8. Skylar
Chapter 8
Skylar
T he sound of children's laughter echoes through the spacious living room, warming my heart despite my best efforts to remain detached. Like that was ever gonna happen.
I watch as Lucas and Elodie chase each other around the plush, cream-colored sofa, their giggles infectious. Why anyone with kids buys cream furniture I’ll never understand. But I guess these guys could just replace the couch weekly if they felt like it.
"Catch me if you can!" Elodie squeals, her pigtails bouncing as she darts behind an armchair.
Lucas, determined not to let his cousin win, lunges forward. "I'm gonna get you!"
I can't help but smile, my lips curving upward of their own accord. These kids are so wonderful. Sweet, well-behaved, and surprisingly easy to manage. I mean, I taught Lucas this year, so I know he’s a sweetheart. What the hell was wrong with the previous nanny?
Shaking my head, I glance at the clock on the wall. "All right, munchkins, time for lunch!"
They groan in unison but obediently make their way to the kitchen. As I follow them, my eyes fall on the thick binder sitting on the counter. Austin's babysitter manifesto, as I've taken to calling it. Ten pages of meticulously detailed instructions, covering everything from meal prep to bedtime routines.
"Your dad sure likes his schedules, huh?" I mutter under my breath, flipping through the pages.
"Dad says structure is crucial," Lucas pipes up, his big brown eyes looking up at me earnestly.
I bite back a sarcastic retort. "Of course he does, buddy. Now, let's see what's on the menu for today."
As I prepare their sandwiches, following Austin's precise instructions down to the exact number of cucumber slices, I can't help but roll my eyes. The man's need for control is bordering on obsessive.
Just as I'm setting the plates on the table, a strange sound comes from the direction of the front door. Before I can process it, Djinn's loud bark echoes through the house, making me jump.
"What the—" I start, but catch myself before finishing the expletive. "Stay here, kids. I'll go check what's going on."
My heart races as I approach the foyer, Djinn's barks growing more frantic. So much for an easy first day on the job. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever's on the other side of that door.
"It's probably nothing," I whisper to myself, trying to quell the anxiety bubbling in my chest. "Just some delivery guy who doesn't know how to ring a doorbell."
But as the strange sounds continue and Djinn's barking intensifies, I can't shake the feeling that this is going to be anything but simple. Welcome to nanny life, Skylar. Let's see how you handle this one.
I reach the front door, hovering in the foyer. I can see a shadow moving on the other side of the cloudy glass inserts in the door. The sound of someone fumbling with the lock on the other side sends a chill down my spine. Whoever it is, they're trying to get in—and failing miserably.
"Hello?" I call out, my voice steadier than I feel. "Can I help you?"
No response. Just more frustrated jiggling of the handle and what sounds like...muttered curses? Great.
I lean closer, pressing my ear against the cool wood. "Look, if you're trying to deliver something, you can just leave it—"
A high-pitched shriek cuts me off, followed by a series of rapid-fire thumps against the door. I jump back, heart pounding.
"Austin!" a shrill voice screams from outside. "Austin, open this goddamn door right now!"
Jesus. Who the hell is this? And why are they looking for Austin in the middle of a workday? Dude is a workaholic. No way he’s home at lunchtime.
"I'm sorry," I say, trying to keep my voice calm and authoritative. "Mr. Rhodes isn't here right now. Can I take a message?"
Another shriek, this one somehow even more piercing. "Who the fuck are you? Where's Austin? Let me in!"
I bite my lip, considering my options. On one hand, Austin's strict instructions didn't cover “what to do when a banshee tries to break down your door”. On the other hand, I'm not about to let some random psycho into the house with the kids.
"Ma'am," I say, injecting as much ice into my tone as possible, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Mr. Rhodes isn't here, and you're not getting in without his permission."
The pounding intensifies. "You bitch! You can't keep me away from my—"
I turn to the kids, who are huddled nearby with wide, frightened eyes. Lucas looks particularly pale, his small hands trembling.
"Hey," I say softly, crouching down to their level. "I need you all to go upstairs to the playrooom for a bit, okay? Everything's fine, I just need to handle this."
Elodie, ever the protector, wraps an arm around her older cousin. "Come on, Lucas. Let's go play."
As they scamper up the stairs, I pull out my phone, thumb hovering over the emergency call button. The woman outside has moved on from incoherent screeching to a stream of profanity that would make a sailor blush.
"You fucking homewrecker!" she shrieks. "I'll sue you for kidnapping! I'll have you arrested!"
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. Austin's "manifesto" might not have covered this scenario, but I'll be damned if I let this woman think she can intimidate me.
The pounding on the door doesn’t stop, and neither does the shouting. Djinn barks even louder, his sharp yips blending with the woman’s shrill voice into a cacophony that grates on my nerves.
"You’re making a mistake, Austin!" she screams, her voice ragged. "You think you can just erase me and start over? I made this family!"
Her words hit me like a freight train. Replace? Made this family? What is this woman talking about? I grip the edge of the foyer table, trying to steady myself.
"You’ll regret this!" she yells again, her voice breaking. "You know I have rights! You’re not going to keep me from my son!"
Wait— son? I glance up the stairs where Elodie and Lucas disappeared moments ago, my stomach twisting.
The woman slams her fists against the door, rattling it in its frame. "Austin! Open the damn door!”
I swallow hard, the pieces clicking into place. Whoever this is, she’s not just some unhinged stranger. She knows Austin. She knows Lucas. My pulse races as a fresh wave of adrenaline surges through me.
This must be his ex-wife, Lucas’s mother. Well, that complicates things.
I pull up Austin's contact card, the urge to call him overwhelming. But I hesitate, doubt creeping in. It's my first day, and I don't want to give Austin any reason to think I can't handle this job. Plus, a nagging suspicion tugs at me—what if this is some sort of test? It wouldn't be beyond Austin to orchestrate something like this to see how I'd react.
"You've got this, Skylar," I mutter to myself, pocketing my phone. Djinn whines at my feet, his massive body vibrating with tension.
I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders and plastering on my best dealing-with-difficult-parents smile. It's the same one I've perfected over years of parent-teacher conferences and PTA meetings. With a steady hand, I unlock the door and open it just enough to wedge my body into the gap.
The woman on the other side looks like she's been slapped. Her mouth drops open, eyes widening in comical surprise. She's tiny, barely reaching my shoulders, but the rage emanating from her is palpable.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself against her venom. "Hi, I'm Skylar. And you are?" I ask, though I already know the answer. Djinn's growls intensify behind me, his nails scratching at the hardwood as he tries to squeeze past my legs.
The woman's eyes narrow, her lips curling into a sneer. "Brielle," she spits out, as if the name itself is poison. "I'm Lucas' mother. Now move aside."
She lunges forward, trying to shove past me into the house. I plant my feet firmly, gripping the door frame with white knuckles. My heart races, but I refuse to show fear.
"I'm sorry, Brielle, but I can't let you in without permission from the owners," I say, my voice firm despite the tremor I feel in my chest.
"Owners? This is my husband’s house, you little bitch. That's my son in there!" She slaps her hand on the door and pushes.
I grit my teeth, pushing back against her surprisingly strong grip. "Be that as it may, you're not on the approved list for entry. If you'd like to schedule a visit, I'm sure we can arrange something with Mr. Rhodes."
"Who the fuck are you?" she demands, recovering quickly. Her eyes dart past me, trying to see into the house. "Where's Austin?"
I tighten my grip on the door, using my body to block her view. Behind me, Djinn lets out a low growl. "I'm afraid Mr. Rhodes isn't available right now. Is there something I can help you with?"
The woman's face contorts, a mix of fury and disbelief. "You're kidding me, right? Another one of his little playthings? God, you're barely out of high school!"
I roll my eyes. I’m twenty-five, thanks. I keep my voice level as I respond. "Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the property. If you have any concerns, I'd be happy to pass them along to Mr. Rhodes."
She seems to realize her game isn’t working and changes tactics.
Brielle narrows her eyes as she gives me a once-over. A smirk plays at the corners of her perfectly painted lips, and I brace myself for whatever she's about to throw my way.
"So, you're the new flavor of the month, huh?" she purrs, her voice dripping with venom. "Tell me, sweetheart, which one of them are you fucking?"
I feel my cheeks flush, but I refuse to let her see she's gotten under my skin. Instead, I let a slow, lazy smile spread across my face. "Oh honey," I drawl, channeling every ounce of sass I possess, "why limit myself? I'm fucking all of them. And let me tell you, they are unbelievably talented."
The shock on Brielle's face is priceless. Her jaw drops, and her complexion turns a vibrant shade of red that reminds me of the roses in Birdie's garden. For a moment, I almost feel bad for her. Almost.
"You little slut!" she shrieks, her composure completely shattered. "You think you can just waltz in here and take what's mine?"
I roll my eyes, my patience wearing thin. "Last time I checked, people aren't property, Brielle. And from what I understand, you gave up any claim to this family a long time ago."
Her face contorts with rage, and she launches into a new tirade of obscenities. I stand my ground, refusing to flinch as she hurls insult after insult at me. Inside, though, my heart is racing. What have I gotten myself into?
"You're nothing but a gold-digging whore!" Brielle screams, trying once again to push past me. "You think they care about you? They'll use you up and throw you away, just like they did to me!"
I plant my feet more firmly, using every ounce of strength to keep her at bay. "I'm not here for money or status, Brielle," I say, my voice steady despite the tremor in my hands. "I'm here to do a job, and right now, that job is keeping you out of this house."
She scoffs, lunging forward. Her manicured nails digging into my arm as she tries to pry me away from the door.
Pain shoots through my arm as her nails dig in, but I refuse to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I meet her wild gaze with a calm, unyielding stare.
"Brielle, I suggest you take your hands off me," I say, my voice cold and sharp. "Now."
For a moment, she hesitates, her grip loosening just slightly. But then she seems to double down, her manic energy flaring again.
"You don't scare me," she hisses, her face so close to mine I can smell the faint hint of alcohol on her breath. "You have no idea who you're messing with."
I arch a brow, my lips curling into a smirk. "Neither do you."
Brielle’s face twists into a mask of rage, her grip tightening once more. Before she can launch into another tirade, I jerk my arm free, stepping back just enough to put some distance between us while keeping my hand firmly on the door to block her entry.
"You need to leave," I say firmly, my voice like steel. "This is private property, and you're trespassing."
Her laugh is sharp and bitter, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Trespassing? Trespassing ?" she repeats, her voice rising to a near shriek. "This is my family! My family! Who the hell do you think you are, playing gatekeeper like you belong here?"
I tilt my head, letting her words roll off me like water off a duck's back.
Brielle's eyes narrow, a calculated gleam replacing the wild fury. "Fine," she hisses, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "You want to play tough? I'll call the cops. You can't keep me from my son."
My heart skips a beat, but I force my face to remain impassive. I've dealt with manipulative parents before, but never quite like this. I take a deep breath, centering myself.
"Austin would have mentioned if you were due for a visit," I say, my tone clipped and professional. "He didn't. So, unless you have court-approved visitation scheduled for today, you have no right to be here."
Brielle's nostrils flare, and for a moment, I think she might actually lunge at me. Instead, she reaches for her phone, her manicured nails clicking against the screen.
"You think you're so smart, don't you?" she snarls. "We'll see how smart you are when you're explaining to the police why you're keeping a mother from her child."
I feel a bead of sweat trickle down my spine, but I stand my ground. This woman is used to getting her way through intimidation, but I refuse to be another one of her victims.
"Go ahead," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Call them. But before you do, let me make something clear." I lean in slightly, matching her intensity. "If you don't leave this property right now, I'll be the one calling the cops. For trespassing and attempted breaking and entering."
Djinn's growls grow louder behind me, as if sensing the tension. I continue, "Or, I could always let Djinn out here to keep you company while we wait for them to arrive. Your choice."
Brielle's face contorts with rage, her perfectly arched eyebrows knitting together. "You little bitch," she hisses, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. "You have no idea who you're dealing with!"
I grip the doorframe tighter, my knuckles turning white. My heart races, but I force my voice to remain calm. "I think I do, actually. And I'm not impressed."
Her rage amps up, and for a moment, I wonder if she might actually try to hit me. Instead, she takes a step back, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You will regret this," she hisses again. "I'll be back, and next time, you won't be able to keep me out."
"Bye, sweetie," I wave, my voice saccharine sweet.
She takes a step back, her designer heels clicking on the porch. "This isn't over," she spits, jabbing a finger in my direction. "Austin will hear about this, and you'll be out on your ass before you can blink."
I watch as she storms down the driveway, her hair whipping in the wind. Only when her car peels out of sight do I allow myself to exhale, sagging against the door.
"Holy shit," I mutter, running a shaky hand through my hair. Djinn whines softly, nudging my leg. I reach down to scratch behind his ears, grateful for his steady presence.
My mind races. Should I call Austin? It's my first day, and I don't want to seem incapable. But this isn't exactly a normal situation.
I pull out my phone, my thumb hovering over Austin's contact. Screw it. He needs to know.
"First day on the job, and I'm already dealing with psycho exes," I type, trying to keep it light. "Brielle showed up. Don't worry, I handled it. Kids are safe upstairs. Call when you can?"
I hit send, then lean my head back against the door, closing my eyes.
My day can only get better at this point.