Nanny and the Alpha Daddy

#Chapter 171: Stage Fright

Moana

I went home after work that day with an odd feeling in my stomach after my conversation with Ethan.

All of it felt so… contrived. At first, I thought that he was just trying to make amends for what happened at the family party. But when the strange questions began, it became obvious to me that he was either fishing for information or he was trying to drive another wedge between Edrick and I. Maybe it was both of those things, or maybe it was neither. Either way, I didn’t know what to do.

I didn’t know if I should tell Edrick about it or if I should just pretend it didn’t happen. Part of me felt as though the right thing to do would be to tell Edrick that Ethan had suddenly shown up in my classroom, but at the same time I was worried that he would tell me that I shouldn’t be teaching there anymore. Even though it had only been a week since I had begun my new job, I loved every moment of it and it felt as though my dreams were finally becoming a reality. I couldn’t let anyone get in the way of that, and so that evening I decided not to tell Edrick after all. I just told myself that Ethan wouldn’t come back again after that, and that I didn’t need to worry. Everything would settle down soon.

That evening, I helped Ella with her homework before dinner. She seemed to be doing well in school and was enjoying her new learning environment. Thanks to her excellent tutors, she wasn’t behind in her education at all. However, she still seemed to be adjusting to being in a learning environment with other children. I expected that, of course, and so I wasn’t surprised when she came to me with gripes about other students.

“Lucy always takes too long to answer the teacher’s questions, and the teacher reprimanded me when I said the answer today,” Ella growled, sounding annoyed.

I frowned. “She reprimanded you?” I asked. “How come?”

Ella shrugged. “She says that everyone needs to raise their hand if they want to answer a question, but I don’t see why. I knew the answer, and Lucy was taking forever, so I just said it.”

of a laugh. “Ella, you have to give other kids a chance to answer,” I said gently. “Maybe some kids need to take a little longer to think before they can answer,

it was an easy question. Is

mean that there’s anything wrong with them. And besides, there’s nothing really ‘wrong’ with anyone. Everyone is

like she always did when she was a little annoyed. I ruffled her hair and sent her off to

…

waited for him. The sun had just gone down, and the city lights had come on. I sort of missed the mountain

came home, actually. I assumed that he would be out even later; with everything going on recently, I supposed that he would be working later in the day for a little while. I just hoped that he would be home before I fell asleep. I liked having him

coming to the conclusion that I would need to go to sleep without him, the sound of soft piano

around and realized that the piano

my presence and he stopped playing, and I hadn’t heard him play since then. But as I slowly

that was it. I quietly closed the bedroom door behind me and made my way toward the dark living room. As I did, the

in through the open window. I didn’t know the name of what he was playing, but it was ethereal. The way that his fingers gently brushed each key made it look almost as though he was lightly petting the piano, and not actually playing it. He looked so peaceful

looked up at me. Even in the darkness,

“Did I wake