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Upon arriving at the botanical gardens, the kids are immediately captivated by the vibrant colors and lush greenery. We wander through the various sections, each one more breathtaking than the last.
"Look!" Carmen points to a particularly striking flower, its petals an almost unreal shade of blue. I snap a picture, already imagining Roland's reaction when I show him later.
As we continue exploring, I can't help but ponder what it would be like to stroll through the gardens hand in hand with Roland, openly enjoying each other's company without the constraints of our current situation. The thought sends a shiver down my spine and a blush to my cheeks.
Must. Stop. Daydreaming.
I tell myself I’ve only known Roland for what? A month? And even if there wasn’t Sofia to consider, there’s Carmen and Damien. We wouldn’t be able to just throw ourselves into a relationship as it could affect them if it doesn’t work out. Still, the man is hot. And last night…
I shake my head. “Get a grip, Maddie,” I tell myself. And with that, I start focusing on the kids and get swept away by the beauty of our surroundings instead.
A few hours later, we conclude our tour with lunch at the gardens and then return to the hotel suite. I take Carmen directly to her room, Carmen yawns and rubs her eyes, clearly ready for a nap. Damien disappears into the living room to catch up on schoolwork, while I tuck Carmen in for her afternoon nap.
"Sweet dreams, sweetheart," I murmur as she cuddles her favorite stuffed animal.
"Love you, Maddie," she mumbles sleepily before drifting off.
“Aww, thank you sweetie,” I say, momentarily stunned by her words. The other kids I’ve nannied have had mothers. None of them have told me they love me and as moved as I am and as much as I hope Roland and I have a future, this scares me. What if we don’t have a future? What then?
I take a deep breath. Even if Roland and I don’t work out, I can still see Carmen. And even if the job doesn’t work out (or I finally get to work as a yoga teacher full-time) I can see her. If Roland lets me, that is. I will have to talk to him about that. The last thing I want to do is hurt Carmen.
I step out of her room and close the door gently behind me. My phone buzzes with a text from Roland, and I can't help but grin as I read his message.
The meeting went well. Now doing interviews. Last night was... hot.
My cheeks flush at the mention of our nightly activities, and I bite my lip as I type a response.
Happy to hear that everything's going well. We're just getting some rest before heading to the zoo.
"Enjoy the zoo. I wish I could be there. I have to interview potential team members for hours, then I’ll grab dinner with Brett. Talk later," he replies, and I sigh, wishing he could join us too.
Later, xx.
Xxx.
I blush again as I read his message. I hope those x’s mean what I think they do. I can’t wait for tonight…
I do a few yoga stretches then sit down to do some schoolwork of my own, Damien working quietly next to me.
Two hours later, Carmen wakes up from her nap, bright-eyed and ready for more adventure. I gather our things and head out with Damien and Carmen, excited to explore the Frankfurt Zoo together.
"Look, Maddie!" Carmen exclaims, pointing at a group of flamingos wading gracefully through the water. "They're so pink and pretty!"
"Indeed, they are," I agree, snapping a few pictures to send to Roland later.
"Hey, do you think we'll see any lions today?" Damien asks, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Of course! The big cats exhibit is one of the best parts of the zoo," I assure him, earning a wide grin in response.
As we wander through the zoo, admiring the diverse animals and habitats, my thoughts inevitably drift back to Roland. Time and time again I have to bring myself back to the moment.
"Hey, Maddie, what's your favorite animal?" Carmen asks, just as I’m considering what a half-naked Roland is going to do to me tonight.
"Uhm, I'd have to say... elephants," I answer, trying to refocus on our surroundings.
"Really? Why?"
"They're wise, gentle, and strong. They're amazing creatures."
