Stranger In My Bed

Charlotte waited in the living room for her interview, she looked around the spacious area. It was elegantly decorated with beautiful paintings and furniture that exuded luxury. The walls were painted in a soft cream color and adorned with various pieces of art.

Large windows on one side of the room allowed natural light to flood in, illuminating the space. The room was furnished with a comfortable couch and a pair of armchairs, all upholstered in a soft grey fabric. A plush area rug lay on the floor, adding warmth and texture to the room.

She was impressed by the impeccable cleanliness of the space.

But staring at such a lovely space soon got boring as Charlotte took to scrolling through her phone as she waited.

A maid walked in, carrying a tray with a glass of juice and some cookies.

The maid approached Charlotte and politely greeted her.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. Would you like something to drink while you wait?” she asked with a friendly smile.

Charlotte nodded in appreciation and replied,

“Yes, please. That would be great.”

The maid placed the tray on the coffee table in front of Charlotte and offered her the glass of juice.

The coffee table was made of dark wood and adorned with a vase of fresh flowers. A few magazines were scattered on it, almost inviting her to flip through them.

She turned her focus back to the glass of juice seeing how it was filled with fresh, chilled orange juice that was a welcome refreshment for the warm day outside.

Charlotte took a sip, and it tasted sweet and tangy, which was a perfect blend for her taste buds.

She looked up to thank the maid, who had already placed a plate of cookies next to the glass of juice.

“Thank you so much. That's very kind of you,” Charlotte said with a smile.

The maid smiled back, “It's my pleasure, ma'am. Please let me know if you need anything else. I'll be happy to assist you.”

Charlotte nodded and took another sip of the juice. She noticed that the maid was wearing a traditional uniform with a neat apron, which added to the elegance of the setting. She was impressed by the professionalism and friendliness of the staff.

Soon enough, Sam walked into the living room, looking at Charlotte as he approached.

"Hi, I'm Sammie Paige," he introduced himself, his eyes scanning her from head to toe.

Charlotte stood up and greeted him, "I'm Charlotte,” remembering his name as the same thing she had seen on the flyer.

"Have a seat," Sam said, gesturing to the couch across from him.

Charlotte sat down, watching him as he took a seat across from her. She noticed how young he was, and wondered if he was looking for a nanny for his child.

"So, how much do you know about children and babies?" Sam asked, looking at her with a serious expression.

Charlotte hesitated, then started,

"To be honest, I don't really know much. It's my first time--"

"You're hired," Sam said, interrupting her.

Charlotte was taken aback, not expecting the interview to end so quickly.

"But--" she tried to say.

"Let me show you to their rooms," Sam said, standing up.

"We can discuss your scheduling and payment after that."

Charlotte stood up too, following Sam as he led her up the stairs.

"Their rooms?" she asked, confused. Sam nodded.

"Sure."

Charlotte felt a bit weird about how easily she had gotten the job, but she didn't complain, at least not yet.

"Eva!" he exclaimed, as soon as he opened the door to a beautiful nursery, causing the little girl to turn around and smile at him, her face covered in paint.

Eva smiled at him, revealing a small streak of red paint on her teeth. The paint had somehow managed to make its way onto her teeth as she had been playing with her watercolours. Her smile was infectious, and despite the paint on her teeth, it was hard not to smile back at her.

Charlotte also noticed the paint on her teeth and tried to stifle a giggle.

Sammie sighed and shook his head,

"She plays anywhere but her room," he said, walking towards the cot where the baby was playing with her rattle toy.

Charlotte followed Sammie, clutching the shoulder strap of her handbag. She approached the cot, seeing the baby smiling widely, her little gums exposed as she cooed softly. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she looked up at Charlotte, and her tiny hands grasped at the air in excitement.

"She's so adorable."

Sammie grinned. "Thanks, we think so too."

She reached out a finger, then stopped midway.

"Oh, can I touch her?" she asked.

"Hold on," Sam said as he walked over to the shelf and took out a small bottle of sanitizer. Squeezing some into his hands, he handed the bottle to Charlotte, who did the same.

She rubbed her hands together quickly, feeling the liquid evaporate.

Charlotte reached out her hand to touch Sky's tiny fingers. The baby looked up at her with her big, hazel eyes, and Charlotte couldn't help but smile.

Charlotte nodded, still smiling. "She's so cute. How old is she?"

"She's six months. Her name's Sky," Sammie replied. "And Eva here is four."

Charlotte looked over at Eva, who was still playing with her watercolours on the floor.

"Wow, you've got your hands full with these two," she said, amused.

Sammie chuckled. "Tell me about it," he said.

"But they're great kids. I just need someone to keep an eye on them when everyone's at work."

Charlotte nodded understandingly.

"I'll do my best," she said. "I may not have much experience with kids, but I'm a quick learner."

Sammie smiled.

"I have a feeling you'll be great," he said, before turning to Eva.

"Hey, sweetie, why don't you come with me and we'll clean up this mess?"

Eva looked up at him and grinned, "Okay!"

As Sammie picked up Eva and carried her out of the room, Charlotte was left alone with Sky. She smiled down at the baby, feeling a sense of warmth in her chest. She knew this job wouldn't be easy, but something about being around these children made her feel happy.

Gently, she stroked Sky's soft cheek with her finger, feeling her warm breath against her skin. It was a small gesture, but it made her feel like she was already starting to bond with the little one.

*****

He tried to focus on the pavement beneath his feet as he made his way towards the front door. His steps were unsteady, and he nearly tripped a couple of times, but he managed to make it there. Trent stumbled through the front door, his steps unsteady and his words slurred. He fumbled with the knob as he tried to get into the house, his movements uncoordinated and slow.

Finally, he managed to get the door open and stumbled into the dimly-lit living room.

Once he got the door open, he stumbled into the living room, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. He noticed the clock on the wall and groaned. He was later than he thought.

The room spun around him as he tried to find his bearings. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the intoxication made it hard to focus. He stumbled towards the nursery, swaying from side to side as he walked.

When he entered the room, he saw his baby daughter sleeping peacefully in her crib. He felt a sense of relief wash over him as he watched her breathing softly, her tiny chest rising and falling with each breath.

Feeling slightly more sober, Trent made his way towards his other daughter Eva's room, but he didn't see her sleeping in her room. It wasn't much of a surprise to him as he knew where else to find her at bedtime.

As he entered his room, he did see Eva soundly sleeping in his bed, but what was more was that she was soundly curled up in someone else's arms.

There was a woman sleeping by Eva's side.

“Sabrina,” Trent called out as he walked towards the bed, his demeanor still reeking of "drunk".

“Sabrina?” Trent's voice was shaking as he called out her name again.

The emotion in his voice was palpable as he looked at the woman sleeping in his bed. He stumbled forward, his legs feeling like they were made of lead, as he moved closer to her. It was as if he was in a dream, unable to fully grasp what was happening in front of him. He couldn't believe his eyes as he saw Sabrina sleeping peacefully next to her.

Charlotte stirred and sleepily turned her face towards him in her sleep.

His eyes widened in shock and confusion. It was a face he didn't recognize.

As Charlotte began to stir more fully and her eyes slowly opened, looking at him sleepily.

Trent felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

He stood frozen, staring at Charlotte for what felt like an eternity. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Trent's confusion turned to anger as he realized that a complete stranger was sleeping in his bed with his daughter.

He staggered further towards the bed and scowled,

"Who the hell are you?" he slurred, his words thick and angry.