Nanny for the Don: Chapter 14

I wake up the next morning feeling like I’ve been hit by a damn truck. Before I even have a chance to fully open my eyes, a nasty wave of nausea hits me, slamming into me hard. I bolt to the bathroom, barely making it before I’m hunched over the toilet, throwing up again.

This time, it’s all dry heaves, and it’s brutal. My whole body feels like it’s been wrung out and left to dry.

When it’s finally over, I sit back on the cold tile floor, gasping for breath. What the hell is going on with me? This feels like the hangover from hell, except I haven’t touched a drop of booze.

I drag myself up and over to the sink, splashing cold water on my face and trying to shake off the grossness. As I look at my reflection, something feels… off. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s definitely something different staring back at me.

Then, out of nowhere, a thought hits me like a ton of bricks.

What if I’m pregnant?

The idea sends a cold spike of fear straight through my gut. My stomach clenches, and I grip the edge of the sink, feeling like the floor just dropped out from under me. I mean, it’s possible, right? Nico and I have been going at it like rabbits, and sure, I’m on the pill, but nothing’s 100%.

Oh, shit. What if I’m actually pregnant?

My mind’s racing as I think back, trying to remember if I’ve been as religious with the pill as I should’ve been. With everything going on—this job, the fling with Nico—it’s all been such a blur. I reach into my drawer and pull out my pill case, flipping it open with shaky hands. And sure enough, there it is, staring me right in the face: two pills I straight-up forgot to take, just chilling there like a couple of traitors. I was so wrapped up in everything I didn’t even notice.

I groan, running a hand through my hair. This is exactly the kind of stupid mistake I never thought I’d make. But here we are, and now I’ve got to deal with the consequences—whatever they might be.

Just then, my alarm goes off, jolting me out of my spiraling thoughts. Time to get the girls up and start the day. I shake off the panic, forcing myself to focus. There’s nothing I can do about this right now, so I need to keep it together until I can get to the pharmacy later. I rinse out my mouth, brushing my teeth like I can scrub away the anxiety, and then quickly get dressed.

As I pull on my clothes, I make a silent vow to stay cool, keep my head in the game. I’ve got a job to do, and freaking out isn’t going to help anything. Once I’ve handled my work, then I’ll figure out what the hell to do next.

I head to the girls’ room to get them ready for preschool, but to my surprise, they’re already up and giggling, playing with their toys. “Well, look at you two,” I say with a grin. “Got you so well-trained, you don’t even need me to wake you up!”

“Morning, Willow!” Lucia says, an adorable grin on her face.

“Morning!” Giulia adds.

I make a mental note to stay focused today, not let my possible baby drama mess with my head. The girls deserve my full attention, and I’m not about to slack off because my brain’s doing cartwheels.

I help them into their clothes, keeping the morning routine smooth and easy, and we head downstairs together. For once, I’m actually relieved that Nico isn’t around. He’s the absolute last person I want to see right now. I need space to think.

As we reach the bottom of the stairs, I freeze. My blood runs cold at the sound of a deep, resonant voice coming from the kitchen.

“Papa!” the girls scream, tearing away from me and sprinting into the kitchen.

I follow them, my heart pounding in my chest. And there he is, casually chatting with Ms. M like it’s just another morning. My stomach flips as I watch him, trying to keep my cool even though I’m freaking out on the inside..

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and step into the kitchen. The girls are already wrapped around Nico’s legs, their little faces beaming up at him.

“Papa, Papa! Guess what? We woke up all by ourselves today!” Giulia chirps.

“Yeah, we’re big girls now!” Lucia adds, giggling.

Nico crouches down, ruffling their hair with a warm smile. “Well, look at that! My big girls are growing up so fast. You’re making Papa proud.”

Seeing Nico with the girls is always adorable, but today, it hits different. My mind starts spinning as I realize that I could be pregnant with a new little brother or sister for the girls, a new daughter or son for Nico. He’s such a loving dad, but the thought of telling him I might be carrying his child? That’s a whole other level of anxiety.

“Morning,” I say, trying to sound as normal as possible as I greet Nico and Ms. M.

“Morning, Willow,” Ms. M replies with a smile.

I steal a glance at Nico. His sleeves are rolled up, showing off his taut forearms. I watch the way his Adam’s apple bobs as he sips his coffee, and damn it, why does he have to be so effortlessly hot?

He catches me looking, and a sly grin spreads across his face, like he knows exactly what’s on my mind. I look away too quickly.

Nico glances at his fancy-ass watch, the kind that probably costs more than my entire wardrobe. “I’ve got to get moving,” he says, sounding all businesslike. But then he pauses, his brow furrowing for a moment as if he’s just remembered something. “Wait, today’s the girls’ pediatrician appointment, right?”

The girls groan in unison, clearly not thrilled about it.

Ms. M steps in with her usual calm. “Come on, now. Dr. Rodriguez is very nice, and she’s just going to make sure you’re in tip-top shape. It won’t take long.”

The girls give in, though not without a bit of pouting.

Nico turns to Ms. M. “You’re taking them?”

Ms. M nods. “It’s easier with the paperwork and everything if I handle it. I can pick them up after lunch at school.”

Nico gives a small nod of approval. “Makes sense. Willow, we talked about you taking the afternoon off, correct?”

I smile and nod. He’s all business now, clearly shifting into work mode. He gives the girls a quick kiss on the head and a nod to Ms. M and me before heading out the door.

As soon as he’s gone, my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s a text from Kendall, my cousin: Can’t wait to catch up later! Coffee’s on me!

It’s later in the day, and Ms. M just left to get the girls. They won’t be back until dinner, so I’ve got a solid four hours of me-time. First up, coffee with Kendall.

Part of me is tempted to take the pregnancy test before heading out, but honestly, I need a break from my own brain. Kendall’s the perfect person to help me chill; she’s always had a way of making everything feel a little less serious.

I throw on a coat and step out into the crisp air. The sun’s out, but there’s still a bit of snow clinging to the ground, sparkling like it’s trying to remind everyone that winter’s just begun. I make my way to Bushwick, where Kendall lives, and head straight for our favorite coffee spot.

As soon as I walk in, I spot Kendall, her tall frame at the counter.

“Will!” she exclaims as soon as she sees me, rushing over to pull me into a tight hug.

“Kendall!” I hug her back, feeling some of the tension in my chest start to ease. She always knows how to make me feel at home, even when everything else is chaos..

“I’m so happy to see you!” she beams, squeezing me again before letting go.

“Same. It’s been way too long,” I reply, trying to match her energy even though my brain’s still spinning..

“I’ll grab us some coffee,” she offers, heading back to the counter.

“Sure,” I say, but then I freeze. Wait, aren’t pregnant women supposed to avoid caffeine?

“Uh, actually,” I call out, feeling super awkward, “can you get me something caffeine-free?”

Kendall turns and gives me a funny look. “Caffeine-free? You, Will? Since when?”

I scramble for an excuse, feeling like a total idiot. “Oh, uh, I’ve just been, you know, trying to cut back. Health kick or whatever.”

She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push it. “Alright, how about a chai latte? It’s still delicious and caffeine-free.”

“Perfect,” I say, trying to sound casual as I plop into a seat. As soon as I sit down, I realize I’m not off to a great start if I’m already fumbling to keep this whole thing under wraps. Kendall’s no fool—she’ll catch on if I’m not careful.

Kendall heads to the table with the drinks, talking a mile a minute like always. “So, how’s the new job going? And those girls—oh my God, they’re so cute in those pics you sent! And your boss—what’s he like? Also, I’ve been thinking, we should totally do another joint yoga class soon. My students loved it last time! We could mix it up, maybe throw in some meditation or something? What do you think?”

She’s a total yapper, but that’s one of the things I love about her. When she’s in full-on chatter mode, I don’t have to worry about filling the silence. It’s a blessing right now, especially with all the crazy thoughts bouncing around in my head.

Just as I’m about to answer, Kendall suddenly cocks her head to the side, eyes narrowing a little like she’s picked up on something. “There’s something different about you.”

Oh shit. I try to play it cool, but my stomach does a nervous flip. “Different? Nah, just, you know, life stuff.” I give a little laugh, hoping it doesn’t sound as fake as it feels.

But Kendall’s too sharp for her own good, and I can tell she’s not buying it.

She squints, leaning in a little like she’s trying to solve some big mystery. “I don’t know… your skin, maybe? It looks, like, glowy or something. Are you using a new routine? You know, I just started this thing with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid—total game-changer. My pores? Practically invisible. And don’t even get me started on the ceramide moisturizer—my skin has never felt so soft.”

She’s off on her skincare tangent, but I can barely focus. My heart’s pounding, and I feel like I’m on the verge of cracking wide open. I can’t keep it in anymore. The words are just sitting there, heavy on my tongue, waiting to spill out.

Kendall pauses, mid-rant, and tilts her head again, this time with genuine concern in her eyes. “Will… what’s wrong?”

And just like that, I lose it. The dam breaks. “I think I might be pregnant.”

Her eyes go wide, and for a second, everything’s dead silent, like the world just hit pause.

“Wait, what?”