Chapter Ten

Returning to the terror room, I noticed that this time there was total silence, and the reason is that none of the four were there. In desperation I opened the door, looking for them, but I saw no one but Natalie who was in the bathroom, singing some crazy English music while taking a shower. She was startled when she saw me and almost fell.

— Oh sorry! — I closed the door again, completely embarrassed while she swore at me from inside the bathroom. — Damn, where did these kids go?

I opened the door at the end of the hall and found the room that apparently appeared to be Christopher's. A gigantic, tall bed that seemed so comfortable that it made me want to jump on it. The room was very simple: a nightstand on each side, a huge TV on the wall facing the bed, and two doors, it was probably a suite and a closet. I even considered the possibility of going in and looking at everything, but then I remembered that I had three missing children. I blew out a breath and went down again, mentally cursing Christopher for making me play hide and seek against my consent.

I went into the living room and faced an enormous picture on the wall, with the painting of a blonde woman. She looked very, very much like Natalie, but a few years older. Is this their mother? Well, if he kept a picture frame of the mother of his children there, she hadn't divorced or left the house, she probably would have died and that would explain the fact of all the responsibility on him.

Christopher worked like crazy to keep the five children he had, and he was alone in this. Perhaps that was the real reason he was so stressed, almost every day.

— Hey!!!

I heard a long cry and then I woke up from my trance. I started walking fast, looking room after room, looking for where that scream came from, and then I managed to reach the destination, which was the kitchen. What's wrong with those three? Why they liked to playthings so much. The three of them were fighting for food in the kitchen, and I didn't know what to do. It was bread with some snot flying to one side, cereal flying to the other and the three of them never stopped attacking with food.

— What the hell is going on here?

I don't know where it came from, but when I found myself there was a bread with something that looked like peanut butter stuck to my white blouse. I looked down, then slowly raised my gaze, feeling my jaw lock and my face heat up.

— Holy shit! What is your problem? You look like an animal, not people. It's explained why Christopher arrives stressed at work and the bastard takes it all out on me. You are a pest!

Yes, I screamed, and they stopped what they were doing to look at me. — You swore, Daddy will kill you — Said one of the twins and I slammed my hand on the table so hard they were startled.

— I don't care what your father will think, even why he shouldn't even be able to think. Look what you guys did? They are spoiled, unbearable children.

Henrique lowered his head, and from a distance I could see him start to cry and one of the girls hugged his brother. — Are you stupid or what? We do what we want here at home.

— Swear? Because right now I'm here taking care of you, and right now I want the three of you to fix this mess.

— We don't clean, you clean!

— Not screwing!

— Then it will get dirty!

— What?

— Exactly! You're being paid for this. Bye Dulce!

The other one came pulling the brothers leaving me alone in the kitchen with all that mess. I stood for a long time in the same position, unable to contest, but after a while I reacted. Irritated, I started cleaning up all that dirt, cursing Christopher's name. I was not being paid to be a nanny or a maid, but to be a secretary.

When I got upstairs, the girls were all in their rooms, Lucas was still sleeping and Henrique was sitting on the bed, watching TV. He looked at me at the door and then turned his attention to the TV. I blew out a breath and went over there, sitting across from him, yet he didn't look at me.

— Excuse? I took it hard with you, Aunt Dul was stressed.

— You are not my aunt. He bowed, trying to pay attention to the TV.

— What are you watching?

— You don't care. — Okay, for someone his size, until he was very sharp.

— You need to take a shower, it's all dirty. He shrugged his shoulders to say he didn't care.

— Okay, I'll let you see your drawing in peace, but before dinner I have to bathe you.

— I know how to bathe alone.

— But your father said ...

— He doesn't know anything about us. You think I'm still Mom's baby, but I'm almost an adult now.

— Oh yes? And how old are you, Mr. Lucas?

— Five and you?

— I'm twenty—five, a little more than you.

— No, you're old, just like Dad. Grandma said he's an old man who dyes his hair.

— What? Your father has b hair Rancid? — He nodded and I laughed. Christopher did not seem to be that old, in fact, for someone who already had five children, he was even well maintained and by the way, very handsome and tasty.

— Why are your cheeks red?

— What?

— Are you still angry?

— No, I ... never mind. — I pouted while thinking. — It's almost time for dinner to arrive, what about bathing and helping me set the table?

— I do not want! He lay down, covering his face with his hands.

— But you need to bathe.

— I don't like taking a shower.

— Stop being piggy, shall we? Do me this favor, do it. I need to deliver you whole and clean to Mr. Uckermann.

— Not!

I smiled, thinking about what to do. Christopher wanted to arrive and find the five asleep and showered, but it was difficult when they didn't like to follow rules. I got up from the bed and then picked him up, however, upside down.

— Oh no! Let me go, you crazy! Let me go!

I laughed as I walked with him towards the bathroom and he screamed and struggled, but I didn't put him on the floor until we got there. — Now, are you going to take off your clothes, or do I?

— Okay, I'll take it. — He pouted looking to the side, then took off his own clothes, doing a little time.

I left him under the shower, while he hummed and splashed water everywhere and went to look at myself in the mirror. I was all disheveled, with a face smeared with butter, which I probably put on when I tried to wipe the sweat, and with my shirt all dirty. I looked to the side when I heard the door slam and opened my eyes wide. Henrique had run away.

I left the bathroom and went after him, following the footsteps made with water, I saw him coming down the stairs and ran over there. The son of an Uckermann made me run the whole house after him, until I got tired and sat on the stairs, wanting to cry. That was definitely not for me, and when I got home, I would hug Teo and kiss him forever while I thanked him for being a good cat who didn't give me a hard time.

I was startled when I felt someone climb on me, and then I looked and saw Lucas. — Is that you? Wasn't he in the crib? Asleep?

— I want daddy.

— Already? In a little while the food will arrive, take a little while, okay? — He sat between my legs, looking down.

Henrique appeared again, still naked and laughing at my face, but I was serious. I hadn't been there for four hours and I was already exhausted.

— If you don't go up now, finish your bath and get dressed, you won't be having dinner.

— But ...

— But nothing, I'm tired, I should be home by now and I'm here doing your father a favor. I really want to take a shower, put on clean clothes and sink me into my mattress.

Without saying anything else he went up and I followed him while policing him until I did everything I had to do, then I went to see the twins and they were all bathed and in their pajamas. When dinner arrived, I served each one and pinched some pasta while watching them eat in silence.

The clock didn't seem to want to turn, and all I really wanted to do was leave, my head hurt, my body was exhausted, and I was about to start crying from being so tired. It was a relief when the four older ones fell asleep, but the youngest continued to play, with an energy that neither I had. In fact, he played even when sleep came and then he gave up, lying in the middle of the ottomans. I waited for him to sleep soundly and took him to the crib, then closed the door so I wouldn't run the risk of him running away again.

I was feeling dirty and angry for still being there and not knowing what time he would arrive, so, in a sneaky way, I went into his room, went to the wardrobe and took a shirt, then took off mine and put on his, feeling I felt much more comfortable and cleaner, so I went downstairs and sat on the couch, where I sat, in the dark, looking at the painting that was dimly lit by the light outside, until I fell asleep.