Chapter Eleven.

Chapter nine.

Alison ran after Sam as she bolted out of the bathroom, without her clothes. Her giggling filled the whole house. They were back at home and Sam found it deemed to return back to her naughty ways.

Her wet hair slapped on her back and her bum reverberated as she ran, Alison tried to hasten up her steps but she has to admit that Sam is a whole lot faster than her.

"Samantha slow down, you might fall," Alison cautioned but her warning were thrown to the winds.

Samantha only increased her momentum, giggling as her little feets padded on the wooden floor. Alison paused to take her breath, watching she wasn't going to harm herself or trip and fall.

Finally, Samantha excitement boiled down and she slumped on the chair tired. Alison noticed this and takes that as a cue to finally get her to wear her dress. She ruffled the dress over head and place her arms in place.

For her hair she weaved it into two French braids, Sam that gleamed at her mother and chatted with Doris.

Since they left Gran Karen house last two days, Sam behaved more naughtier, yesterday she smeared ketchup over the kitchen floor and spilled some water over the file she prepared for Leonardo restaurant drawings.

Her recent overbearing behaviour left Alison to ponder what her daughter might do while she was away. So she told Grandma that Sam would be coming with her to stay at Upper New York until her work then is done.

An idea Gran was not supporting, she believes she can take care of Samantha and Alison under estimating her hurt her feelings.

Alison can't burden her with Sam, why?

For one Sam was an active toddler who is starting to know and understand more about her surrounding. It was bound that her curiosity is meant to be piqued. She wants to touch everything, eat everything and play with everything.

Alison is worried that if she was to stay with Grand Karen, she would wear the old woman out. It just remained two days more before she takes a flight from Syracuse to West side NY.

So she needs to find a solution for Samantha's care, today she was trying out Paige idea of finding a nanny.

Since Gran Karen still thinks it is a bad to take Samantha to the other side of the state mainly because of Sam's asthma case. And since she is still very right they haven't place a finger or found out what triggers her attack. A change of environment can put her health at risk.

Alison found sense in what she said, Gran Karen suggested that instead of Samantha traveling with her with a nanny rather the nanny should stay together with her and help her in taking care of her granddaughter.

Recalling Gran Karen upset words, "Alison you think I am too weak to take care of my Great grand daughter. I know how busy you are these days and I am willing to care for her her together with the nanny. You know Sam health risks, she needs to have a close eye on her and you would be too busy to do that."

In order to ease her guilt Alison promised to visit every weekend and spend time with Sam.

She was grateful Paige asked her to leave early to take care of the interviews she has with the queue of interested nannies who want the job.

The interview was at Gran's house, that is why she prepared Sam inorder to go there.

*

Alison sat in front of the middle aged woman dressed in plain blue shirt and cotton pants. Her dirty blond hair was packed in a tight French bun, she had a nonsense demeanor.

Sitting upright one would think she was a retired soldier not a lady applying to be a nanny.

"How long have you been a nanny?" Granma asked her face more stoic than usual.

"Six years now." The lady replied.

"What experience do you have in handling kids? Let me put this way how many kids have you cared for?"

The lady straightened her posture and lifted her chin, "Well actually my agency has a record of the children I have cared for. To be sincere I have lost count of them, one thing I know the children I cared for are the most well behaved kids, and most of them are from influential homes, I know your grand daughter won't be of much trouble to handle," Alison sensed the pride in tone and frowned at the fact that she thought a child is supposed to be handled and thought a child would give less trouble because she is not from a rich home or well known family.

Gran ma narrowed her eyes a little the woman stance stood still, "Hmm we would get back to you," Alison concluded. The woman upturned her lips in slight annoyance but immediately had a smile on it the next minute.

She rose up the chair," I would be expecting that," the woman said and left.

At the same time, both Gran Karen and Allison let out breath in relief, "Oh my what a woman, I am sure the kids she cared for were terrified of her," Gran said.

"Hmm true, she looks more like a disciplinarian than a nanny, any ways let see other applicants."

Alison stared back at the dinning and saw Sam was still on her food well that should keep her busy for a while.

They interviewed more applicants and out of all of them, Gran chose a total of three qualified nannies to spend time with Samantha and see how they related with her.

A young lady striked Alison's interest, recalling their conversation Alison feels she would be great with Sam.

She said she grew up from an orphanage and helped the nuns take care of young children being brought in.

Also her bubbly personality had Samantha clinging to her most time than the other than applicants. At the end of the day Lilly was picked, and was asked to resume tomorrow. Since Alison would be very busy at the office.

Back at home Alison prepared Samantha for bed brushing her lush hair, "Sam do you like Lily alot?"

"Hm-hm, Aunt Lily is fun. You know mummy she promised to play more with me tommorow. And she told me a secret..." The last part really came as whisper.

Alison smiled at Sam really interested in the secret Lily told Sam, "Hmm, what is the secret? You can tell Mommy."

Samantha giggled loudly, "Mom! It is a secret, you don't tell a secret to other people."

"Aw now Sam made Mom sad, so mom is going to be a tickle monster."

"No!" Samantha's hearty laughter reverberated around the room.

Samantha laughed harder as her mother tickled her more, "No Sam... Hate tick... monster."

Alison had a smile on her face stopping with her tickles as she gently kissed Samantha, "I love you mom." She said with dropping eyes, covet her with the duvet Alison gently soothed her on the head until her little cute snores were heard.

For the first time she used first person pronoun to adress herself instead of her usual third person pronoun.

Her little girl is growing up, wiping a little stray tear from her eyes. She closed the door slowly and turned on the night lamp.

Sam loved a little light so it won't look too scary.

Down on her bed Alison lay on her side funny enough her mind went to the last person she doesn't want to think about.

Throwing the duvet of her, she sat on her bed restless, deciding she needs a glass of milk. She opened her door slowly and went down to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and taking the carton of milk. After rinsing a glass she poured some for herself and sipped slowly.

Two days more she would go back to her work, the thought of seeing Leonardo again gave her goosebumps. Would he hold her hands again?

Or take her to another restaurant?

Oh and their cooking date, would he also keep that promise?

It is not a date, she reminded he is just teaching her. She rubbed her face in her palm a little emabarassed she was having this thoughts.

A friend for a day more like a friend for two days or a friend forever, maybe. She had a feeling that being a friend for a day would graduate to a real friendship.

Maybe Leonardo can really be her friend with no emotional strings attached. She can't afford that now, she was still sore from her past relationship.

What she needs was a friend.

A friend she can lean on, a friend that would hold her hands. Maybe she should give life another chance at being happy, have friends like Paige or Leonardo.

It still a ponder that a famous rich chef would want to be her friend. She can't wait to tell him she wants to be his friends too.

This time around not for a day. But maybe forever, holding hands with him and sniffing his jackets and having nice dinner with him.

One thing she is sure of is that developing a crush on this certain friend of hers would be a lot confusing.