Page 21 of The Accidental Nanny (All Of You #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Gemma

A fter dropping the kids off at school, I dig into cleaning our home. Comfy in my cheap clothes, I’m mopping the kitchen floor when there is a loud knock at the door. Who else has the code to get in? I put down the mop and go to answer.

“Hello?” I stare at the middle-aged blonde woman. She looks livid, kind of like Eden when she's throwing a tantrum.

“Where is he?” she snaps at me.

“I’m sorry, who are you? You’ll have to be more specific than that.” I look at her confused.

“That is none of your business. Where’s Alex?” She folds her arms over her chest, staring at me.

“At work,” I say simply.

“Get him here now. He’s not answering his phone.” Her face is red.

“What am I meant to say to him? A crazy woman is at the door demanding to see you, but she won’t give me her name.” I look at her, bewildered .

Her face twists as though she's sucking a lemon. “Leave the crazy part out,” she bites at me.

“I hope he has a better idea than I do.” I get my phone, calling him. It doesn't ring more than once.

“Hello,” he answers. His tone is sharp.

“Alex, a mad woman is at the door demanding to see you, but she won’t tell me who it is.”

“I said leave out that part,” she shouts.

“No, you said don’t say ‘crazy,’ so I changed it to mad. Which you are.” I stare at her as though this is the most obvious thing in the world.

Alex sounds like he's annoyed. “Julia. I’ll be there soon. Don’t let her in.”

I stand in the doorway. “Wait there, he’s on his way.”

“You’re not inviting me in?” she asks. "This was my house."

“No, I’m not. Alex told me not to." Slamming the door in her face, I feel satisfied.

The constant knocking and ringing is driving me nuts as I try to clean the kitchen. She’s more persistent than I am, I’ll give the crazy bitch that.

Soon, I hear shouting from outside, and I open the door. Alex and Julia are standing inches apart, yelling at each other about someone called Jason. Who the fuck is Jason?

“Seriously, do you two want everyone to hear what’s going on? Alex, let her in.” I walk over and touch his shoulder.

“Go to the kitchen. You are not going anywhere else,” Alex growls at her.

I walk in front, Julia in the middle, and Alex follows.

“Why did you contact Jason?” Julia demands.

Alex raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms. “I wanted him to know what you had done. But he knows. Doesn’t he? You both planned this. ”

“I don’t want your children. I hate you!” she screams at him.

Alex raises his voice as well. “What have I ever done that was so bad that you hate me so much? To walk out on your children?”

“You’re crap in bed. You wouldn’t know how to please anyone. You’re so boring. Don’t you get it? I married you for security. That’s all, a safe future.” She spits out the words as she shouts at him.

I feel bad for Alex. For one thing, he's very good at pleasing me in bed, but I don’t think now is the time to bring that up.

“Money,” he says at last.

“Money,” she repeats. Walking towards the front door.

“And Kelly?” She stops in her tracks at his words.

“What about Kelly?” she hisses under her breath.

“You thought I wouldn’t find out about your other daughter. She’s twenty-one now. You left her as well.” Alex’s voice is like ice.

I stare at Julia, disgusted with her. I can’t believe she has an older daughter. What kind of sick person is she?

“Shut up,” Julia screams.

“You told me she died,” Alex shouts back. "You're a fucking liar."

“I told you to shut it,” she says, marching back to him and pointing a finger in his face.

“No, Julia. You are not well. No person walks out on three children and doesn’t look back. And your parents? They know what you’ve done. I spoke to Ben. He wasn’t surprised when I told him. Your daughter is thriving without you, by the way. All of them will. You don’t deserve any of them.”

She glares at Alex. "I want the rest of my clothes, and then I never want to see you again."

"Oh, sorry,” I cut in. “I got rid of those. You left them here, so I assumed you didn't want them," I say with a smile on my face.

"Who the fuck are you anyway?" she demands to know, turning her evil eyes on me.

I shrug. "No concern of yours."

She turns around and walks out of the house, slamming the door.

“She has another daughter?” That was the most shocking part of all.

“Yes. I thought Kelly had died, or so Julia told me. I did some digging. Something wasn’t sitting right with me, and that’s how I found out. I’m sorry. I don’t want her ever seeing the children again.” He kisses my head. "Sorry you had to meet her."

"I'm a poorer person for it," I joke. "But it's okay. And for what it's worth..." I pretend to straighten his work shirt. "I think you're incredible in bed and you please me just fine."

Alex

I was ignoring Julia’s calls at work, but I didn’t think she would show up at the house.

The last location I had for her was the south of France.

I’m seething, despite Gemma’s best efforts to calm me.

I pace the room as Gemma is trying to talk to me, but I’m ignoring her.

A strong drink is placed in front of me.

“Looks like you need it.”

Grabbing the glass, I down the warm liquid; it burns the back of my throat. She grabs the bottle, pouring me another one.

“I can’t be drunk in the middle of the day.”

“One more won’t hurt,” she says, placing the drink down.

“This is forty-year-old scotch.”

“I’ll buy you another one,” she replies nonchalantly .

“Three children. How do you walk out on three children?” I’m in a dark place.

All I can think of is how I was so blind to it all.

All Julia ever wanted was a comfortable life.

She never had to work or worry about money, my parents were always on hand to help…

the bitch. I pour myself another glass. Gemma goes to remove it, but I snatch it out of her hand.

I have one more, before I leave the house.

Sitting alone at the bar, I don’t know how much I’ve had to drink. The pub is quiet. Raising my eyebrows, I get the bar woman’s attention.

“I’m cutting you off. You’ve been drinking for hours.”

Did she say hours? I take my phone out of my pocket to find several voice messages and missed calls from Gemma; it’s almost ten.

Going through my contacts, I call Darren. He doesn’t answer, so I leave a drunken message. It’s almost closing time when the door opens and Patrick walks in.

“Where’s Darren?” My words are slurred and almost indecipherable.

“Let’s get you home.” He doesn’t comment on the state I’m in.

Getting into his car, I can already feel myself wanting to throw up, as we start to move.

“How did you even get into this mess? This isn’t you,” Patrick asks me.

“Julia.” It’s all I can manage.

“Sorry it’s me and not Darren, he’s working. He messaged me when he heard your message.”

I’m trying not to throw up in his car, so I open the window to let some fresh air in .

“Need me to pull over?” he asks, but I wave my hand at him. I need to get home.

“I’m going to ask Darren to marry me. I want your blessing. It would mean a lot. I know you don’t like me, but I love him.”

I’m struggling to form any words, but I have to try.

“I don’t hate you. We’re just different.”

“I know I’m loud, but sometimes different personalities are good.”

He helps me get into the house, and I’m grateful. I don’t make it to my room, instead I pass out on the sofa.

Cold water splashes my face.

“Arsehole,” Gemma yells, shutting the door as loud as she could manage.

She storms back into the room, throwing my clothes at me. She walks out, slamming the door again. Checking my watch, it’s gone lunchtime. Fuck.

“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” I call to her.

The loud banging stops and the door opens. She stands at the doorway, her nostrils flaring.

“You inconsiderate bastard. You walk out, don’t answer my calls, then come home drunk.

I’ve had Eden upset and crying in my bed as she had no idea where you are.

Ace found you passed out, and now he thinks you’re dead.

” She huffs then walks out the room. Moments later, the front door rattles and an engine powers up in the driveway.

When I call Fern, she doesn’t sound amused. She’s short with me as well. I assume Gemma has already spoken to her.

I catch a whiff of myself; I need to shower. Walking up the stairs, I notice the clothes piled up in the bathroom. The doors are all open and each room is a mess. It’s a problem for later. First, I need to freshen up.

My shower makes me feel a little bit better, and I start to clean up the mess in the house.

Gemma comes home an hour later. She’s still cross. Banging around the kitchen, she makes a mess, not talking to me. I’ve had enough of this.

“Gemma!” I shout, but she continues to ignore me. Following her, I cage her in. She refuses to meet my eyes and pushes me away. I’m too old for this. “Talk to me.”

“Why should I? You didn’t speak to me.” She has a point.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve not seen Julia in ages, then she shows up here.”

“So, what?” She doesn’t understand.

“Gemma, we were married for years.”

“I know,” she yells. “But I am the one here. I am the one worried about you, looking after your children, not her. She doesn’t deserve your anger!”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve had to hold it all together. Last night... something broke.”

Gemma comes and takes my hand. “Alex, look at me. I’m here, me.” She wraps her arms around me. Holding onto her, I look out the window. The trees outside are losing their leaves, the cold nights are drawing in. Soon, winter will be here.