Chapter 6

Heather

I was so thankful that yesterday was over. I made a fool of myself asking him how old he was. Okay, I might have been overdramatic but it sure felt like it.

I woke up early since I had class,I braided my hair and resorted to my casual and comfortable clothes. I missed wearing high heels since I became a nanny but high heels weren't really an option. I turned on some music, Tyler didn't come home last night but most nights he was working late and would fall asleep in his office.

I was dancing about and in my off tone voice singing 'Forget you' loudly, luckily my neighbors were an elderly couple and half deaf.

"I'm like forget you and forget her too!"

My class was long and I had a few assignments to do this week.

My class finished just before lunch. It wasn't time for me to pick Luca up yet but I had to switch cars from my old mustang to the minivan Gabriele was generously letting me drive. I reversed out but then I ran over the garbage can. I hurriedly picked it up, it had a nasty dent in. This time I reversed out without a problem. I hope he doesn't see that.

A few minutes later I stopped at Luca's school. I stood waiting in the crowd of nannies, some I knew very well so the conversation was light.

"Are you still working for the Smith's?" I shook my head.

"No, I finished there about two weeks ago."

"So, whose child are you looking after then?" Gwenn asked curiously.

"Mr. Armanto." Some of the ladies gawked at me.

"Really? I wouldn't mind working for a sexy beast like him. That's unfair that he didn't even interview any of us." I was about to reply but then the school bell rang. The kids came rushing out, I waited for Luca who came out a few minutes after the others.

He looked frazzled and shaken up, I rushed to him.

"Luca are you okay?" He sniffled and didn't say anything. He ran to the car door flinging himself onto his seat and buckling up. Something was wrong with him. If I could talk to him it would help but at this moment he clammed shut.

We arrived home after a quiet ride, usually, he would be talking to me about everything that happened during his day and about his friends. I gracefully parked the minivan in the garage, when I opened the door leading to the house, Luca ran upstairs and locked his door.

I sighed and set my bag down on the table. Luca wasn't going to talk to me, I learned that from the previous boy I looked after. I would plead and ask nicely but nothing would make him budge until he calmed down. I made lunch quickly and walked to his room.

"Luca, I made you lunch."

The door didn't budge, I sat down beside his door with the plate in my hand.

"It's your favorite sandwich, ham, and cheese." Nothing came from the other side.

I reluctantly pulled myself up, I had to give him time. I put away his sandwich and began my assignment. About three hours later after I tried to check on him numerous times Gabriele came home. He was early tonight.

"Hi, where's Luca?" He asked as soon as he entered the kitchen.

"He's in his room, he doesn't want to open up for me." His forehead formed a frown. He untied his tie and placed his jacket on the chair.

"I've been worried about him, a few nights ago he had a bad nightmare and I just knew something was wrong. Did he say anything?"I shook my head.

"Not a word, I tried but he didn't budge,"

"Alright let's see if I can get anything out of him," Gabriele walked to his door asking him to open up, with a few clicks the door opened slightly and Gabriele slid inside. I felt kind of offset since Luca didn't trust me enough to tell me anything. I took this as a sign that I'm not needed here so I walked to the kitchen beginning with dinner for them.

I frustratedly mixed the mince until it simmered. I was frustrated since I couldn't do my job properly and Luca couldn't talk to me. It was understandable because I only knew him for about two weeks but still, it's my job to care for him and I can't do that if he doesn't let me.

I finished dinner when Gabriele and Luca came down. Luca sat down at the television and Gabriele walked into the kitchen with his nose in the air.

"That smells delicious."I gave him a weak smile.

"Uh thanks, dinner will be ready in a minute." I tried to focus on dishing up the meal. He stood beside me helping me with the plates.

"Luca is being bullied, from what he told me and the bruises on his arms, it's bad." Gabriele's face retorted into sadness and his eyes began to glisten with tears.

"I don't want my baby boy to get hurt. I'm going to have a meeting with his teacher tomorrow morning, it's unacceptable." He said worriedly.

"It's good that he talked to you about it, most boys would try and hide it."

"We have a rule of no secrets, no one disobeys that rule." I nodded and walked over to a very silent Luca. I bend down so that I was in front of him as he sat on the couch.

"Dinner is ready" He nodded and walked to the kitchen with me.

I set the table for two, Gabriele shook his head.

"You can eat dinner with us, Luca doesn't mind and there is more than enough." I warily placed another chair at the table. Luca to right of me and Gabriele to the left.

They began eating, I shifted my foot and just as I did I stepped on Gabriele's toes. I looked at him wide-eyed thinking he would grunt in pain.

"Reinforced leather shoes, for all those feisty women who like to step on my toes." He commented as he took another bite of the mac and cheese. Dinner was over quickly and after Gabriele left to run a bath for Luca I cleaned up and gathered up my things. Gabriele came back into the kitchen when I was just about done.

"He is busy playing soldier soldier in the tub. He knows the water safety drill. Leaving already?" He looked at his expensive watch, I nodded. I wanted to go and surprise Tyler at his work, he was working long hours lately and needs some TLC.

"I have to go meet Tyler, but I'll see you next week." He walked with me to the door, before I walked away I heard his deep voice echo behind me,

"Goodnight Miss Jackson."

Gabriele

I closed the door behind her, releasing a deep breath, letting an Italian cuss slip out of my lips, "Merda". After these two weeks, I felt the tension between us build. I may be imagining it but something was brewing in me. Although I wanted to get rid of this feeling I knew something was going to happen that shouldn't.

Today was Saturday which meant I had some quality time with Luca since this week was hectic, after my quick meeting with the teacher and the principle we agreed that the boy Luca mentioned is going to be talked to and will be getting severe punishment. Since that day Luca didn't have any more nightmares and he was the happy kind of child he used to be.

I walked with Luca to the park to play some soccer and baseball. I held his hand tightly as I carried a big bag with our bats and equipment in. Quality time with him is what I need. I set my bag on a bench. We just threw the baseball to each other.

We played some soccer, Luca was one of the fastest kickers I have ever seen. Sweat was dripping off me and Luca, I slumped down on the bench handing him a bottle of water. As I sat down and my breathing became less rapid I heard sobs. I looked at Luca, it wasn't him. I turned to the other bench to see a woman at the end of the bench with her face in her hands.

I looked at Luca who was also intently staring at the woman.

"Daddy, that woman is so sad, should we go talk to her?" I wasn't sure if we should, she probably came here to get some peace and quiet from whatever was wrong. We should mind our own business.

"I think maybe I should talk to her alone, stay put buddy." He nodded and I could see concern written on his face. I slowly walked over to the woman.

I sat down beside her, she lifted her face up. It was Heather.

He brown hair was loose and her eyeliner smeared, she looked startled. She stood up to bolt but thanks to my adapted reflexes (thanks to Luca always running away) caught her by the wrist.

"Heather?"

"Gabriele?Oh sorry." She muttered and quickly rubbed away her tears trying to plaster on a fake smile.

"What's wrong?" She shook her head drying another tear.

"I'm fine, really."

"I can see you are lying, come on" I took her hand helping her up.

"Where are we going?"I signaled Luca to come with us, he looked at Heather in surprise.

"You are coming home with me." That sounded a bit strange.

"No, I really don't want to bother you, it's Saturday."

"Luca would love for you to come over, me too and...you need someone." She stared up at me and I stared at her for a second. She agreed.

Luca tugged at my shirt, I bend down to him when he whispered into my ear.

"Is Heather going to stay with us?" I don't know where he was getting that from.

"Until she's alright again." He gave me a hopeful grin, Heather walked here so I drove her to my houses. Yesterday she was happy when she left my house. I don't know what could have happened.

I was going to find out what was hurting her, seeing her like this made my heart tug painfully in my chest.

Luca was equally quiet studying us as she sat in front beside me as I drove home. Luca ran upstairs and left us alone when we got home. Heather sobbed and her tears started flowing again. I sighed, I sat her down in the kitchen turning the coffee machine on.

"What's wrong?"

A/N Lol Cliffhanger, the very first one in this story.

An idea as to what Heather is crying about?

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