When we pulled up to my estate, I saw Isla's eyes widen almost like they were going to pop out of their sockets. I remembered the look on her face when she remembered her name, much like Viv when I proposed to her.
"You live here?" she asked, walking behind me, clutching the small bag Clara had packed for her.
"No, I just like to park my car wherever convenient." I muttered.
"It's… very big."
"I know." Stating the obvious here wasn't the conversation I was looking forward to, much less not from some weak semblance of my wife.
James My butler stepped through the entrance. "Welcome back, sir." He greeted before turning his attention to Isla. "You must be our guest. Mr. Harrington already gave me the details. I am James. I will show you to your room. A doctor will be in first thing tomorrow morning to check on you."
"Thank you, James." Isla said and followed James into the house. I stood there pondering if I should head inside or find myself another house to stay in.
Something deep inside me told me this wasn't going to end well. I headed to the fridge and got a beer. James came back in a few minutes later.
"Is there something you would like, sir?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. Were you able to get a nanny for Grace?" I asked.
"Not yet, sir. The agency is short for now. They will notify us as soon as they have a suitable prospect. Nancy came to check on her today, though. She thought you may be back home already."
"So she comes to check on her niece only when I am home. Interesting." Nancy was my sister-in-law, and even though she was overbearing, I kept her around for Viv's sake… and Grace's.
"Have you figured out how long Isla will be staying?"
"Left to me, I would have dropped her off at the same place I found her, but Clara will kill me if she finds out. So I guess we are stuck with her."
"How is my mother?" James asked at the mention of his mother's name.
"Still a pain in my ass." I responded, downing my beer.
"I wish she passed that talent to me, sir."
I rolled my eyes. "You are a close second to the pain in my ass." I dropped the empty bottle on the kitchen counter and headed upstairs to take a sneak peek at my daughter.
I cracked the door of Grace's room open, hoping to find her asleep already, but I found Isla sitting cross-legged on Grace's bed with an open book on her lap, reading to Grace with such enthusiasm; I was sucked into the story too.
I listened until the end of the story, leaning on the doorway as Grace giggled in bed at Isla's funny faces. "Looks like you still have your reading skills."
"Daddy…" Grace said, with a lack of enthusiasm. I don't blame her. I am surprised she even grew up to understand I was her father. I couldn't stand to look at her face, so I leave before she wakes and head back home when she is almost ready for bed.
Isla jumped out of the bed at the sound of my voice. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harrington. She found me in the hallway and thought I was her new babysitter."
"Well, as of now, I guess you are." I said and strolled back out of the room.
"Mr. Harrington?" I heard her call. "Thank you."
"I will have James draft up your job description."
"Is your wife here? I would like to thank her too."
"No." I finished and walked away.
*****
I couldn't sleep. I was sleepy; it's just that I couldn't close my eyes. I was tossing and turning like the bed I was in was unfamiliar to me. I gave up on trying and got out of it.
I peeked in Grace's room and found her sleeping peacefully before heading downstairs to make a cup of tea with honey. I entered the kitchen but collided with a wall of bodies in the dark. I heard a yelp as I held on to her waist to keep her steady, the bottle of water in her hand clattering to the ground.
"Mr. Harrington… I'm so sorry." She whispered.
Sleep must be clouding my brain because I held her in place, not letting her go. I did something I had been itching to do properly since I saw her face. I ran my hands through her long, silky black hair.
"Viv…," I couldn't help the pull I felt; something was drawing me in. I bent my head slightly to kiss her, hesitant. Did Viv come back to me?
"Mr. Harrington?" She called once more, and I instantly let her go like fire was burning my hands.
"What are you doing here?" I cleared my throat and asked.
"I came for water. I forgot to take the painkillers Clara gave me before I fell asleep."
"Right. I came for a cup of tea with honey." I said it although she didn't ask.
"Oh, I can do that." I reached for the switch on the wall and turned the lights on.
"Never mind, I can make my own tea."
"It's no trouble. I told you I would like to earn my keep." She pushed.
"Fine." I sat at the breakfast table and watched her move around the kitchen gracefully in my wife's nightdress. I really had to get her a different set of clothes. Watching her all day in something so familiar was confusing for me.
She placed my tea in front of me and said her good night. "Any progress on the memory front?"
"No, Mr. Harrington."
Great. This is going to go on for a long time. I can feel it in my bones. Goddamnit, Clara!
*****
I was having breakfast when I heard Isla and Grace arguing on their way down the stairs.
"Isla, Daddy doesn't like to eat with anyone."
"You're his daughter; of course he wants to eat with you. Just have a bite with him, and you can go to school."
"Can you come with me to school, Isla?" Grace asked as they finally made it into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mr. Harrington."
"Good morning, Daddy." I nodded at both of them and got up from the table.
"Tell James I left early."
I walked out of the kitchen and out of the house, heading towards my car when I heard her call me.
"Mr. Harrington?"
I sighed heavily and turned around.
"Your daughter would like to have breakfast with you."