Chapter Fifty Two

Chapter Fifty-Two

The house was unusually quiet.

Not completely quiet.

Lillie's baby monitor crackled softly from the nursery.

The coffee machine hummed downstairs.

The early morning sunlight filtered through the townhouse windows.

But for Daisy?

Everything felt heavy.

Very heavy.

Roman had already left for work.

After spending ten minutes trying to convince Daisy not to get out of bed.

She'd laughed and told him she was fine.

Roman hadn't looked convinced.

At all.

Now, two hours later, Daisy regretted every word.

Because she felt awful.

Not sick.

Not exactly.

Just exhausted.

Completely drained.

The kind of exhaustion that settled deep into her bones.

Even sitting up felt impossible.

A knock sounded downstairs.

The nanny.

Right on time.

Daisy heard the front door open.

Then close.

A few moments later the familiar sound of footsteps heading upstairs.

The nanny always started with Lillie.

Inside the nursery, Lillie was already awake.

Standing in her crib.

Talking to herself.

Or the stuffed giraffe.

Nobody was entirely sure.

The second she saw the nanny she grinned.

"Dada!"

The nanny laughed.

"Not quite."

Lillie didn't seem concerned.

The little girl happily lifted both arms.

Demanding to be picked up.

Immediately.

Naturally.

The nanny lifted her from the crib.

Then frowned slightly.

Usually by now Daisy would already be awake.

Already moving around.

Already checking on Lillie.

Today the house felt different.

Quieter.

Carrying Lillie on her hip, the nanny walked down the hallway.

Stopping outside Daisy's bedroom.

She knocked gently.

No answer.

Another knock.

Then she slowly pushed the door open.

"Daisy?"

The room was dim.

Curtains partially closed.

And Daisy was still in bed.

Curled beneath the blankets.

The sight immediately made the nanny pause.

Because Daisy never stayed in bed.

Not unless something was wrong.

"Daisy?"

Daisy opened one eye.

Then immediately closed it again.

The nanny's expression softened.

"Oh sweetheart."

Daisy laughed weakly.

"I know."

The nanny stepped closer.

Still holding Lillie.

"How long have you felt like this?"

"Since I woke up."

"You should have called me."

Daisy sighed.

"I thought it'd pass."

Clearly it hadn't.

Lillie immediately spotted her mother.

"Mama!"

Tiny hands reached out.

Daisy smiled despite herself.

"Hi baby."

Normally she would've scooped her daughter up instantly.

Today she couldn't even sit upright properly.

The nanny noticed.

Immediately.

"No."

Daisy blinked.

"What?"

"You're staying in bed."

The tone left absolutely no room for argument.

Daisy looked mildly offended.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not."

"I am."

The nanny raised an eyebrow.

Daisy immediately lost the argument.

The nanny carefully sat Lillie beside her mother.

Just for a moment.

The toddler immediately cuddled against Daisy's side.

Happy.

Content.

Exactly where she wanted to be.

Daisy wrapped an arm around her daughter.

The simple comfort helping immediately.

Meanwhile the nanny moved around the room.

Opening curtains slightly.

Checking the temperature.

Generally taking charge.

The way only experienced nannies could.

"I'm going to get you something to eat."

Daisy sighed.

"I'm not hungry."

"Don't care."

The nanny was unmoved.

"Something to drink."

Still unmoved.

"And your tablets."

Daisy looked defeated.

Lillie looked entertained.

The nanny smiled softly.

"Your body's working hard."

Daisy rested her head back against the pillows.

Too tired to argue.

The woman wasn't wrong.

Twenty-four weeks pregnant.

A toddler.

A move.

Life.

Everything seemed exhausting lately.

"Stay there."

Daisy laughed quietly.

"I wasn't planning on running anywhere."

That earned a smile.

Then the nanny disappeared downstairs.

Leaving Daisy alone with Lillie.

For a few moments neither moved.

Lillie simply curled against her side.

Playing with the edge of the blanket.

Occasionally patting Daisy's stomach.

The way she'd recently started doing.

As though she somehow knew there was a baby in there.

Daisy looked down at her daughter.

Smiling softly.

"You've got good timing."

Lillie grinned.

Completely unaware.

A few minutes later the nanny returned carrying a tray.

Toast.

Fruit.

Water.

Tea.

And the tablets Daisy had forgotten to take.

Again.

The woman set everything down.

Then handed Lillie back over.

"There."

The nanny smiled.

"You eat."

Daisy nodded.

"Thank you."

"That's what I'm here for."

As Daisy took her first sip of tea, she felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.

The house felt safe.

Warm.

Taken care of.

And for the first time all morning, she allowed herself to stop trying to do everything.

Just for today.

Just for a little while.

Because sometimes even doctors needed someone to look after them too. ❤️📖💕