by Hannah Ford
Nicole laughed. “Us human girls have to stick together.”
Kallie found that she liked Nicole more and more with each passing second. It felt like she could have been her sister, which was nice, since Kallie’s siblings were all brothers. She’d missed having a sister her age to talk to about life and school and boys.
“There aren’t just witches here. There are nasty rabid dogs, too,” Kallie said, thinking back to the laundry room—the smell of detergent and Brad’s alcohol-laced breath as he pushed his erection against her, his hands squeezing her buttocks.
Nicole glanced worriedly over. “You can tell me what happened if you want. Or not. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s okay. I can talk about it.” Kallie laughed and wiped tears from her eyes. “I’m just being stupid. I mean, he didn’t even really do anything to me.”
“Who didn’t?”
“Brad Danvers. I nanny for him and Trina.”
Nicole nodded as if this all made sense. “Did he try and make you do something you didn’t want to do?”
Kallie nodded. “It started out mostly normal, although I guess there was a little part of me that sensed something was off from the beginning.”
And then Kallie proceeded to tell Nicole everything, even more than she’d intended. How she’d started working for Danvers family and wanted nothing more than to make a good impression. That she’d assumed all of these rich, educated, powerful people would also be fair and decent and trustworthy. How quickly her perceptions had changed when they’d begun treating her rudely, insulting her, berating her, telling her that she was no good at the job.
Finally she made her way to telling Nicole about that very morning, when Brad had started to insinuate that he was attracted to her, refusing to listen to her polite rebuffs, following her into the laundry room, and finally forcing himself on her at the end.
“I ran out of the house and just kept running,” Kallie said, catching her up to the most recent moments. “After awhile, I realized that I didn’t know where I was and I had no money and nowhere to go. All I had was my phone, and somehow when I saw your number—I thought I should call you. I don’t even know why, really.”
Nicole didn’t say anything for a while. And then she said, “I’m glad you called me, Kallie.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
They arrived at what Kallie assumed was Nicole’s house, and she was frankly stunned at what she was seeing. However nice the Danvers’s home was, this place must have been twenty times bigger and nicer and more expensive. If the Danvers family was rich, than this woman was practically royalty.
“You live here?” she squeaked.
Nicole chuckled. “We’re just renting.”
“It’s amazing.”
“Thanks. I’m still getting used to it myself.”
Kallie didn’t know what she meant, but decided to keep her questions to herself for now. The last thing she wanted was to get on this kind woman’s nerves and make her regret helping out a virtual stranger.
Before they went inside, Nicole turned to her. “My husband’s home, and although I told him I was picking you up—and likely bringing you back here—he doesn’t really have a clue what’s going on. So, I just wanted you to be aware that he’s probably curious and maybe a little confused.”
“I understand totally,” Kallie said. She looked down at her soaked shirt and tiny shorts and felt more vulnerable than ever.
Nicole saw her expression. “We’ll get you right upstairs and I’ll find something for you to change into, okay?”
“Thank you.”
When they walked inside, Nicole announced they were home. From somewhere in the enormous house, Kallie heard a man call back. “I’ll be right there!”
And then he was coming into the foyer with a big smile on his face and Kallie was instantly at ease. Even though he was gorgeous—dark hair, dark eyes, a strong jaw and muscular frame—she instantly saw how connected he was to his wife.
“Everything okay?” he said, more concerned for his wife than anything else.
“Yeah, we’re all fine. I’m just going to bring Kallie up and give her some clothes and stuff.”
He nodded. “Of course, of course.” Then he turned to Kallie and smiled reassuringly. “I’m Red Jameson, by the way.”
“I’m Kallie. Nice to meet you.”
“Please feel free to just relax and let us know if there’s anything at all that you need.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And, let me ask something. Do you like steak?”
“I do.” She laughed.
“Good, because I was planning on cooking up a few steaks—“
“I thought you only knew how to do spaghetti and meatballs,” Nicole said. “I still have a few tricks up my sleeve that you haven’t seen yet. Don’t you worry.”
“Come on, Kallie, he’s just showing off now.” Nicole led her up a long staircase to the second floor, and then to an enormous guest room with a beautiful skylight and a gorgeous balcony that looked out onto the ocean.
“What a view!” Kallie cried out.
“You can hang here tonight, if you like,” Nicole said softly. “And then tomorrow we can discuss next steps, okay?”
Kallie wanted to cry but kept her tears in, nodding and pressing her lips together. Nicole walked to the door. “Give me a quick sec while I try and wrangle up a change of clothes for you.”
And then she left the room and Kallie sat down on the king sized bed, heaving a sigh of relief.
***
Nicole left the guest room and made her way back to the master bedroom, where she rummaged through her clothes. So many of them were just gigantic articles of clothing tailored for seven-month pregnant women, and not at all suitable for a small girl with tiny hips and normal boobs.
Eventually she came across a slightly smaller t-shirt and sweatpants. They would likely still be too large, but would do the trick for now. She carried the clothes back to the guest room and knocked before going inside.
Kallie was staring out the sliding door that led to the balcony. She turned and smiled guiltily. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. This view is just breathtaking.”
“You don’t need to apologize for looking out a window,” Nicole said softly. She put the clothes on the bed. As she straightened, she was hit by a surprising wave of dizziness, a sensation of vertigo.
“Are you all right?” Kallie said nervously.
“What?” Nicole replied, sweating suddenly.
“You just got a weird look on your face. I didn’t know…”
The sensation passed and Nicole waved it off. Just a little spell—they happened from time to time. “Anyway, here’s something to change into. You won’t win any fashion awards, but at least the clothes are dry.”
“Oh, I’m so thankful. Really.”
“You have a shower and bath adjoining the room,” Nicole said, pointing to the bathroom door. “Feel free to use the shower for as long as you like. There are towels and soap and shampoo in there, too.”
Kallie nodded. “Okay.”
“When you’re ready, come downstairs and we can talk a little more about things.” The girl nodded and Nicole smiled once more, and then walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Slowly, Nicole made her way downstairs. She could feel that she was a little out of breath, probably from the stress of everything. Yet she put her hand on her stomach and felt a reassuring kick through her belly.
She’s still in there, happy and healthy. Stay positive. Remember, everything is fine. The doctor’s done all the tests, and the baby is perfectly normal.
Smiling to prove to herself just how fine it all was, Nicole finished going downstairs and saw Red was waiting for her in the great room.
“So, what’s going on?” he asked, and she could see the signs of tension in his face now.
Nicole did her best to give him the quick but accurate version of events as Kallie had
told them to her.
By the end, Red was almost furious. “These goddamn people think that because they have a couple of extra bucks that other people don’t have, it makes them impervious to rules. They think they can treat people with less money like garbage. As if a nanny is equivalent to a prostitute!”
Nicole nodded. She was feeling really tired suddenly, and decided to sit down. So she did sit down, and Red was immediately by her side. “You look a little pale. Everything okay, babe?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, trying to catch her breath. “I’m just thirsty.”
“Let me get you some water.” He leapt off the couch and went into the kitchen, where she heard him clanking and clinking around in the cabinet. Next, the sound of the faucet running, ice cubes plopping, and then he was on his way back to give her a cold glass of water.
Nicole drank deeply, sighing. “That hit the spot. Thanks.”
He kissed her cheek and then sat down by her feet, picking one foot up and slowly massaging it.
“Oh god, that’s amazing.” She leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes. Red grabbed her other foot and began massaging that one as well. “So what do we do with her now?” he asked. “Does she have any family in the area?”
“I don’t think so.” Nicole opened her eyes and looked at him. “I’m pretty sure she said she’s from Ohio.”
Red shook his head. “I guess we’ll have to help her get a flight back tomorrow.” Nicole sat up straighter. She put the glass of cold water to her cheek. “Let’s just wait and see.”
“Wait and see what?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to just kick her out, toss her on a plane and make her go home to Ohio. What if she doesn’t want to leave New York?”
“New York doesn’t seem like it’s been a very fun experience for her,” he said. “She ran into a couple of jerks. But that doesn’t mean she should just run away from being a nanny and experiencing New York City.”
Red nodded, allowing that she had a point. “Still,” he said, his fingers expertly rubbing the sole of her foot. “It’s not our job to help this girl get back on her feet. You picked her up, we can let her stay the night—but then she needs to figure out a plan for herself.”
“We can help her figure out a plan.”
“As long as it involves going somewhere else. She can’t stay in our house, Nicole.”
For some reason Nicole didn’t like what he was telling her, even though she knew it made perfect sense. The truth was, she didn’t know Kallie at all. Kallie might not even be her real name—she might be a liar and a thief—or worse.
“I’m just saying, let’s take it one step at a time,” Nicole replied.
“She’s not a stray puppy.”
“Never said she was.”
He gazed intently at her. “You’re acting like she is.”
“No, I’m not. I’m simply being human and empathetic to her situation. You’re a man, you can’t understand what she’s been through.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re pregnant and that’s the most important thing in my mind. I’m not putting you or the baby at risk by having some strange person in our house indefinitely.”
“Nobody’s at risk. She’s a perfectly sweet girl.”
He shook his head. “You’re being naïve.”
“Well I like her. And that’s enough for me, for now. We’ll discuss it again tomorrow, Red.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Whatever you say, Nicole.” And then he picked up her feet and began rubbing them again.
She laid her head back and smiled. “Your hands are magic, I swear,” she said.
***
Kallie luxuriated in the thirty-minute hot shower she took after Nicole left the room. By the end, the chill that had gotten deep into her bones from standing out in that cold rainstorm was long gone, and replaced by a feeling of loose muscles and warm, glowing skin.
She dried off and changed into the large, but very comfortable clothing she’d been provided by her thoughtful host.
Afterwards, Kallie walked out onto the balcony and took a deep breath of the salty air. The waves in the nearby ocean were large and crashing from the storm earlier. Although the downpour had stopped, the sky was still cloudy and the air smelled of rain.
She went back inside, shut the sliding door and exhaled. At least for now, she felt safe and warm and sure of what the night would bring. Tomorrow she could deal with the uncertainty of what to do next.
Kallie went downstairs and found Nicole and Red making an early dinner together. Nicole was prepping the salad at the enormous granite counter, and he had a fancy grill up and was heating it, tongs at the ready.
They both looked up when Kallie entered the kitchen. Nicole got a big smile on her face, but Red wasn’t nearly as pleased to see her, and for a moment she felt a thrill of anxiety shoot through her.
After what had happened with Brad, the last thing Kallie wanted was another man having some kind of issue with her.
“Hi,” Kallie waved nervously.
“You look like a new person,” Nicole said. “Feel better?”
“I do.”
Red threw three cuts of meat on the grill where they sizzled and popped. “How do you like your steak?” he said.
“Medium, I guess?”
He nodded. “You got it.”
Red and Nicole were so right together—Kallie was instantly inspired and in awe, but also jealous. They had what everyone wanted, didn’t they? A person who would love you no matter what—someone who would stand by your side to the bitter end.
Kallie didn’t even know how or why she could tell this about them, but she just could. They must have been the polar opposite of Brad and Trina Danvers, and after breathing in the toxic air of the Danvers’s lives for the last six-months, this was a refreshing change of pace.
She relaxed and watched Red and Nicole talk and joke and play with one another as they made the meal. Everything Red did was so caring, so protective. She saw the way he watched Nicole, the kindness in his eyes. Had any man ever looked at Kallie that way?
Not even remotely, she realized, with a surge of melancholy.
Soon the food was ready, and Nicole and Red served her like she was an old friend of the family.
As they ate, the three of them stayed away from serious topics and discussed things like movies and music, and Red and Nicole asked her about her family and college in Ohio.
Red was surprised and intrigued when she told him she came from a family that had five boys and just one girl.
“What was that like—being the only girl?” he said.
“Interesting. Dating wasn’t easy,” she laughed.
“I bet.”
Nicole smiled as she cut a piece of steak. “Were they protective of you?”
“You could say that. The first boy who asked me on a date ended up backing out at the last minute because he heard my oldest brother was going to follow behind us the whole time.”
“Was your brother really going to do that?” Nicole said.
Kallie chuckled. “No, but I’m sure someone would have put a scare into him before he got me out of the house that night.”
“What does your family think of you coming to New York City all by yourself?” Red asked.
She paused and took a bite of salad. The food was delicious and she savored the tangy vinaigrette for a few seconds before answering. “They don’t exactly approve. My parents like having all of the kids around. My brothers all live within an hour of where we grew up. I’m the only one who’s gone far away.”
Nicole nodded understandingly. “That must be hard sometimes.”
“Yeah. And I think maybe I made a mistake. I think they were right,” Kallie said, choking back some emotion.
Nicole exchanged a glance with her husband.
They changed topics and finished the meal with laughter and easy silences, while everyone enjoyed their food.
When it was done, Kallie tried to help clean up, but Nicole wo
uldn’t hear of it. “You go relax. Watch some TV or something.”
Kallie thought of the book she’d left at the Danvers’s house—actually, she’d left everything she owned at the house—and felt a pang of loss.
“Please, let me help clean up, Nicole. I feel like I’m being a sponge.”
“You’ve had a rough day. Red and I can take care of this.”
Red nodded. “Go hang out. You can take a walk outside or you can turn on the TV. There’s a whole library of books in the TV room, too.”
“Thanks. I know I keep saying that word, but I really, really mean it.”
“We know you do,” Nicole told her. She was carrying dishes and silverware to the sink and Red was starting to run the water.
Kallie felt guilty and yet taken care of in a way that hadn’t happened since she was back home at her parents’ house. She went to the TV room, which was the size of a football field, and surrounded on all sides by bookshelves filled with books.
With so many books, she held out hope that maybe—just maybe—they’d have a copy of Blue Horizon on the shelves. But after twenty minutes of scouring every title, she came up empty.
***
Nicole was shocked when she woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon frying. At first she thought it was Red’s doing, but he was nowhere to be found. It was just Kallie in the kitchen, humming and smiling as she finished plating some of the strips.
“Hey!” Nicole laughed, holding her stomach. She was hungry. The baby kicked a few times, as if to tell her that she was also quite hungry. “You didn’t have to make a whole production for us.”
“I wanted to thank you guys for letting me stay last night,” Kallie said, as Red came up behind Nicole and kissed her neck, putting his arms around her middle.
“Where did you get off to this morning?” Nicole asked him.
“Me? I had some trouble sleeping—woke up early so I went to the office and answered some emails.” He kissed her again and then straightened up. “Wow, that smells amazing.”
“How do you two like your eggs?” she asked them, holding up a spatula.