Unexpectedly he nodded. I was not expecting that I am hired already because we have not done the interview yet.
"Congratulations babe." David said and winked at me again.
What's wrong with his eyes?
"David let's go to my office. Let's continue our meeting." My boss said seemed irritated. He went outside first and David followed whole laughing.
"Those kids. When will they ever change?" Said Aunt Roberta while shaking her head.
"Why does Sir Federico seems so angry at Doctor David, Auntie?" I asked out of curiosity.
"No he is not. They are good friends since they were kids. David always like teasing Fede all the time it is like pure entertainment for him." Aunt Roberta replied.
"Did it came to a point that they went into a serious fight and got physical?" I asked again.
"No no. It never happened. They are good friends it just seems like they are always fighting but they got each other's back all the time. When they were kids, David is weak so Fede always protects him and fight the bullies. They got separated when the family went to the Philippines but David always visits them every summer break at school. Until they finished a degree and had their own career they never lost contact. They often see each other or talked on the phone." Aunt Roberta said while we are walking towards Rick's room.
"So it's normal to see them like that? I was kinda worried seeing Sir Federico angry and Doctor David teasing him. I'm scared they might end up beating each other." I confessed.
But Aunt Roberta just laugh.
"Well one of these days you could really see them fighting." She smiled naughtily. Here come the naughty old lady again.
"What? And you are just smiling there Auntie telling me that they fight?" I unbelievably looked at Aunt Roberta who's smiled turned into soft giggle. She's keeping herself not to laugh out loud because she might wake the little boy which I carried in my arms.
"You will see them fight in the gym for their boxing training. That's their way of keeping their selves fit." Aunt Roberta explained.
"Oh I see." I nodded.
"Here we are. This is Rick's room." We stopped in the edge on the west wing of the mansion.
We talked a lot about those two men that I did not noticed we reached the child's room already. The old lady opened the door and a room painted with red and baby blue walls greeted me. It was filled with lots of toys. The bed sheets, blanket, and pillows are covered with a cartoon character called Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars.
I smiled when I saw it. I remembered my youngest brother, Eleazar. He likes this cartoon character too. He loves that movie so much. I gently put down little Rick on the bed. But he moaned out of protest. It seems that he is about to cry. I panicked and looked at Aunt Roberta asking for help.
"Just lie next to him, hug him and gently tap his butt." She instructed me.
"Okay, Auntie." I immediately followed what she told me. I sigh with relief when I did not hear his moans and saw him drift back to sleep.
"Good for job for your first day Nanny Emily that was awesome, you were able keep him from crying." Aunt Roberta said while clapping her hands without a sound.
"Whew! That was close Auntie, what a relief." I said. Aunt Roberta laugh.
"Okay, let's leave Rick here. Follow me we will go to my office. I will discuss to you the things you need to do for Rick." She said as she motioned her hand for me to follow her.
But I am hesitant to leave the child alone. What if he wakes up and see that no one is with him? He is just a little child and probably he will get scared.
"But Auntie I think we can't leave Rick here alone. If he wakes up for sure he will cry because he is alone. Maybe we can discuss here we just have to keep our voices low." I suggested. Aunt Roberta had that amused smile on her face when she turned her gaze on me
"I know it was the best decision to recommend you. My intuition did not fail me. Now I will go home at peace because I know Rick is in good hands." Aunt Roberta said.
I was glad with her words and I feel that it is not a mistake to accept her offer as well.
"Thank you Auntie. It was the best decision to accept your offer as well. Today is just my first day but I am sure I am with good people." I said.
"He is indeed a good man. The whole family rather are good people." Aunt Roberta said while walking towards Rick.
She sat beside where Rick was laying opposite my direction then softly caress the child's hair.
"I'm going to miss my little Rick." She was now emotional as she said those words while wiping her tears.
I stretched my hand to give her a back rub to comfort her.
"Don't cry Auntie. You can visit anytime right?" I asked while continuing rubbing her back.
But she shook her head.
"I'm afraid that is not possible I will go home to take care of my first grandchild." She replied.
"I see. But maybe we can visit you. Rick's grandparents are in the Philippines, right? I asked again to confirm and for her not to be sad I give her that idea. But once again she disagreed.
“You see Emily, I know it is not right to tell you personal things about our boss but I know you can keep secrets. Federico will no longer set foot in that country. He swore not to go back after he experienced a heartbreak because of a woman. His parents just comes here to visit him and their grandchild." My mouth formed into an O because of what I heard.
"He has a bad experience in love? What happened Auntie? Was she Rick's mother? How could she endure being far from her son?" I asked.
"No she is not Rick's mother. The identity of Rick's mother is unknown." Aunt Roberta replied.
I was confused with what Aunt Roberta said.
"What do you mean Auntie? How come you all do not know who she is?" I asked.
"Fede's mother came with a baby one year and eight months ago. She said it was abandoned in front of her office with a letter saying the baby was Federico's child. She also had a DNA test and the result is positive. Even if there's no DNA test it is obvious that Rick is Federico's son." Aunt Roberta replied.
"Poor Rick. He must've longing for a mother's love so much. I guess that's why he called me Mama." I said sadly.
I looked at the little child peacefully sleeping.
"Yes, I agree. But he never called anyone Mama except you. That's just so strange." Aunt Roberta said.
"I also wonder why Auntie. But it felt good when he call me Mama." I said while smiling.
Aunt Roberta smiled as well.
"Come. Let's start your orientation. Let's just sit there since you are worried that Rick will wake up without a companion in his room." She said while leading me to a small sofa in Rick's room.
"Okay, Auntie." I said and followed her.
She told me to sit in the single sofa while she get something in an organizer beside the sofa and I saw it was a notebook. She smiled when I look strangely at her. It seemed that she already knew what I was thinking. Then she gave the notebook to me.
"You know I am always prepared. I wrote everything here but still we will discuss everything written so if you have questions it will be answered while I'm still here." Aunt Roberta explained.
"Wow, that's great Auntie." I said with glee. So that morning we discussed everything in Rick's room with our voices very low in order not to disturb the child's sleep.
Working as a nanny is new to me. Though I had experienced in babysitting with my younger brothers but still this is a different case since it is a job and the one I will be watching over is not blood related to me. I don't know but there's something in this child that I can't explain. I'm nervous yet excited at the same time. I really do hope everything goes well.
=Sarsi=