Chapter 4: The Nanny

NANTUCKET, 1999

“Lydia, baby you have to wake up!” I roll over groggily and pull the covers back over my head.  “Lydia come on baby, we need to get going.  The Woods are expecting you!”  I feel a hand grab the blankets and pull them down.  

“Five more minutes, please Jason?” I whine as I see the man of my dreams smiling above me.  His beautiful red hair and green eyes. He has freckles on his face that only compliment his looks.  His Scottish heritage really shows through in his features.  I smile as he leans down and kisses my lips.  

“Honeymoon is officially over I guess,” I said with a pout. He runs his big hand through my hair and down the side of my face.  “Well we still have a few more minutes,” he says with a smoldering look in his eyes, “as long as you stay up.” He just had to add that last part. 

I pulled him close to me.  I could feel him press his hardness against me.  We were both still naked from our night of passion.  Heck, from the whole week! We didn’t do much for a honeymoon, except stay wrapped up in each other’s arms.  

I could feel him enter me as I arched my back, allowing him to push further inside.  I will definitely miss the feeling of him when he is overseas.  I begged him not to go, but that’s what comes with being a Marine.  It is one of the reasons we got married last week.  We both wanted to marry before he was due to deploy.  

I moaned as he went deeper, hitting my core.  I could hear his panting with every thrust he made. “Lydi, I love you so much baby.”  I never get tired of hearing those words. He begins to pick up speed and I feel the tension build up inside me.  My legs begin to shudder as I feel myself release around him.  I close my eyes and moan in pleasure.  Within seconds he was joining my release. 

He leans down and kisses me deeply.  I will never get tired of this man.  When we finally part, he pulls the covers off of us, and gets out of bed.  “Come on baby, I leave at nine.  Plus you have to get to the Woods Estate by noon.”  

He looks at me sincerely, “I wish I could be there to help you get settled.”  I could tell it is really eating him up inside.  I get out of bed and walk over to him wrapping my arms around him.  “I hate being away from you.”

 He straightens himself up and puts on the Marine face.  The emotionless face that masks all his feelings.  “It will be fine.  I will be back with you by next year.”  Sincerity begins to show through his face again, “then we can start our family.”

We separated reluctantly and I went to shower and dress for the day.  I grabbed my suitcase, packed with clothes and everything else I needed for the rest of the year and we left our apartment.  The rest of our stuff would be in storage until he came home.  Then we would look into buying a house.  

We get to the gates just before nine.  The plane is already there waiting for his unit.  This was the hard part, saying goodbye.  He slung his bag over his shoulder and turned to me.  I could feel the tears begin to build in my eyes as I flung my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.  “I love you so much Jason Reece, you make sure you come back to me,” I whispered in his ear.  Then I kissed him, passionately and deeply, as if my life depended on it.  

We parted when we heard the last call.  I knew this was it, this was goodbye, at least for now.  He looked into my eyes and ran his hand down my hair.  “Never forget how much I love you Lydia.  No matter what happens, I will always love you.”

He turned and made his way to the ramp of the plane.  I followed him as far as I was allowed to go, making my way to the front of the crowd.  I needed to make sure he could see me if he turned around.  As if instinct took over, he did.  I could see the pain in his eyes as he searched the crowd.  Once his eyes found me, he smiled and nodded. I watched as he ducked down through the door and disappeared. A year was going to be a long time to wait for the man I loved.  

It didn’t take long to get to the Woods Estate.  I would be working and living here for the next year while Jason was deployed.  I was hired to be the nanny of their two year old son, Nathan.  I used to help my big sister Gracelyn, babysit for our neighbor on occasion, so when I applied to the nanny agency, they were more than eager to help place me. 

I knocked on the door of the huge estate.  I couldn't believe this is where I would be working and staying. Mr. Woods was busy building his business from the ground up, CW Industries, I believe it is called.  Mrs. Woods, a socialite in her own ranking, is constantly busy in and out of the house.  They hired me through the nanny agency.  I love kids, and hope one day for me and Jason to have our own.

A short stubby man dressed in a black suit and tie stood in the entryway.  "Yes, ma'am how may I help you?"

"Um, yes hi, I am Lydia Reece, I am here to work as the new nanny."  I replied nervously.  I was excited for this job, I love kids, but this house and these people were so intimidating.

He looked me up and down.  “We were expecting a Miss Farwell,” he asked skeptically.  

“Yes, I was Lydia Farwell, but I got married last week.”  I said sighing, not exactly sure why I have to explain myself. 

 "Ahhhh, very well Mrs. Reece, Mr. and Mrs. Woods are expecting you, please come in,” the man replied as he stepped aside letting me pass through the doorway.

The house was massive.  It looked even bigger than it did when I was here for my interview.  The entryway was lined with floor to ceiling windows, with white and gold trim.  It felt as if I was standing in a ballroom.

 A beautiful woman stepped out of the side room and closed the door.  She had on a sleeveless black dress that wrapped around the neck with a gold chain belt around her waist.  She wore black high heels that made her about two inches taller than she normally would be.  Her blonde hair flowed down on her shoulders and piercing blue eyes looked right into my green ones with a fake smile plastered on her face.

"Hello Miss Farewell, nice to see you again," she said, reaching her hand out to shake mine.  I lifted mine up and shook her hand.

"No ma'am the pleasure is mine."

"Yes, well, Grant here will show you to your room," she replied waving over the short stubby man who had answered the door previously, "Miss Harper, our house keeper will bring you to meet Nathan,  if you have any questions I am sure she will be able to answer them."

 She pulled her palm pilot out and scrolled through it, "your pay will be on Friday of each week.  No sooner, and no later."  She turns and walks away.

"If you follow me ma'am, I will show you to your room,"  the short stubby man, I now know as Grant, said.  I pick up my suitcase and follow him up the beautiful marble staircase.  At the top, there is a hallway full of doors.  He leads me down the hallway, not stopping until we get to the end.  He unlocks the door and pushes it open.

The room was huge.  It was painted white with gold trim, very similar to the entryway.  It had floor to ceiling windows that looked out over a massive back yard with an inground pool.  There was a gate at the end of the yard with steps that lead down to a huge lake.  It was truly a beautiful scene.  In the middle of all the windows, there were French doors that led out to a small balcony.  The room itself had a queen sized bed, with a canopy and a huge walk in closet.  There was a private bathroom to the left.  Next to the bathroom was another smaller room that was empty.

 I looked at Grant with a confused look.  "Sometimes Miss, a nanny, or someone visiting for long term, may have a child or another person they care for, the Woods want to make sure all their employees and guests are treated well and accommodated for. "

 Grant turns to leave and stops before reaching the door, "I almost forgot Miss, here is a key to the room, I suggest keeping it locked when you are not in it, unless you want people in your business."  I take the key from him and nod.

After Grant leaves, I get what little I brought with me unpacked, and I flop back on the queen sized bed, exhausted from the travel, begin dreaming about life with Jason.  About an hour later,  a knock on the door brought me back to reality.  I stand and open the door, seeing Mrs. Harper holding a beautiful little boy with the same piercing blue eyes as his mother.  Unlike his mother though, who had blonde hair, this little boy had black hair.

"Nathan, this is Miss Farewell, she will be your nanny."  Mrs. Harper said sweetly to the little boy before turning to me.

 "Nathan is the sweetest boy you will ever meet Miss," she said, smiling at me.  "He has been through a lot of nannies in his short year on Earth." A sting hit my gut at her words.  I already felt bad for this little boy.  In just a few years, I too will be leaving him.  I smile at Mrs. Harper and at Nathan.

 "Hi there young man,"  I said as the boy shyly lowers his head into Mrs. Harper's shoulder.

 "Don't feel bad, Miss, he will come around."

 "Okay,"  I replied.

 "We will let you finish unpacking, tomorrow we will go over what your duties will be with Nathan, today you rest,"  Mrs. Harper smiled at me as she turned to leave with Nathan tucked securely on her hip.

 "Mrs. Harper?"

 "Yes Miss?"

 "Please call me Lydia."