CHAPTER 006

CHAPTER 006

The nursery was lit and airy with white walls and furnishings such as the crib; Lori found this space absolutely exquisite! She thought she had seen nothing as beautiful before in any other nursery room that she had visited before this one!

Lori noted the room featured white walls adorned with paintings of rainbows on one wall; a floor covered by a thick white rug; a mahogany wardrobe that served as a closet; a changing table near the doorway; a drawer next to a large cream couch; a rocking chair by the window; and a baby's crib in the centre of the room, where Emilia rested peacefully.

Her crib was entirely white except for one yellow blanket tacked around its perimeter.

Lori took one last look and was stunned to see that the newborn infant had fallen fast asleep, tugging at her heartstrings as soon as she saw them. She felt an overwhelming desire to cuddle her and hold her instead, especially since Lori never got to hold her son, unlike this newborn who could now become part of her world.

Emilia looked blissful as she rested her long lashes adorning chubby cheeks with long dark lashes resting gently against them; when sleeping, she pouted ever so slightly! Lori found this sight truly captivating while Lori felt their eyes blurring with tears of happiness for Emilia's peaceful, restful sleep.

After several moments had passed, Grace led her from the room.

"She may appear peaceful now, but just wait until she wakes up in the night! Her voice can make an impressive statement!"

Grace responded that as soon as they reached the hallway, they were out of earshot.

"You must be hungry. Let me get something for you to eat."

Grace said something, and Lori nodded her head.

Lori suddenly stopped walking towards the staircase and abruptly stopped talking about their itinerary.

What was happening? She wondered as she touched her breasts. Specifically, where her nipples lay, the moisture had congregated a little damply at her shirt front.

Grace began to wonder why she stopped.

She looked down at her shirt and smiled.

"That... has never occurred before!"

Lori covered the front of her shirt and blushed in embarrassment.

Grace shrugged.

"I think it must have been just hormones. Perhaps seeing my son was what caused this."

Lori nodded her head. Hormones seemed the only plausible explanation.

"I'll go change," she replied and turned around and headed toward her room. When she returned inside, she discovered that Grace had long ago given her breast pads, which were now tucked inside a bag full of pumping supplies and had not yet been used.

She groaned as she put on both a new bra and a blouse.

If this scenario repeated itself each time she saw the baby, then it might take time for her to adjust to it.

Once downstairs, she went straight into Grace's kitchen, where a plate of food waited.

"Hm, so what would you like for lunch today? I have recently prepared mashed potatoes, chicken that is currently cooling on a rack, and green beans.

Lori shrugged. "That all sounds wonderful to me—and some will do me no harm either!"

Grace nodded before moving across the kitchen to check on her chicken.

"Grace, any advice for me as someone who used to care for Emilia?"

Lori asked Grace, who giggled knowingly.

"Oh, yes! Cit She replied as she took out her knife to begin carving up chicken pieces.

Emilia is like any baby: she sleeps, she eats, she poops, and she cries."

"Despite our best efforts, she doesn't sleep through the night; this has proven difficult."

Grace noted, "She's usually pleased but sometimes can cry for extended periods without an obvious request—especially at night—though most often when she does cry it means something specific needs to happen."

"She loved being outside. Throughout the day I would take her for walks around our house, during which time she'd become much calmer, particularly if she'd been crying prior.

Lori nodded thoughtfully as she took a mental note.

Anyway, I think you'll do fine; I'll show you how."

"Oh, thank you, Grace," Lori exclaimed as she presented Grace with a plate laden with herb-roasted chicken, gravy, green beans, and mashed potatoes.

Lori thought to herself, it must be wonderful; Lori has never eaten anything besides ramen or toast before, and her stomach would surely appreciate a different food choice!

Grace was unsure if she believed she had much experience caring for children; unfortunately, she didn't. Though she was a teen, she remembered watching their neighbor's eight-month-old baby for several weeks.

But that was about all she knew for certain. Although she remembered how to change a diaper from their childhood years back in London, she had forgotten most of what went into doing it successfully now that it had been so long since doing it herself. Still, she believed she would eventually adapt.

She hadn't bothered to learn many details of mothering or caring for a baby due to having given up her son for adoption; therefore, she wondered if Grace knew or whether or not Grace would treat her differently had they known the truth.

Mr. Caine may treat her differently if he were aware of all this information, perhaps even considering hiring her as his daughter's nanny.

Lori took her meal alone as Grace discussed Emilia, who at only weeks old wasn't much known beyond being born into this world yet.

Lori appreciated Grace's advice as though she knew they'd come at just the right moment for Lori to use them effectively.

Lori had finished eating and returned to check on Emilia; at this point she was already awake and stretching—her small head moved slightly as she took in what was happening around her and who stood before her. Emilia appeared unaware, however; Lori could hear Emilia taking in everything around them with great interest as Lori tried reassuring her of that fact.

Lori said as quietly as she could, "Hellooooo!"

She gently lifted up the infant, speaking her first name:

Emilia fit snugly into her arms like it belonged there—almost like she belonged. Emilia opened her eyes, which were the same brilliant blue as those belonging to her father's, and stared back with all their force at Emilia, with whom they'd just given birth.

Lori gently patted the child's head as she cuddled close. Her demeanour seemed peaceful, and she smelt lovely! With delight, Lori sniffed gently as they cooed softly together.

Oh, that baby smell. Awwww, what an irresistibly delightful fragrance it emits!

Lori looked down at her daughter with affection as she touched the top of its nose, adding, "She's adorable."

Lori turned quickly, thinking it must have been Grace, but instead saw Mr. Gabriel Caine enter.

He stood still, staring through the doorway as though studying her.

Lori welcomed Caine by saying, "Good evening, Mr. Caine," to which the gentleman nodded in acknowledgement.

He filled up an entire doorway.

"Ms. Wyatt, I appreciate that you accepted my offer of help.

Lori nodded, her only thought being, "How could I refuse?" while maintaining a composed expression.

"I would like us to meet downstairs so we can establish ground rules.

Lori nodded her head.

"Okay. I'll be over there shortly."

She asked whether it would be necessary for her to bring the infant along, since technically speaking she now was their nanny.

Mr. Caine turned, about to exit, before turning back around and peering into his office again.

"And she needs her diaper changed immediately!"

As he carefully closed the door behind him, he delivered his statement.

Lori looked through the open door at both her baby and then at herself in disbelief.

She wasn't sure why, but as she set the baby down on the changing table and unzipped their onesie, she realised they needed a diaper change.

She quickly removed her diaper when both smell and sight made their presence known, turning away.

Oh no! He certainly wasn't mistaken!

How had she missed that?! As she picked up a clean diaper from the changing table, she questioned herself.

Piece of cake. Assume success is easily within your grasp! Attempt this endeavour with confidence today.

Removing her baby's diaper wasn't an effortless feat! But she managed to come through successfully, using baby wipes, baby powder, and a fresh new diaper.

After an hour had passed, she went downstairs with the baby to find Mr. Caine sitting still, wearing his work clothes with his phone in hand in the living room, still on hold for his wife to arrive home from her shift. She found him waiting patiently as they began making plans together again for dinner that night.

Grace appeared at that exact moment and ran towards Lori.

"Please, Honey. Always support her head!"

Grace made an announcement as she took Lori's baby and placed it into a bassinet in their living room.

Lori turned towards Mr. Caine with her cheeks flushed in hue.

"Please sit down, Lori."

He gave the instruction, and Lori noticed that it was the first time he had used her first name.

"Have you signed the contract I gave you?"

"Yes," she replied and left it upstairs.

She had completely misplaced the contract; it had even made its way back into her suitcase!

She asked Mr. Caine whether it would be wiser for her to go and collect it; in response, he simply shrugged.

"Don't worry; that can always come later. Don't feel pressured into buying that today."

"Like I noted previously, it would be wise for us to establish some ground rules.

Lori nodded her head. "During your contract as a live-in nanny, you will receive at least 10 paid leave days per year based on how you choose.

"Let me just reiterate what should already be in the contract."

Lori nodded; that much was written into their contract, though she hardly expected herself to take advantage of that provision; after all, there wasn't anyone left for her to spend her spare time off with.

"Nobody may take Emilia outside without my express written authorisation.

Lori nodded her head before having an idea for an inquiry.

"What if she gets sick?"

He shrugged his shoulders in response to her question.

"First you call and notify me; then I give permission for you to leave.

Lori nodded her approval.

No visitors allowed: you cannot bring anyone into our facility, such as friends, family, or any intimate partners you might have; such visitations are forbidden."

Lori nodded again, saying nothing could stand in her way of the goal she desired to attain. Without comment, Gabriel heard what Lori was stating but decided against offering any comments of his own.

"Please understand that some rooms within this home are off-limits; please refrain from trying to gain entry by opening any locked doors."

Strange. What did those words mean? She wondered to herself but decided against speaking her thoughts aloud.

"Additionally, do not enter the woods—my staff has reported seeing wild animals there!"

Lori nodded; adhering to that rule should present no difficulty for her with her new hectic schedule.

"Does Mr. Caine have anything else to add?"

She enquired, and he responded in kind; both parties did so by shrugging.

"Nope; Grace would take care of everything if necessary.

Once he finished speaking, he got up and departed, leaving Lori, Grace, and their newborn child in their living room.