More time

After my initial shock had passed, I wanted to return the child to her nanny, but I knew that would just be mean. 

She was finally calm in my arms, although my hair was her major source of entertainment. 

I could not give her back without my conscience pricking me to death. She had nothing to do with her mother’s sins.

And as Blaine had pointed out, she was Oliver’s sister. But I could not help thinking about what would happen if Ophelia walked in here and met her child in my arms.

I knew how I would react if I walked in to meet the same. 

Ophelia was an angry bear I did not want to prick because that was dangerous. I simply wanted to shoot her clean before she got the chance to maul me to death.

I shook my head, banishing such evil thoughts when I had a child in my arms, her child.

“Do you have a bottle of water for her?” I felt her beginning to get a bit restless again. 

The nanny quickly ransacked the diaper bag and handed me the bottle.

“Olivia?” I raised the bottle up to her face and her hand reached out for it. 

I uncapped it and gently placed it against her lips as she drank deeply, finishing the little bottle. 

Her nanny and I exchanged looks and I smiled. 

I walked towards a small door that opened up to a balcony and pushed it open. 

When we stepped out, I turned to her again and smoothed her fine hair back, and caressed her face again. 

How could someone so evil birth a child so precious? The world would never make sense to me. 

As I stood outside with Olivia out on the balcony, pointing things to her and explaining the way I did with my son even though I doubted she understood half of it at ten months, I realized Blaine had been right yesterday. 

The children were alike, in many things.

For one, they were easy to entertain, quick to laugh and little daredevils. 

I finally turned to the door when I heard a nurse walk in to say it was their turn.

“Thank you.” The nanny bowed as I walked close to her, but the baby seemed to guess she was about to be handed over and I saw the tell-tale sign I had become familiar with in the last thirty-five minutes. 

She was about to cry again because her lips dipped in the corners, and she had the puppy-eyed look.

“You know what,” I leaned down to pick up my purse and laptop. “Let’s go in together,” I said, and as I turned to the door I saw Blaine standing there.

My heart dropped at the look in his eyes, and I looked away. 

Well, now I could be on my own way.

I walked towards him and handed his daughter over, and he just stared at me, like he was seeing me for the first time. Like he had stared at Oliver yesterday when he first saw him.

“I’ll take her to the doctor myself,” he said to the nanny beside him, without taking his eyes away from me. I looked down and brushed dirt off the pleated skirt of my dress. 

Thankfully, my dress still looked neat. I began to walk ahead and Blaine fell in steps beside me. 

Kan's guard at the door looked at us and looked away.

At the doctor’s office, my son’s pediatrician gave us the same look, and I suspected he would call Kan as soon as we left.

He gave me the prescription, and I was about to turn away when I felt Blaine hold my hand back. That would have infuriated me before, but it didn’t.

“Please wait.” 

I don’t know why I did, but I waited and watched his daughter get all her physicals. Then we left the room together. 

“Have you thought about what I said?” he asked as we walked out of the doctor’s office. “You see it would not be that bad. Let the babies meet each other.”

“I thought you wanted more time with your son?” I turned to him. “I was willing to even look at that trampoline park that you and my father suggested.”

He was shaking his head, “Ariel. You just have to come once. If you do not like it, I promise I will work with any other arrangement you prefer.”

I frowned at him, suddenly realizing he was desperate to get me to that house and I wondered why. 

But now that he put it like this, it was hard to say no.

“We already have enough troubles. Can you imagine what Ophelia would do when she hears this?”

“Olivia is my child too.” and the little girl looked up at the sound of her name being mentioned. Blaine smiled down quickly at her before he turned his eyes to me again.

“That was the same behavior Kan exhibited that provoked me to let you into Oliver’s life. Why would you want to take a woman’s child to a place you know she would not approve of?”

“Because she doesn't care. Ophelia has not held this child more than a couple of times in all her ten months. The words came out quickly, and I saw he regretted them as soon as he said it.

“Please consider it,” he said, nodded and was gone. 

I stood still, unable to move as I watched his retreating back, till the nanny joined him and soon both of them disappeared.

How was what he said even possible? 

A couple times? Was he exaggerating? 

I looked away and slowly walked back to my car, pondering on the thoughts. 

I asked the chauffeur to take me back home, canceling my trip to the park.

Blaine really had said that his problems with Ophelia were more than what she did to me. That day he broke the news about his divorce to me. 

Why did it suddenly seem like he and I were in the same boat?

I shook my head, we were not. And I will give this no more thought.

When I returned to the house, I was surprised to see Kan was home and taking a walk down the side of the house with Oliver in his arms.

I thought he had a lot of appointments today?

“Ma ma.” Oliver spotted me first, and I hurried towards him and kissed him all over his face till he pulled back squealing excitedly and giggling.

“Having a good morning?” Kan turned to me as Oliver ran his hand through his stubble. He looked like he had barely slept.

“I did. I got Oliver’s prescription,” I said, my eyes scanning his eyebags. 

“Good job. We’ll have a maid pick it up.” He put his arm around me and pecked me on the lip. “I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh.” I managed a small smile. 

In the past, I would have been more excited, but now, I just couldn’t do it. 

Thankfully, he did not mention it as he put his arm around my shoulder, and we walked back into the house like a neat little family we were not.

“The nanny is leaving,” he said after he handed Oliver over to her. 

“What?” I stopped on the second step of the staircase and turned to look at him. 

“She sent in the usual two-week's notice.” He placed his hand on my back and nudged me to continue walking. “Don’t worry, I already have excellent candidates. We can work on picking one together.”