When the car finally pulled to a stop in front of the house, the driver rushed out to open the door for me, then offered me a hand. It was strange, being treated like I was royalty. I'd come from a working class family, one who'd never have dreamed about having a chauffeur or a limo or private jet or anything like that. It was like I'd been transported into a fairy tale.
Placing my hands on my stomach, I took deep breaths, and tried to relax. Looking up at the looming house though, I kept wondering how long it would take before I did or said something stupid, something that would embarrass Christian in front of his family. I'd always done well enough at the company functions, but I'd taken great care to avoid the rich and powerful that were always in attendance. This was his playing field, not mine.
"You okay?" Christian asked, placing his hand gently on my back. His voice was low and soft, and I doubted anyone else had even heard him.
I took a deep breath, then nodded. I could do this, I told myself. It was only for a couple of days. After that, I'd get a letter of recommendation from him and could start searching for a new job. Just a couple of days. "I'm fine," I said, putting on a smile.
He looked at me for a moment, and at first, I thought he was going to call my bluff. Then, he nodded and turned his attention back to the house. "Is everyone already here?" Christian asked, raising his voice so he could be heard by his mother.
But before she could answer, the front door of the house flew open. I wasn't sure what I'd expected to see coming out, probably an army of servants, but it certainly wasn't the small, energetic blonde child that came flying down the steps directly toward us. I thought she was going to run right through Christian, but at the last moment, she leaped up into the air, and he caught the squealing, laughing girl in his arms.
"Uncle Chrissy!" she shouted, her high pitched voice seeming to echo for miles around us. She squirmed in his arms as she hugged him, and the child looked like she was made of pure energy.
Christian didn't seem to mind though. He held the child, laughing. "Well, it's good to see you, too Holly!" His voice was far more relaxed and cheerful than I'd ever heard. I was seeing a whole new side of him. Was this what he was like outside of work?
Before anyone else could say anything, a warm voice echoed from the house. "Holly Frost, you can’t jump up on people like they are horses?"
I turned to see a young woman skip lightly down the steps, her eyes fixated on the young girl. But despite the woman's light scolding, the girl didn't pay her any heed. Holly kept on giggling and talking at a lightening quick pace as though the woman didn't even exist.
Christian glanced over at me and winked, then set Holly on the ground, an arm still around her shoulders. He looked over at the woman still heading toward us and smiled at her. "Hello, Emma. How are you?"
"I'd be better if I could actually keep up with a certain someone!" Emma smiled at Christian. Holly said, “Uncle Chrissy is as nice as Blacklight. He always lets me jump on him.” But if that bothered Emma, she didn't show it. Once Emma was close, she let Christian envelop her into a quick hug before she reached out to take Holly’s hand. "Come on, little one. We've still got your lesson to finish."
But Holly just pouted. If I had to guess, I'd sayHolly was ten or eleven, but when she pouted like that, it was like she cast a spell to make herself look even younger, sweeter and completely innocent. Even I was impressed with that skill! "Come on, Miss Emma!" Holly pleaded. "Uncle Chrissy and his friend just got here. Can't I skip the lesson today?"
"It would be helpful if Holly could show Jade where her room will be," Christian's mother piped up from the back. Until she'd spoken, I'd forgotten she'd even been standing there! She shuffled forward and ruffled the young girl's already messy curls. "That would save me the long walk, and I can show Christian where his brothers are waiting to see him."
Emma let out a sigh, shaking her head but she knew when she was defeated. Clearly, Christian's mother was the matriarch of the family, and what she decided was final, even when it wasn't an actual command.
His mom winked at me, then pulled Christian away toward the house without another word. Emma followed along behind them, leaving me standing there with Holly beaming up at me. I'd never met the child before, but the way she grinned at me, it was like I'd just become her newest best friend. She reached out and took my hand.
"Come on," she said eagerly. How such a small girl could have so much energy built up inside her, I wasn't quite sure. I wished I could've had just a fraction of it. Then maybe being pregnant wouldn't be so draining. "Grandma said you're gonna have the room next to mine. She had all the girls rooms together in one wing of the house, 'cause she says we can't room with any of the boys until we're married to them!"
Holly continued to
