Chapter 19 #2
“And when he no longer recognizes when you do something different, like change your hair, don’t do like I did.
Don’t hope things will change. Don’t wait around for him to see you again.
Pack your things and leave with dignity.
” She pats the dress without another word and walks out the room, leaving me feeling a fresh wave of panic and worry.
I turn away from the door she’d just left out of and back to the dress. Do I really have to worry about Nico losing interest and moving on to the new shiny toy?
After changing into the green dress, I make my way down the stairs. Nico should be here any minute now.
“Ooh la la,” Ms. Rose gushes as she spots me walking into the kitchen. “You look stunning, sweet pea. That green goes perfectly with your skin tone.”
I smile as I climb onto the bar stool beside my son. I drop my small brown purse on the countertop.
“Thank you, Ms. Rose.”
I pull Noah out of his highchair and plant kisses on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
I know Ms. Rose was brought here to be a nanny for my son, but sometimes I feel like I’m the one she’s nannying. This woman can read me so well.
I go to speak, but my mother’s voice cuts in first.
“Nothing. Right, darling?”
I look at Ms. Rose, who has a blank expression on her face as she stares at my mother. She then turns her attention to me. Her dark brown eyes narrow as she takes me in.
Even though I feel as though I have a heavy weight on my mind, I reply, “Right.”
Ms. Rose doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t say anything else.
Noah grabs for my necklace trying to put it in his mouth. I chuckle as I maneuver it out of his tight grip. I swear babies have the strongest damn grips in the world.
“You’re going to ruin that dress holding him. Hand him here.” Evelyn comes up beside me. She reaches for Noah, and he looks at her like she’s lost her mind before turning away and wrapping his arms around my neck.
Evelyn tries to grab him out of my arms, and Noah turns around and swings at his grandmother. I have to yank him back to keep him from connecting with her face.
Evelyn gasps, clutching a hand to her heart.
“Noah,” I scold him. “That’s not nice.”
He looks at me and pokes out his bottom lip and then throws his head into my shoulder and cries.
“Give me my baby.” Ms. Rose comes over and takes him out of my arms. He goes to her happily, burying his face in her chest. “It’s okay. You were just trying to communicate with us the best way you know how.”
I felt bad for scolding him after she pointed that out. He’s almost eight months, and he can’t exactly tell my mother he didn’t want her touching him, so that was the only way he knew how to say no. Still, he had no business hitting anyone.
Ms. Rose takes my still upset child out of the room. Evelyn turns to me.
“This is the woman you have watching your child? She’s not good for him. And the way she watches Niccolo, I wouldn’t have that woman in my house.”
I want to burst out laughing in my mother’s face.
Ms. Rose is perfect for Noah. She’s gentle, yet stern when she needs to be.
I’ve seen her correct Noah a few times when he does something he shouldn’t.
And as far as her watching Nico, Evelyn was tripping.
Ms. Rose treats Nico the way she treats me and Noah, like we are her children.
She is very respectful. Plus, the woman is still in love with her late husband.
“She’s fine, Evelyn.” I grab my purse and stand before glancing at my watch. Nico is late, and he is never late.
“Okay.” She tosses her hands up. “You’re going to learn to listen to me.”
I shake my head as I head toward the living room. Pulling my phone out of my clutch, I check it for any missed calls from my husband. There are none.
“He’s late.” Even Evelyn seemed taken aback by that revelation.
I didn’t like the sympathetic look on her face. Especially after our earlier conversation.
“He probably got caught up in traffic or something.”
She smiles. But it’s that pitying smile you give someone that’s trying to be optimistic in an unpleasant situation.
“Yes, maybe it’s traffic.” She didn’t sound like she believed that at all.
I know what my mother was thinking. She thought the point she had made earlier was already coming to fruition. But I would not get suckered into believing Nico was cheating. That’s foolish. The man has never given me a reason to believe that. I won’t allow myself to start worrying about nonissues.
“He’s not cheating, Evelyn.”
She holds up her hands in a posture of surrender.
Just then, the front door opens. It’s odd for Nico to use the front door. He would usually come in through the garage, but maybe the car is parked out front. I make my way into the foyer but stop when I find Jake standing there.
“You ready, Boss Lady?” he asks.
“I thought Nico was coming to get me?”
He shakes his head. “Something came up at the office. He wants me to bring you to him at the restaurant.”
Look, I’ve met Nico at places plenty of times. Jake is always driving me. This is not a big deal.
Yeah, then why does it feel like your heart is trying to beat up through your throat?
“Hmm,” Evelyn hums before walking out of the foyer and back through the house.
Despite what she’s insinuating, I will not let it get to me.
Going over to the coat closet, I grab my black wool dress coat out.
I then follow Jake out of the house. I keep my head clear of all doubts as we arrive at the restaurant.
Jake stops the SUV in front of the door.
The valet opens my door, and I climb out.
Jake pulls away from the curb to find a parking spot. He won’t be coming in with me.
I head into the fancy Italian restaurant. The hostess shows me to my table. When I get there, Nico is sitting down, staring at his phone. His face looks tense, and his eyes dark. I clear my throat as I take off my jacket.
Nico stands and walks over to me, placing a kiss on my cheek.
He pulls out my chair. I waited for him to comment on my dress.
He usually always has something to say about how I look.
It doesn’t matter if I’m in pajamas or a ten-thousand-dollar formal dress, the man will always tell me I look beautiful. However, tonight, he says nothing.
After I’m seated, he takes my coat and tosses it on the back of the chair beside me before taking his seat across from me.
“Sorry about not picking you up; I had some last-minute things to handle,” he says, glancing down at his phone.
I’m still not going to jump to conclusions. Maybe he’s had a long day. Maybe he’s just not himself right now. I won’t let what Evelyn said bring me down. There is nothing to worry about with me and Nico.