A Very Merry Nanny (Very Merry #2)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

EMMA

“ C an I help you?” I say, immediately recognizing her. Thank God I flipped through those wedding albums; otherwise, her presence would have completely blindsided me.

She’s wearing a fake designer pantsuit, an ill-advised imitation that screams desperation, and she carries herself like she’s hot shit. Her confidence is unwavering, yet it feels unwarranted, considering she's unwelcome here. Her ice-blue eyes are as cold as her heart, and her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. A shiver runs down my spine as I wonder what Hudson saw in her.

I close the door behind me, crossing my arms over my chest, creating a barrier between us. “What do you need?”

“If you could fetch my husband for me, I’d appreciate it,” she says impatiently, her tone dripping with condescension.

My nostrils flare.

She’s lying.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you that we’re still married? I’m sorry. He’s always been so secretive,” she says, attempting to glide past me, but I stand my ground, immovable.

“You're not welcome inside,” I say, unamused, my voice steady.

“Not welcome? Sweetheart, half of this place is mine.” Her words slice through the air, thick with bravado.

Just then, the door swings open, and Hudson steps out; fury radiates from him.

“Meredith,” he spits her name, each syllable laced with venom. And knowing what he’s shared about her, it’s warranted.

“You didn’t tell your little adulteress that you’re still married? Shame on you, Hudson. How old is she? Twenty?” Meredith shakes her head in mock disbelief, a smirk dancing on her lips.

“Shut the fuck up,” he states, not biting at her taunts. It’s as if he’s trained himself to withstand the sharp, daggered words she throws his way, and I’m astounded by how effortlessly she wields them.

“What do you want? Because if you don’t answer in thirty seconds, I’ll call the police and have you escorted off my property.”

She shakes her head, dismissive. “Until we’re officially divorced, that’s a civil matter. You and I both know they won’t do anything. I’d like to see my son now,” she says, waving her hand like a queen shooing away a servant.

“You’ll see him when he asks to see you. And that will never happen,” Hudson growls, his voice low and lethal. He’s livid; I can tell by his rigid stance, the pulse in his neck thrumming like a war drum.

“I need to go back inside,” I say, unease creeping in with each passing second. He didn’t deny their marriage.

I feel sick, the punch I drank earlier threatening to come back up.

If the internet finds out about this...

I push the thoughts away, trying to yank my mind out of this doom spiral, fearing I might not survive the descent.

Right now, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks; all that matters is what Hudson has to say.

I want to escape; I want to run when the weight of this situation becomes unbearable, but I won’t do that—for Colby’s sake. It would make me no better than her.

How could she try to ruin his party like this?

When I return to the festivities, I plaster on a fake grin, hoping it will stave off the questions, but my sister sees right through it.

“Who is that?” she whispers, concern threading through her voice.

“Hudson's wife,” I say, meeting Claire's eyes, silently questioning if she knew. If everyone in this house knew but no one had the respect to tell me, I’ll leave for New York tonight.

Jake and Lucas are standing in the kitchen, deep in conversation, while everyone else indulges in cake. Laughter rings out and happiness continues to fill the space. The scent of chocolate wafts through the air, making me queasy. Colby is at the coffee table, surrounded by his friends from school, their voices a lively buzz as they eat cake and share excited whispers.

“It doesn't mean anything,” Claire eventually says, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly, her grip both reassuring and pleading. “Hudson isn't like that.”

“But he is. Did you know?” I whisper urgently, fear lacing my words.

“No, I swear I didn't.”

“Claire, if the internet gets this information, it will ruin everything,” I insist, the weight of the impending disaster pressing heavily on my chest. I won't be able to handle the smear campaigns.

“Will it?” she questions, her brow furrowing slightly. “You don't need the internet to survive, Em. You only need you.”

I nod, grounding myself in the truth. I'm the only person who has never let me down.

“You're doing that thing you do,” she explains, her tone softening, but the words pierce me nonetheless. “Where you try to ruin a good thing.”

“I don't do that.” I protest.

“Are you sure?” she presses, and my heart races, the rhythm echoing in my ears. I think back to various situations in my life that didn’t work out, flipping through memories like a worn book, the pages fluttering whimsically yet painfully.

“For once, I did nothing wrong,” I tell her, my voice steady.

“You're right. It's how you react when things happen, sis. You run.”

Her words stab me in the heart, a reminder that maybe I'm no better than Meredith, after all.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Hudson returns, and his eyes immediately find mine. I quickly look away, my stomach churning. The air in the room is thick with a suffocating cloud of unspoken truths.

“Are we ready to open those presents?” Hudson asks. To everyone else, he's just a happy dad, but I see through it.

I move to the kitchen to pour another glass of punch, the deep blue liquid promising a brief escape as Colby excitedly rips wrapping paper open.

“You okay?” Lucas sidles up beside me, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to my inner turmoil.

“Sure,” I tell him, taking a sip, its sweetness momentarily distracts me.

“You're a horrible liar, you know that? The absolute worst.” He chuckles lightly, a hint of warmth in his voice.

“Shut up,” I retort, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress a smirk.

“It's gonna be okay, Em. Trust me,” he says, sincerity in his gaze. I keep my back toward the crowd, but Lucas looks out at them with an amused expression. “Oh, look. My brother is watching you like a hawk right now.” He lifts his punch glass. “Probably scared I'm gonna steal you away.”

I can't help but laugh, the sound breaking the gloom for a moment. “Can you not do that right now?”

“You're prettier when you smile.”

“And now you're flirting with me?” I shake my head, the situation feeling almost absurd. “It's really not the time.”

He smirks, unfazed. “Well, if you ever need a knight in shining armor to save you, you've got my number.”

I playfully scoff just as Jake walks over, a protective aura surrounding him. “There's my favorite sister. You good?”

Lucas holds out his hand in mock indignation. “Excuse me? We were having a conversation. I was just about to ask Emma out on a date.”

Jake glares at him, the tension shifting momentarily as he pours a cup of punch. “Do not start that again. It's not the time.”

Lucas raises an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing at the corners of his lips. “There is no greater gift than the present.”

He winks at me, and despite everything, I feel a smile push its way onto my face. They stand on either side of me, tall and muscular, their presence both comforting and humorous. I snicker, unable to help myself. Regardless of all the thoughts sliding through my mind, this feels like home. I feel safe.

“What?” Lucas asks, an air of genuine curiosity in his tone.

“You're like my bodyguards,” I tease, the absurdity of the moment drawing me from the edge of my worries.

Jake shrugs, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. “I'd fuck someone up if they tried to mess with you.”

Lucas gives him a high five.

“Look at Hudson. He's pissed, isn't he?” Lucas says, his voice laced with disbelief and amusement as he leans slightly toward me, gesturing toward Hudson with a nod. “Jesus. I haven't seen him this angry in a very long time. Almost looks like he's going to explode. I bet the sex is great after this.”

“Shut up!” I elbow him hard in his side and double over, laughing.

“Hudson will be fine,” Jake reassures, though the underlying concern in his tone suggests otherwise. He then glances at me, with a gentle expression. “Will you?”

“Yes,” I mutter, but it feels like a lie. “I'll survive.”

“Promise me that you'll hear him out,” Jake offers, his eyes pleading as if my agreement could somehow mend the rift between us. “Please, Emma.”

“I promise.” As the words leave my mouth, Colby calls my name. His small voice cuts through the crowd as he enthusiastically waves me over. I glance back at Jake, his worried gaze lingering on me, before moving across the living room.

They do know. All of them.

“Can we put this LEGO together?” he asks, holding up the brightly colored box, his eyes shining eagerly. The children from his classroom gather around him, their laughter mixing with the remnants of wrapping paper strewn across the floor and the tables—evidence of the chaotic joy that filled the room. A stack of opened gifts sits in the middle, their shiny boxes reflecting the warm light of the room.

“Of course,” I say, my heart warms at his excitement. It always does.

I lean down to wipe some chocolate icing from his face, and he giggles, turning his head away from me in that playful way only little boys can.

The kids play for thirty more minutes, their shouts of glee filling the air, but as shadows grow longer and darkness settles outside, the adults begin shuffling out, signaling the end of our gathering.

Claire hugs me tightly, her arms wrapping securely around me. “If you need me, text me, okay?” Her voice is a soft murmur against my ear.

“I will,” I say, appreciating the gesture more than she knows.

“Bee, you wanna come to Grandma's house until dinner?” Hudson's mother asks him, her voice warm and inviting.

“Oh yes! Daddy?” Colby grabs Hudson's shirt, tugging gently as he tries to bring him back from whatever distant place his mind had wandered. He's lost in thought, his gaze distant and unfocused.

He forces a grin, even if it's a weak one. “Sure, if you want. You're the birthday boy.”

“Yes!” Colby exclaims, his face lit up with pure joy.

Hudson's mom looks between the two of us and nods, extending her hand for Colby to take.

“Can we watch Elf ?” he asks her eagerly as they move toward the front door, his little feet patter on the wooden floor.

She chuckles softly, a warm flicker of nostalgia in her eyes. “Of course.”

Colby waves goodbye to us, his excitement palpable, and as soon as they leave, a heavy silence settles in the room.

Neither of us speaks.

I find myself staring at the fireplace, aware that more wood needs to be added to keep the flames alive, just as I need something to keep my own heart warm.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you and?—“

“Don't apologize,” I say, shaking my head gently, trying to brush away the unspoken hurt lingering in the air. “I just...”

I thought he trusted me. Words escape me, swirling just out of reach, and I swallow down the pain, feeling my throat tighten. His eyes remain locked on me, intense and searching, but I can't bring myself to meet his gaze. Hudson steps closer, the space between us is almost suffocating.

“Emma,” he whispers, his voice barely above a breath. When my eyes flick up to his, I see the weight of his pain reflected back at me, raw and real.

“I'm sorry for hurting you.” His jaw clenches tight, the muscles taut beneath the surface.

The silence hangs heavy in the air. Hudson sucks in a deep breath, and in that moment, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight against him, as if he can shield me from everything outside of this moment.

I inhale him like this might be the last time.

“I filed for divorce the day after I met you back in July. When I saw you, my world changed, Emma. I tried to track Meredith down to discuss it, but couldn't, so my lawyer filed the petition without her. Two days before it was set to be finalized, she contested.” He swallows hard, and the harsh reality of his words cuts through me like a knife. “She's trying to take Colby away from me, Em.”

I take a step back from him, my heart racing as I search his eyes for some semblance of hope. There is none. “What? No.”

“We tried mediation, and she refused to cooperate. Next month, I have a court hearing with evidence proving she hasn't been a part of Colby's life since the beginning. Not to mention the handfuls of addresses she's lived at over the years in different states. Everything will be presented in front of a judge. But...” His voice cracks, his words hanging heavy in the air. “This is Texas, and if her performance is good enough, she could get partial custody. She agreed to everything else I requested in the divorce, except for that.”

“So, all she has to do is agree to full custody, and this is over?” I lean forward, urgency coursing through me as I grab his hand, anchoring myself in the moment.

“Yes. But she never will. She's determined to make my life hell for as long as possible.”

A fire ignites inside me, a fierce determination rising to the surface as I remember who I truly am. “Consider it taken care of.”

“What?” He shakes his head, panic flashing in his eyes. “No, don't get involved.”

“Please find out where she's staying while she's here, or I will.” The intensity in my voice leaves no room for doubt.

“Emma,” he pleads more desperately, gripping my hand tighter as if he could physically pull me away from his troubles.

“We'll figure it out together, okay? Let me help you .” I cradle his face in my hands, searching his eyes for that glimmer of hope I want to reignite. Slowly, I see it—the light responding to my touch. I'm not running away from this situation. “I do require one thing.”

He nods, his expression steely. “Anything.”

I smile, the warmth of our connection filling the space between us. “You're joining my cookie team.”

Laughter erupts from him, breaking through the tension like a ray of sunshine on a stormy day. He pulls me closer, and in that moment, he kisses me as if tomorrow will never come. It grows desperate and needy, our lips moving in a passionate dance that speaks volumes. He moans against me, and I feel my emotions bubble over, a heady mix of love and urgency.

“You deserve your freedom, Hudson. No matter what happens between us, I'll fight for you and Colby to get that.”

“I don't deserve you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.

“That's where you're wrong,” I whisper, letting my breath mingle with his, the promise of a shared future hanging in the air. “I'll burn the world down for you and let the fire light our path. Me and you.”