Chapter 257

"Good morning, Princess nightingale." Erik said, pulling Pearl into his arms. It had been two days since the wedding and they had landed in L.A. the previous evening, sleeping way past breakfast.

"Good morning, husband." Pearl said, stretching.

She attempted to get out of bed but Erik pulled her back in and kissed her.

"What time do we get the keys for the Skytop Lodge?" Erik asked. Their flight to Pennsylvania was early the next morning. Pearl had originally reserved the resort for a week for her wedding to Rhys, non-refundable, so instead, she and Erik were going to honeymoon there and then Pearl was planning to take Erik to her hometown and then to Chicago before flying to the Seychelles for a week.

Pearl felt the nausea again rising. Her morning sickness was getting slightly better as the first trimester wore on and was nearing the end, but some days it still reared it's ugly head.

"Feeling ok?" Erik asked.

"Yes. Just need to eat. Again." Pearl said, getting up and putting her robe on.

"Well, your helping me to gain weight, as well. I'm up fifteen pounds." Erik said, smiling.

"Yes. All muscle. Fucker." Pearl said, rolling her eyes.

"It's sympathy weight gain, none the less. What are we having this morning? Chocolate pancakes again? Or Chicken nuggets and Cheetos like yesterday?" Erik asked, smiling and putting on his jogging pants and a t shirt. He wasn't being funny. Her cravings were getting weird and that is what she had for breakfast the previous morning before their flight. He was being so supportive and amazing it made her even more nauseous.

"I love you." She said. "I'm sorry our honeymoon is weird."

"I thought I told you that the next time you apologized for your pregnancy being an inconvenience that I was throwing you in the pool?" He said, walking with her downstairs to the kitchen. Pearl smiled and nodded, almost saying sorry again.

"Good morning, your highnesses." Abigail said, smiling and handing them coffee.

"Good morning, Abigail. What do you do when we aren't in town?" Pearl asked their housekeeper and cook.

"I maintain this home, primarily. And I work at another home doing the same thing. They are in town about as often as you are, so it works out." She said. Pearl smiled and nodded.

"Do you know of any good nannies?" Pearl asked. Erik looked at her, lifting an eyebrow.

"Darling, I thought we agreed to use the nanny that my mother suggested?" He said.

"Yes. I'm just looking at all the options." Pearl said.

"Fair enough." Erik said, sipping his coffee and opening his laptop.

"Actually, there is someone that I can recommend. He's wonderful with infants and toddlers. He has a degree in early childhood psychology and worked as a writer for a children's show for years. He became a nanny for celebrities and politicians and after he realized the money was much better and he could just hang out and enjoy the kids." Abigail said.

"He?" Erik asked.

"Yes. And he's single so I don't think he would mind relocating." She said.

"Great. Do you think we set something up for today? Do you have his number?" Pearl asked.

"Yes. I will get his information for you and ask him for a list of references." Abigail said, bowing and leaving them in the kitchen. Pearl picked up a donut.

"That sounds pretty cool. You're already breaking all these royal traditions, might as well hire a male nanny." Pearl said to Erik. He smiled and shrugged. "I like to live dangerously." He said, kissing her forehead.

*********************

"Hello, wow. It's wonderful to meet you both." A middle aged man said, reaching out to shake Pearl and Erik's hand. "Your royal highnesses." He said and bowed.

"Please. Erik. And this is my wife, Pearl." Erik said.

"This is Dr. Samuel Leonard, PhD." Abigail said.

"Sam." He said, smiling. He looked a little older than Pearl, maybe early forties, was average height, blonde hair, bright green eyes and dressed like he was right out of an LL Bean catalog. He looked comfortable and clean and had a bright and alive way about him. Pearl liked him immediately.

Erik invited him in for tea and motioned him to sit in the living room.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice." Erik said.

"Oh, no problem. I'm in the city for another week or two, you caught me at a great time." He said.

"Are you currently working with another family?" Pearl asked.

"Yes. I am working with a family of four. Both parents are actors. They are recently separated, though and with the custody battle going on, they have decided a nanny isn't in their best interest right now. I was told it is only temporary but as it stands, if another opportunity presents itself, I am not ignoring it. I love the kiddos there and have been with them for over two years, but I have to earn a living. I'm sure you understand." Sam said.

"Of course." Erik said. They chatted about Sam's experience and what the expectation would be.

"You would be traveling with us and living in England, primarily." Erik said.

"That's not a problem at all. I have several friends in London. When is the baby due?" Sam asked.

"January second." Pearl said.

"Still early on. Which is good. It gives you time to make a good decision about who you'd like to have help you care for and protect them." Sam said.

"Yes." Pearl said. She told him she would look into his references and background and that her expectation would be for him to move to London and settle right after Christmas. He said that would be perfect.

Afterward, Pearl asked Erik what he thought.

"I liked him very much." Erik said.

"I don't want a nanny. Let me make that clear. I am going to be as hands on as I am able to be with this baby. That being said, I know it's unrealistic with our schedules to not have childcare." Pearl said.

"I agree. And us hiring a nanny doesn't say anything negative about you as a mother."Erik said.

Pearl smiled and hugged him. "I love you. Ready to see some Midwest America?" She asked, finishing her coffee.

"I'll bring the scotch." Erik said, laughing.