26
Babysitter
Dani dumped her bag on the stairs and shrugged out of her jacket. She could hear Chloe talking quietly in the sitting room, so she popped her head around the door.
Ollie was laid out on the sofa covered in his quilt, looking pale, his eyes sleepy and rimmed with dark circles. Shit, he looked worse than this morning, thought Dani. Rosie and Sophie were curled up on the other sofa watching a DVD.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” she asked coming through the door.
“My throat hurts,” he croaked.
Chloe looked worn out. She pursed her lips together and sighed as she put the thermometer in his ear.
“Aww, darling.”
“He’s really poorly, Dani. Mummy said so. It’s in his neck,” Sophie explained gravely.
“I know, angel. I just hope you and Rosie don’t get it too.”
Sophie’s eyes widened and she looked over at Ollie, as if the thought of that was terrifying.
“Shall I make you some honey tea?” Dani gently stroked his forehead. It was burning hot.
Ollie nodded weakly.
“Okay, I won’t be long.” She rubbed Chloe’s back reassuringly, then she headed for the kitchen.
Within a couple of minutes Chloe came through and leaned against the kitchen counter. She watched Dani pour honey into a steaming cup of camomile tea.
“How is it?” Dani asked.
“It’s thirty eight point six. The Nurofen must be wearing off. He looks so limp.”
“When’s his next dose?”
“In an hour.”
Dani looked at the clock. It was six fifteen.
“When’s he got to take the antibiotics?”
“Eight.”
Dani nodded. “What time’s Adam getting back?”
“He’s on his way.” Chloe rubbed her face. “I can’t go tonight, not with Ollie so ill.”
“I’ll be fine with him Chloe. I’ll sleep with him. I won’t leave his side.”
“I know. I don’t doubt that for a minute. But I’ll be useless there. I’ll be worried and to be honest I’m so tired too. I didn’t sleep last night. I’ll be on tenterhooks all night. The last thing I want to do is go to a Christmas charity dinner. Adam will have to go alone.”
“Did you tell him?” cringed Dani.
Chloe nodded.
“He knows me, Dani. He knows I’ll be worried. I feel bad for him because he’ll be on his own but he has to go. Sorry you wasted your night off.”
“Don’t be silly. I can help out with the girls.
Are you sure? Once he takes the Nurofen and it kicks in he’ll be fine for four hours,” coaxed Dani.
She knew Chloe had been looking forward to the party.
They didn’t get chance to go out much and the party was a huge charity event which Adam’s law firm organised every Christmas.
“I really wouldn’t enjoy it anyway.” She shrugged.
“I’ll take this through and then I’ll bathe the girls for you.”
“Thanks Dani.” Chloe smiled weakly.
DANI RUBBED SOPHIE’S HAIR, then started to comb through the curls.
“Let’s dry it angel.”
Sophie scooted over to where the hairdryer was and crossed her legs, waiting for Dani to start to dry her damp hair.
Rosie was sitting on the floor playing with a box of hair clips and other accessories.
Dani gently dried her hair admiring the curls.
They were like loose springs and they bounced beautifully as she straightened them, then let them go.
Sophie had Adam’s colouring, blue eyes, curly blonde hair and fair skin but she was the image of Chloe.
Rosie on the other hand had darker hair and brown eyes and didn’t resemble either parent.
Chloe always said she looked like Dani. Dani glanced over to her as she tried to put a crocodile clip in her hair.
She was too gorgeous to look like her, she thought wistfully.
Sophie giggled as they watched her continue to put the clips in her light brown hair.
“Do you want me to put in a clip Rosie?” Dani asked once she’d turned off the hairdryer.
Rosie looked up, her huge eyes like saucers. “Lip!” she held it up for Dani.
“It’s clip Rosie. C-c-c-clip,” corrected Sophie.
Chloe walked in as Dani knelt down on the floor with Rosie.
“All done?” she asked.
“Yes, we’re just putting clips in Rosie’s hair,” smirked Dani.
“Do you have an evening dress?”
“An evening dress?” Dani furrowed her eyebrows. “Why?”
“I was wondering if you’d like to go with Adam.”
“To the party?” answered a confused Dani.
“Uh-huh.” Chloe cocked her head seeing her sister mulling over her suggestion.
“I… well, um what does Adam think?”
“He’s pleased not to go alone.”
“I don’t know Chloe. I won’t know anyone and it’s not really my thing, a stuffy dinner full of lawyers.” Dani loved going out but her usual venues were bars and clubs, not formal dinners.
“Aw please, Dani. He’s gonna feel like a spare part,” whined Chloe.
“And Adam’s alright with me going?” Dani twisted her mouth feeling backed into a corner.
“Yes, I’ll get him up here to tell you if you don’t believe me.”
Dani sighed blowing hard out of her mouth. She glanced at the alarm clock. It was ten past seven. She’d have to be ready in less than an hour.
“Look, think of it as babysitting him instead of the kids!” she laughed
Dani’s mouth opened in shock at Chloe’s comment, then laughed. “Not sure I’ve anything suitable to wear. Does it have to be long?”
Chloe grinned relieved. “Ideally yes. Let me check out your clothes.” Chloe went over to the wardrobe and opened it.
“I’ve only got one long dress. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.”
Chloe pulled out the long black dress and let out a small gasp. “It’s… wow, it’s really something.”
“I told you. I got it for a nightclub opening.” Dani almost looked apologetic as Chloe shook her head and chuckled.
The dress was floor length and straight.
The material had a slight stretch which Chloe realised would cling to every curve of Dani’s body.
It had cutaway shoulders with a thin black and gold edged strap that fastened around the neck.
The gold edging continued down the middle of the front, then split in two, curving over to each hip.
On the left side, it continued down all the length of the dress.
The right side stopped at the hip and curled around to the back.
The particular feature that had Chloe wide-eyed was on the left side of the dress, there was a panel of sheer, fine, black gossamer that ran from under the arm down the whole length of the dress, edged by the thin gold trim.
On the right, there was also a cut-out, which travelled around the back, also filled in with gossamer.
“It’s gorgeous, Dani. Jeez, it’s Versace!”
Dani shrugged. “Not really appropriate though, well not for stuffy lawyers.”
“Wear it. You’ll look amazing. Adam’s gonna freak!” she laughed.
“I don’t know Chloe, maybe you should run it by him first.”
“Okay. Get in the shower and I’ll show him it.” Dani shook her head and headed to her bathroom.
“Sophie go and get Daddy.”
Sophie scrambled off the bed and went in search of Adam. Within a few minutes he came through wearing his bathrobe and remnants of shaving foam on his face.
“Okay, where’s the fire?” he ruffled his damp hair.
“Dani has only got this long dress to wear. All my stuff will be too short on her. What do you think?” Chloe lifted it up for Adam to see and his eyes widened before darting to Chloe’s face.
“It’s a bit sexy,” he said tentatively.
“A bit? It’s super sexy!“ chuckled Chloe.
“Exy!” Rosie repeated and beamed up at them, Sophie giggled.
“Those lawyers will have their eyes popping out.”
“A few will have coronaries,” Adam added.
“I know. She’ll look amazing in it though.”
Adam nodded. “Tell her to wear it. We’ll have a laugh watching everyone gape at her,” he chuckled.
Dani had never got herself ready so fast. Adam was sitting downstairs with the girls and Ollie, who after his dose of Nurofen had started to come around.
Dani quickly dried her hair and applied her makeup.
“I’ve never been so stressed,” cringed Dani, applying her mascara.
She’d styled her hair and left it loose, showing off her layers, her fringe showcasing her large dark eyes.
She wore it back every day at work so it was nice to have it free for a change.
Dani slipped on her strappy, black, sky high sandals and grabbed the gold clutch Chloe had lent her.
“ Jeez, Dani, you look gorgeous. I take it you’ve no underwear on.” Chloe lifted her brow.
Dani shook her head and twisted her mouth.
“Look at your boobs!” Chloe shook her head and looked down at her own chest. “Mine used to be perky once. Three kids and breastfeeding, their like saggy balloons now,” she huffed. Dani walked over to her, towering over her in her heels and hugged her.
“I’d rather have the saggy boobs and three kids any day,” Dani muttered.
Chloe sighed. “Yeah, me too. Come on. Go and rock the lawyer world of the north,” she giggled. “I wish I could see their faces. Actually it’s their snooty wives that’ll be pea green with envy that I want to witness.”
Within ten minutes they were pulling up outside Harewood house, a beautiful impressive eighteenth century stately home set in over one hundred acres of gardens.
Dani had only been once, when Chloe and Adam first moved up to Leeds.
She’d visited the bird garden and they’d been on the lake when Ollie was two.
It was a beautiful setting for the dinner and Dani felt a pang of guilt for Chloe, she’d have been in her element here.
Not like her. Dani marvelled at the building beautifully floodlit as it stood in the huge expanse of gardens and hoped she didn’t embarrass Adam.
She knew this was a big deal for him, now he was a partner.
“I have to say I feel a little nervous. I didn’t realise it was going to be so grand.” Dani stared out of her window as they drove up to where the valets were parking the constant stream of cars.
“You’ll be fine, Dani. You look amazing. Thanks for coming.” He squeezed her hand.
“Thanks Adam. Shame about Chloe.”
“Aw, you’re not such a bad understudy,” he joked, Dani snorted not sure she could ever match up to Chloe.
“Ready?”
Dani nodded.
“Let’s knock their socks off.”