“Kid, you’re killing me,” I whisper before I set his feet to the floor and take his hand. Seeing this as his green light to be rambunctious, he stomps on his shiny reflection with his tennis shoes, so to distract him, I squat and remove his hat and coat.
A grey-haired woman in a maid’s uniform, similar to one you’d see worn in a hotel, scurries toward us.
“Oh, Ms., I’m so sorry. Mr. Day didn’t tell me you arrived,” she says with an Italian accent I recognize on the spot. It’s comforting since my grandmother is Italian.
Nervously, she snatches Liam’s outerwear from my hands, so I begin removing my coat. “I’m Mrs. Esposito, but Mr. Burke doesn’t mind if you call me Irene,” she announces.
“Hi, I’m Camilla Rose, and this is my son, Liam.”
Irene leans over and shakes his little hand. This makes him feel big, so he grins at her, showing his white teeth, and I’m relieved he seems comfortable and excited in our new environment.
Hearing someone, I look up and watch Christopher as he walks down the steps alone.
“Would you like me to fix you some breakfast?” Irene asks.
“We’ve already eaten, but thank you.”
“OK, but when you need anything at all, Ms. Rose, you ask me, and I’ll be at your service.”
“Thank you, and please call me Camilla.”
“Ellis is working and will meet with you later,” Christopher states as Irene strides away. “Let me show you around and get you settled in. You can spend today getting Liam comfortable in his new room and the rest of the house.”
Pulling free from me, Liam runs to one of several stone columns that line the perimeter of the room. His short arms stretch around it, and he groans, thinking if he reaches enough, his fingers will touch on the opposite side. Not happening, kid.
“I guess he’s going to like it here after all,” Chris says in a sharp tone.
“Let’s hope,” I utter before I look at him. His eyes display sadness as he stares at Liam. He’s not any happier about this situation than I am, and things are awkward now that I know he desires me in a way I can’t reciprocate.
“OK, let’s get this over with.” Walking over to Liam, I swoop him up into my arms and stroll back to Chris.
“You know, you’ll have to stop carrying him soon.”
“Not yet. I’m not ready. He’s the only child I’ll ever have, so I don’t want to miss any of it.” Realizing how personal my declaration is, I don’t make eye contact. “Also, don’t tell me how to parent. I already feel my control slipping away.”
“I’m sorry.” He points farther into the home. “Let’s start this way.”
Ellis
Standing outside of Liam’s bedroom, I listen to Camilla speaking. Her voice is gentle as she reads him a book. At least, it sounds like she’s reading.
“Momma, my room is big,” he says.
“Geez, you really can’t listen through a whole page, can you?” she asks. “Your room is big, and thank goodness there is a lot of room since you’ve dragged out every new toy.
“It’s a mess in here. Hop up from my lap so we can clean this up before Mr. Burke comes in and we get in trouble.”
“I’m in trouble, Momma?” he asks her, sounding concerned.
“No, sweetheart. Everything is fine. Just help me pick up.”
This makes me scowl. She’s truly afraid of me, and that’s fine, but I don’t want the kid scared of me, too. I need to get this over with, and the fact I’m nervous about it frustrates me.
Clearing my throat, I step into the doorway and find Camilla’s shapely ass, snug in jeans, in my line of sight. She’s bent over, picking up books.
“Good afternoon,” I say. Whipping around, she loses her balance and falls backward, landing on a pile of toys. Oh, shit.
“Momma, you OK?” Liam asks her, his blue eyes round as they dart between the two of us. He squats next to her for protection and stares up at me.
Realizing I’m doing nothing, I scramble over to her and reach out my hand. She glowers at me before taking it, and her body soon separates from an assortment of various shaped toys.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s fine.” As soon as she’s upright, she slides a hand across her lower back and rubs it.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, it’s nothing.” Her eyes are looking anywhere but at me.
“Did Chris give you a tour of the property?”
“Well, he tried, but we should’ve saved Liam’s room for last. He hasn’t wanted to leave it.” Smiling, she finally tilts her hazel eyes up at me. “Thank you for all of this; however I do worry it could spoil him.”