So, I wanted to put this story up in one piece but it ran long and I got tired of writing. *shrug* Second part coming soon. Hope you like it.
*****
Life's a bitch, ain't it? Here I was, 25 and practically homeless with a three month old. I used to have it all together. I was in college at my lovely Alabama State, about to start my clinicals when I met a man. Isn't that how it usually goes? A man sweeps in and ruins everything.
John was a guy I met in med school. He was going to graduate and convinced me that my life started with him. I was dumb enough to believe him and earned a good disowning from my family when I left with him for the north. You should really listen to the people that love you, especially when it's about someone you think you love.
He convinced me not to go back to school and that he would take care of me. Of course, he didn't marry me because "it's only a ring and you know how I feel about you" was his mantra. Alas, I was blinded by love and my eyes weren't opened until there was a blue line on a white stick.
He seemed excited at first, really excited and I believed him. John was Super Dad the whole way through the pregnancy until I gave birth to Morgan. He then grew distant more and more until one day I came home to an empty house and a letter that said he signed over all parental rights (see: responsibility) and wished me the best of luck. I was left with my student loans, the apartment I couldn't afford, no income, dwindling savings, and a little girl who had no one in the world but me.
I didn't know what to do. I put my forehead to the cool kitchen table and sighed. I couldn't cry anymore. No, something else had to be done. I couldn't leave my daughter at home so I took her to interviews with me. Forewarning, it's not exactly what employers were looking for. I'd sent my lackluster resume to every place I could. I think I even applied at a dog washer and got turned down. My parents still weren't returning my call and I was at the end of my rope until my cell phone rang.
The voice on the other line was strangely accented. "Is this Cordelia Sanders?"
"This is she. Who is this?" I sat up in the kitchen chair.
"This is Sven Aas. You applied for the housekeeper position. When can you start?"
My face flushed with excitement. I never thought I'd get the position. It was too good to be true, a housekeeper for a professor with really good pay. I expected having to live with a bespectacled pot bellied man who'd make nothing but Dad and "I'm too smart for you" jokes but it was a dream job. "I-uh, immediately. This is the live in position is that correct?"
"Yes it is? Can you begin today?"
"Mr. Aas, I have to tell you, I have a daughter. She would be living with me." I said a silent prayer of hope.
"How old is she?"
"Three months."
"Oh good. Yes, there is room for her. That is fine. Should I send a truck for your things now? How quickly can you be packed?"
I was shocked by how eager he was for a housekeeper. I looked around the apartment. Morgan and I had been living out of boxes and suitcases because I never knew when the day would arrive that the landlord's grace would come to an end. "I'm packed."
"Underbart! Let's get you here as soon as possible, my flight is tonight."
We ended the call and I prayed that I was making the right decision. I gathered up Morgan and rocked with her as we waited for the movers. The men who came were from a high end company; they were quick and courteous and did their best not to disturb my baby. I looked around the empty apartment one last time before taking the keys and turning them in to the landlord. He took my promise of the back rent because he knew I was honest but I left a diamond necklace from my first cotillion as collateral anyway. I thanked him for everything before heading to my car.
I buckled my daughter in the back seat of and drove out to the address that Sven sent in a text. It was a gorgeous two story brick house in a nice neighborhood with tree lined streets that would turn beautiful colors as fall arrived. Some blonde giant was in the front yard guiding the movers. I parked in front of the house and moved around to unbuckle and unlock Morgan.
The giant spun in our direction. "Oh hi Cordelia! I'm glad you made it safely!"
I was taken aback. He was huge and handsome. Something like if Thor, a super model, and a lumberjack had a sanctified threesome, Sven would be the result. I looked up at him as I walked closer, Morgan's carrier seat handle gripped in both hands. "Hello Mr. Aas."
"Sven is fine! Is this your gorgeous little girl? Hello, little lady." He squatted down and made faces until my daughter stretched and giggled in her seat.
I couldn't help but smile myself. He radiated a goofy happiness about him that was unbearably infectious. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sven. Yes , this is my Morgan."
He stood and smiled. "Pretty name, pretty girl, pretty Mommy. Here you are." He handed me a set of keys and a garage opener. "I'll be at the conference for two weeks, so you'll have some space and time to settle in."
I took it all in, still a little shocked by his sudden openness. "A-Alright."
"Good! Your first check is on kitchen table as well as a little extra for groceries and something nice for little Morgan. Bye little ladies!" He waved to us before heading for an SUV and taking off down the road. I stared after him before walking into the house. It was beautiful and had a sporadic neatness to it. There were little, well maintained messes here and there but overall the house felt clean and inviting.
I walked into the kitchen. It was spotless and stainless steel and I got the feeling that Sven was not a big cook. On the table was a check for $5000. It seemed unreal, it all seemed unreal. It was like I was in a waking dream.
The movers were working upstairs so I went back into the living room and sat Morgan's carrier next to the sofa. I unbuckled her and snuggled her into my arms, sitting down so I was out of the way. She cooed softly and tugged at one of my braids. The men finally came down after a half hour.
"We've set up both your bed and all of the nursery equipment. Mr. Aas already tipped us, so is there anything else you need moved before we leave?"
"No, that's it. Thank you so much gentlemen. Have a wonderful night."
"You do the same." They all smiled and a few waved to Morgan who giggled again. I was blessed with a happy baby.
I locked the door behind them before heading upstairs to examine the rooms. They'd left the lights on and I was forever grateful as we were down the hall as I didn't want to roll into Sven's room, even if he wasn't there. My room was first.
The high ceilings made my king bed and dresser look diminutive is comparison. The walls were still white and the carpet was thick and plush. Boxes were stacked neatly against a wall and a huge window dominated one side of the room. There were two doors other than the one I came through. One went to a walk-in closet and the other went to a big beautiful bathroom with two sinks, a standing shower and a garden tub. The bathroom had a big closet for towels and soaps and then another door that connected it to the nursery.
The nursery was as big as my room and the men had taken care to put together all of Morgan's furniture and even put one of her stuffed animals onto the crib's mattress. I cuddled her and moved to sit in the pink rocking chair next to her mermaid lamp.
"I think we're going to like it here." I cooed as I kissed her forehead.
The next day, I deposited the check and it cleared without any problem. It took most of it to pay back my landlord and get my bills together but there was more than enough left for food since I was still breast feeding. Morgan and I got to live like queens for the first time since she was born.
The days seemed to pass by like a dream. I checked the mail, cleaned the house, cooked, and spent the rest of my time with Morgan. I didn't notice how much time had passed until Sven came through the door. I stared at him like a dear in the headlights in a short thin cotton dress.
"Hi Cordelia!" He didn't seem to mind at all.
"Hello Sven, how was the conference?"
"Underbart! I got you this..." He set a snapback with the conference's logo on my head and then held up a teddy bear in a matching shirt. "And this is for tiny Morgan. Is she sleeping?"
"Thank you." I was genuinely happy, he didn't have to get anything for us but he did. "Yes but she'll love it. Are you hungry?"
"I am." He grinned, setting down his bags.
I nodded and made him a big plate of the spaghetti that I had just made. I set it down on the kitchen table with a saucer of garlic bread I'd made from scratch. Sven thanked me but paused his fork. "Eat with me?"
"Sure!" I smiled and joined him at the table with my own plate and garlic bread and we ate happily as I listened to him talk about the conference and his work.
And so it went with Sven and I. I would take care of the house and when he came home, I would hear about his classes and he would ask about my day. He overpaid me and though I would try to refuse, he insisted that his extra was a gift for Morgan. She was always being spoiled by him with attention. He would buy teaching tools and videos and just sit on the floor with her going over them. I would have to break it up to take her off to breastfeed but after a while, we just got so comfortable that I could sit on the sofa and we'd talk as she suckled away. After she was done eating, she'd either take a nap or go right back to her lessons. There was a weird sort of energy between us that just seemed to work.
As time went on, comfort settled in over everything. One Saturday I came in for Sven's laundry while he was still in bed. He always slept in on the weekend so he grumbled at my intrusion.
"Sorry... Sorry... I'll be in and out in five minutes. " I tried to tip toe through the room to his closet but he grumbled something in Swedish and lifted up his cover in invitation. "What?"
