “Are you hearing me?”

She grew pale, and tears flowed down her cheeks. Whatever the hell she’d been keeping from me was tearing her up inside. I felt sad for her, and I waited for her to speak. I didn’t like seeing her cry. It was ripping me up inside.

I held her hand and walked her to the couch. I knew she was going to finally tell me, but she needed to pull herself together first. “I’ve been wanting to tell you. I just froze up at dinner the other night. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” I asked, waiting for the revelation.

“I’m pregnant, Damon. It’s another scandal for the press.”

My eyes grew wider and my heart skipped a beat. “You can’t be pregnant. You’re on the pill,” I said, blurting out the words.

She cried more, and I comforted her, not knowing what to say. I wasn’t upset. I just didn’t believe it could be possible. After all the things I’d let run through my mind, this wasn’t one of them. I’d never even thought of this scenario.

“You can’t be. Are you sure?” I paused. “How long have you known?”

“Since Monday, the same day as the press conference. I don’t know how it happened. I never skipped a pill, and I haven’t been unwell for its effectiveness to change.”

It all made sense as I thought about it in hindsight. She’d gone to the bathroom that night and had acted really weird. She must’ve done the test and left in a hurry straight afterward. Shit. It was all making sense now, the way she’d acted so strangely and her elusiveness.

“It’s wonderful, Karly.”

She looked up from the floor and met my eyes with her tear-filled ones. She looked shocked.

“What?”

“I think it’s just wonderful. I mean, it isn’t something either of us planned, but it’s the miracle of our lovemaking. What could be more beautiful than that?” I asked her, beaming.