Curvy Nanny for the Nerd

31. Brady

Chapter 31

Brady

“ N one of your concern, she says as if that’s an acceptable answer.” I grumbled to myself as I paced the hallway outside Toni’s room. Her hospital room because Toni was in the hospital. And she wouldn’t tell me why. “Dammit.” Up and down the hall, I paced and scrubbed a hand over my face, grumbling to myself like a crazy person.

“Can I help you with something, sir?” A nurse laid a hand on my shoulder, probably to stop my incessant pacing, her brows tugged in concern. “Sir?”

“What? No, I don’t need anything except answers which she won’t give me,” I growled and glowered at the door. “I’m fine. Really. Just worried.”

She flashed a tight smile as if she understood, which she probably did because people inside this building were always worried about something. “There’s a waiting room down the hall.”

Of course. She wanted to get the crazy man out of the hallway. I was probably scaring off the patients. “Right. Sorry. I’m just…never mind.”

Another nurse approached in a hurry with Layla at her side. “You must be the dad,” she said with a smile as she shoved a bunch of papers at my chest.

“I am, yes.” I frowned and looked from the nurse to Layla. “What is all this?”

“Discharge papers and new prescriptions for your wife.”

My wife? “I think there’s been a mistake.” I looked down at the papers, barely hearing the nurse as she droned on and on, absorbing the words. Pre-natal vitamins. Pregnancy weight. Due date. Words I hadn’t expected to see. My eyes grew wider with every word and then came the anger.

Toni is pregnant. No, not just pregnant. She was a few months along. Toni was pregnant and she hadn’t said anything about it. Maybe the baby isn’t mine. That thought stung more than it should have. I should be happy, but I’m not.

“Sir, is everything all right?” Now I had two nurses and one worried little girl staring at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Yeah everything is fine. Just fine,” I growled and held up the papers clutched in my hand. “Excuse me.” There was a pregnant nanny I need to have a talk with. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“No,” she answered quickly and looked away. “I’m tired so feel free to take Layla home.”

“I have your discharge papers and your prescriptions right here, Toni. Prenatal vitamins.”

Her green eyes stared back at me with a blank expression and I thought she was just going to ignore me until she spoke. “It’s none of your business.”

“What did you say?” I shook my head and let out a bitter laugh. “I guess that answers my next question. The baby isn’t mine.”

She flinched. It was so small I wasn’t sure I’d seen it at all because she recovered so quickly. “If you have to question it, you should get why this is none of your business.”

“Uncle Brady?” Layla’s voice was quiet and scared.

“It’s all right, Layla.” I turned back to Toni, anger still pulsing through me. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Why would I ever share such a personal detail with you when you won’t share any details of your life with me?”

“This is not the same and you know it.” How could possibly think this was the same?

“Fine, Brady, you want to know the truth? Here it is. I got pregnant on purpose. Or did I? Maybe I’m not pregnant at all and this is an elaborate ruse to get my hand on a few of your dollars. Maybe a car or apartment?” She shrugged. “Who knows?”

Her words hit me. Hard. Every syllable was like a punch to the jaw. The gut. The dick. “Toni.” I sighed and rolled my eyes. “I never said that.”

“Yeah,” she laughed bitterly. “You did. Maybe not in so many words but I’m a smart girl, I managed to read between the lines.”

“We need to talk about this.”

“No we don’t.” She folded her arms, big red lashes blinked quickly like she was trying to hold back tears, which made me feel like I was about an inch tall. “I didn’t tell you because there is nothing to tell, Brady. I’m fine and I am not your problem.”

“It’s not a problem. You are not a problem.”

“I know that, but I don’t think you truly believe that. In fact, you should just take Layla home. And please, leave my papers here.” She looked away again like that was it, her word was final.

I looked back at Layla who had tears streaming down her face and I realized, in that moment, that I had to shove my feelings to the side and put Layla first. “Come on, Layla. Let’s get you home.” I reached a hand out to my niece and something settled in my chest when she took it.

“I’ll see you later, Toni. Right?”

She swiped at her tears and nodded. “Oh yeah, kiddo. I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.”

“This conversation isn’t over.”

“What conversation,” she spat at me. “You said what you needed to say and there’s nothing else to talk about. I’ll come soon to clear out the space I’m taking up in your home and I’ll send your lawyer a check for the broken contract.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“It is,” she whispered. “That’s what you care about most so I’ll make sure you get it.” Without another word she turned her back to me and tugged up the hospital sheet.

Conversation over.

For now. I vowed to give Toni a day or two to think about us and what we could be. During that time, I would do the thing that brought us to this moment in the first place.

Open up.