She's Just the Nanny

Chapter Nine

"Your father is here to see you, Nathaniel." Emily said as she entered his office.

"Send him in."

Emily nodded and exited the room again. "Nate, how is everything going with the company?" Garry Cashvian asked. "It's going good Dad." Nate said a bit impatiently. "Not to be disrespectful, Dad. But what are you doing here?" He said, cutting to the chase.

"I came to invite you, Brooke and Luke over to our house this weekend. Oh and bring Aiden as well."

Nate thought about it. He was not sure whether he should invite Brooke, he still felt slightly weird because he haven't really spoken to Brooke after she saw him and Hailey together in the kitchen. He left early in this morning, to avoid seeing her. He could not help but feel guilty and he did not even know why he felt this way. She did not even seem to care at all and that upset him more than it should have.

He was certain that they had a moment that morning but when she pushed him away before he could kiss her he certainly felt a little hurt. That is when he knew that he needed a distraction. He called Hailey later the afternoon when his father came to fetch Luke for the night. He needed to get his mind off of Brooke.

"I'll talk to Brooke and find out if she has plans for this weekend but other than that Luke and I will definitely come." Gary smiled at that and nodded his head before leaving. Nate checked the time on his computer and saw that it was almost home time. He started packing up.

On his way out he stopped by Aiden's office. "Nate?"

"My Dad stopped by and asked me to invite you to their house this. Are you free?"

"Yeah sure, I don't have any plans." Nate nodded his head before leaving.

Brooke and Luke just finished eating when Nate arrived at home. Luke was fully dressed in his pajamas and was ready to go to bed. "Daddy!" He ran to Nate, the minute he stepped inside. His adorable little face always lit up when his dad got home.

"Hey there my little man." Nate put down his briefcase and picked Luke up. "Have you been a good boy to Brooke?"

"Yes a very, very good boy." He nodded his head up and down. Nate kissed him on his forehead before putting him down on the ground. Brooke could not help but admire the view. Nate was a very good father. It always warmed her heart to see these fatherly moments that they always had.

She could not help but think back at last night when she saw him with that woman. She hated that it hurt so much. This was not supposed to happen. She knew that he does not stick to one woman and she had allowed herself to think of him as more than her boss.

"Brooke, how was your day?" Nate turned his attention to her when Luke went to his room to go sleep. He gave her a warm smile that made her heart rate sped up. Stop this Brooke! She cleared her throat and then gave him a small smile.

"It was okay, same as every other day." She answered. There was an awkward silence before they both opened their mouths to speak but then closed it again.

"You go first." Brooke said. "Well my Dad came to my office today and asked if we could spend the weekend at their house. They live in Boston, only a 2 hour drive from here. I just wanted to know if you are going to be free this weekend."

"Uh yeah, it would be nice actually." Brooke smiled at him. "That is great!" Nate returned the smile. When Nate walked upstairs Brooke's smile faltered.

Her mother, Catherine always went to Boston. Whenever she left home to spend her husband's money it would be in Boston.

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"So are you excited? You are going spend the weekend with Nathaniel's family." Cara asked. Brooke asked Nate if she could visit Cara because she still wanted to pay her a visit before they left.

"I'm not that excited, Catherine always went there but seeing his family and their house, that would be nice, yes. Getting to see where he grew up. Aren't you happy though? You get to go home today."

Brooke took Jayra out of Cara's arms while speaking to her. "I'm more than happy. The doctors said Jayra is as healthy as any other normal baby, her weight is just a bit different." Brooke smiled, she was glad to know her godchild was healthy.

"I gotta go now. Love you Cara, and love you little one." Brooke kissed Jayra on the forehead before handing her over to her smiling mother. Cara smiled down at her child and Brooke could not help but feel a pang of jealousy. She wanted a family of her own. Brooke sighed before leaving the hospital to go and pack her clothes.

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"...and this room was/is Nate's room." Tasha Cashvian ended off the tour she was giving Brooke of her house. Their house was amazingly big. Nate's room didn't surprise her at all it was the typical teenage guy room.

"His room has not changed one bit." Tasha said. The walls were a grey colour and the curtains matching it as well as the king sized bed. There were a few posters of a few bands on his room.

The one poster that stood out to Brooke was the big poster of Superman. "Superman?" Brooked asked pointing to the poster. Tasha smiled.

"Yes, when Nate was younger he was obsessed with Superman. When we would go sleep Nate would dress up as Superman and pretend that he was him and he'll jump on the bed like he was flying. One evening Garry and I woke up of the noise and we found Nate on the floor his arm twisted -he broke it- because he wanted to fly for real and he stood on his table that was very high at that time for a seven year old boy and he jumped down. We entered the room and Nate was crying, we asked him what happened and with tear filled eyes he muttered, 'I wanted to be Superman and fly'."

Brooke doubled over in laughter. "Seriously?" She asked in between laughs. "Yeah, seriously. Nate had a mind of his own and when set his mind on something, no one was going to tell him otherwise." That sounded like Nate to Brooke.

"Mom, why is Brooke laughing so hard?" Nate came into view, a worried expression on his face. "Oh nothing." Tasha had a sly smile on her face and realization crossed Nate's features.

"Oh no Mom, you didn't tell her about Superman did you?" Tasha chuckled. "I couldn't resist Nate I just couldn't." Tasha laughed before going downstairs.

When Brooke recovered from her laugh she looked at Nate. "Nice going, Clark Kent." Brooke winked at him. Nate laughed. "What? You have to admit now I would pull off an awesome Clark Kent I just need glasses and I'll look exactly like him." He playfully wiggled his eyebrows at her and Brooke chuckled. "Yeah, yeah maybe in your wildest dreams." They both laughed before going into silence.

Suddenly their eyes were glued to each other, not either of them looking away. Nate moved a few steps closer to her and her breath caught in her throat.

"Hey, Mom said you must go come down. She made something to eat." Justine suddenly said as she made an appearance. Both Brooke and Nate looked away, coughing awkwardly.

Justine narrowed her eyes and looked between the two of them and then her eyes twinkled of amusement "I totally interrupted something didn't I?" She asked looking amused. Nate did not say anything he just rolled his eyes at her before going downstairs.

"I'll see you downstairs Brooke." Justine followed after her brother. Brooke sighed heavily, she hated that she wanted to kiss him again. What happened to not falling for his ways? Brooke felt like hitting herself.

Brooke entered the dining room and saw everyone was seated already. They left a seat open for Brooke between Luke and Nate.

"So Brooke, tell me. How is the life of working for Nate going for you?" Aiden asked her. Everyone else was in their own conversation and she was busy feeding Luke. "It has been great. I actually have a lot of time to myself now. When I worked in the diner I had a lot of stuff to do and I had worries but now it's great, my only worry is Luke and he does not even count as a worry because I enjoy taking care of this little man." Brooke riffled Luke's hair and he sent her toothy grin.

"And I can see he enjoys having you around too." Aiden smiled at her before looking at Justine with a longing look in his eyes.

"You're crazy about her aren't you?" Brooke whispered so no one could hear. Aiden looked up with a surprising look on his face. It was almost like he was unaware that he kept on giving her longing looks.

"Is it that obvious?" Brooke nodded. "What is stopping you though, it's clear she feels the same about you, she keeps on sending you this looks as well."

Aiden sighed, "It is kind of complicated, actually. We already dated once before and I was really in love with her but I was stupid and immature back then and I cheated on her. Nate was so angry at me. I tried explaining to him that I made a mistake by cheating on her. I really regretted it and wanted her back so badly but he told me if I still wanted to be friends with him, I should stay away from her and ignore my feelings for her to keep her from getting hurt. Besides I don't think she has forgiven me for cheating on her and I just want her to be happy that's all."

Brooke stared at him admiring the way he spoke of Justine. If only someone could love her that way. "Wow Aiden, who would have thought that the biggest player was actually big softy." Brooke pinched his cheek, a slight blush forming on it. "Tell anyone and I'll deny it." Brooke and Aiden laughed.

"Brookie I need to wee." Luke whispered in her ear. "Excuse me." Brooke loudly excused herself from the table while picking Luke up.

Nate looked up as Brooke and his son walked away. He smiled to himself. Motherhood fit her. She would definitely make a good mother one day. She was the acting mother in Luke's life.

"Nate, she is really good for him. Promise me that you won't mess this up, son." Tasha Cashvian said.

Nate knew now that she was completely different from all the other nannies his father hired and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that even if it means containing the feeling he felt around her. He needed to find other women to distract himself. If he did not distract himself he would really go for Brooke and that could not happen. She was an important figure in Luke's life at the moment and he knew he if he were to try something with her he would only end up hurting her and that's the last thing he wanted do.

"Trust me Mom I know that now and I wouldn't mess it up." All of them looked up, surprised. "Did my brother just admit that he would not sleep with a woman? Damn this woman is changing you." Nate rolled his eyes.

"It isn't even that, I was thinking of my son and what was best for him." Tasha smiled at the words of her son. He was becoming a great father.

"Looks like Nate and I won't be hitting the clubs that much since you're getting too mature for me." Aiden teased. "Oh shut up."

Brooke and Luke came back Luke decided to take a seat on Brooke's lap. She could sense that he was getting tired. "I'll just go clean up the dishes real quick." Tasha mentioned while getting up started cleaning the table. Justine started helping her.

"Nate, would you take Luke I want to go help your mom and sister." Brooke whispered to Nate and he nodded and took his son. "She probably won't allow you, but if you want try then be my guest"

Brooke stood up and started helping. "Oh honey, you are a guest Justine and I got it covered." Brooke laughed. "Mrs. Cashvian I don't mind at all. Besides I would like to honour my father. He probably would not be too happy with me if he knew I was fed by you and I am staying in your house and I don't help with the dishes." Tasha smiled admiration in her eyes.

"Sure, if you insist."

As soon as Brooke went inside the kitchen Justine mouthed to Nate 'Marry her'. Aiden chuckled but all Nate could do was stare, deep in thought. He remembered that Sasha never wanted to lift a finger when she was here not that his mother complained but she never even offered. The more he spent time with her, the stronger these feelings grew. What if he could not stop himself anymore? Nate sighed and mentally shook these thoughts away.

When the night was over Nate showed Brooke to the guest room. She immediately fell asleep.

The next morning Nate took her and Luke for a drive. "I want to show you around and where I used to hang out as a teenager." Brooke smiled. "This stop is a small ice cream shop where Aiden and I always hung around when we wanted to talk about our newest, you know... 'flame'." He used air quotation marks. Brooke could only laugh, of course they would.

They entered the shop. When the old lady of the shop looked up her face immediately lit up. "Nathaniel, long time no see." She walked over to them and gave Nate a tight hug.

"Mrs White, it's so good to see you. This is my son Luke and this is Brooke. Brooke this is Mrs Tina White." Luke smiled shyly at Mrs White and hid behind Brooke's dress. "Nice to meet you.." Brooke said while smiling.

"Nate, I had no idea you married again. Well if you ask me I knew you and that blonde one wouldn't last, she was nothing but trouble. She reminded me of so much of someone."

Nate scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and Brooke shared the same awkward look. "Oh no Mrs White, I'm only Luke's nanny we're not married." Brooke answered since Nate seemed at a loss of words.

Mrs White gave them a sheepish grin. "Oh do pardon my big mouth." Brooke chuckled, she found Mrs White amusing. Somehow Brooke felt like she knew her already, something about her almost seemed familiar. "It's all good."

"Nate, this one is good and pretty, maybe you should marry her." Brooke felt her face turn crimson. Nate chuckled at Brooke's discomfort. "How is Mr White doing?" Nate steered the conversation in a different direction. Mrs White's face turned to one of sadness. "He passed a few years ago. Our daughter running away was just too much for him. His heart gave in."

"I'm so sorry, how are you holding up." Nate's expression looked pained.

"I'm doing fine. Jessica sent me a message telling me she was fine. She's been gone for almost 22 years. She came back when she was 26, poor Finn was so happy to see her so when she left again he passed away the year after. His heart gave in. Jess came again for her father's funeral and then went away again. I just don't know with her anymore"

"I'm so sorry that you had to go through that all alone."

"Thank you, Nathaniel. If Jess just hadn't met that awful girl she would be here with me. But enough of my stories what ice cream would you like?"

Brooke stared at the woman. She clearly went through a lot and still manages to put on a brave face and smile. "I would like the chocolate chip ice cream and a normal vanilla for my son. How about you Brooke?"

"I would like a strawberry ice cream thank you."

"Why don't you both take a seat, I'll be right with you." They took a seat, the booth closest to the window. "So Mrs. White sure is something." Brooke said the minute they were seated. "Yeah she's been through a lot. I remember her daughter, I was young when she ran away. Rumors were she fell pregnant at second and then ran away because of it."

"That's real tragic. Mrs. White is such a lovely lady." Brooke felt bad for Mrs White.

"Yes she has always been that way."

A comfortable silence fell between the two of them while they waited for Mrs. White. Brooke turned to the window to stare outside. The streets of Boston weren't that busy. She only came to Boston once with her mother when she was little but only because her father was with them.

A woman came in to Brooke's view. Brooke did a double take as she saw a very familiar face. She inhaled a sharp breath and felt all the blood drain from her face.

"Brooke! Are you okay?" Nate asked and turned to look at what she was looking at. "I'm fine, I'll be right back." She said abruptly and then ran to the bathroom and washed her face several times. "It can't be." She muttered to herself. "It really can't be."

Someone entered the bathroom and Brooke looked up, coming face to face with the person she was dreading to see.

"Mother?"