Nanny and the Alpha Daddy

#Chapter 47: Secret Kindness

Moana

“Wake up, Moana! Wake up!”

I awoke the next morning to the sound of Ella’s voice and the feeling of the bed shaking beneath me. The sun was shining blindingly bright through the window, and outside, I could hear the sound of the city bustling below. I could hear the sound of distant music; I had completely forgotten, but there was supposed to be an event in the park across the street today, and Ella was excited to go.

“Come on!” Ella exclaimed as she jumped up and down excitedly on my bed. “Wake up! Let’s go outside!”

I groaned, feeling my stomach turn from the bed moving beneath me. If Ella continued her jumping, she would make me throw up.

“Give me a minute, Ella,” I said, but she wasn’t listening. She was too busy jumping and giggling and chattering about getting ice cream at the park.

I didn’t think before I spoke next, and as soon as I did, I realized how my voice sounded. I felt so nauseous from being jostled around that I didn’t consider how I might have come across as being mean. “Ella,” I said firmly, “stop jumping on the bed. Right now.”

Ella suddenly fell silent. Almost as soon as the words escaped my mouth, I knew that I had made a mistake. Without another word, Ella sniffled and quickly jumped off the bed, running from the room before I could stop her.

“Ella, honey, I’m sorry,” I said, forgetting my nausea as I quickly climbed out of bed and went after her. I walked next door to her room, but when I tried to turn the doorknob, I realized that she had locked herself in.

on the door. “Ella?” I called. “I’m really sorry for snapping at you. Please come

door, I heard a sniffle,

on?” Selina’s voice suddenly

to face the housekeeper. “I wasn’t feeling well and I snapped at Ella for jumping on my bed,” I admitted.

out a sigh herself. “Children can be so fickle sometimes,” she replied. “She’ll get over it.” I nodded and went to return to my room to get dressed for the day, but Selina stopped me. “Something is going on

“I’m just sick with food poisoning,” I lied. “Ella jumping on the bed made me

didn’t know what to say; she was right about the food, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit my pregnancy just yet. If I was being honest, I still

a food truck the other day,” I lied again. “It probably came from

turned on her heel and returned to her work. I let out a sigh of relief before returning

…

her and she apologized for disturbing my sleep so unceremoniously, and we went on with our day. I even kept my promise of taking her to the park for ice cream; the fresh air actually helped with my nausea, and we spent the entire day outside without realizing it. By the time we came back, it was already dinnertime, and after we ate I sat with Ella on

point, however, I must have

open,

“Why did you fall asleep on the

onto my palms and started to stand.

her to bed.” Edrick sounded even more annoyed now and began to walk away before I could apologize again. Suddenly, as I started to stand, I felt another bout of sickness come over me; this time, it presented itself not only in the form of nausea, but in the form of a pounding headache. I felt myself stumble as I