chapter two,
the nanny

📺🥧🦔

"DADDY!" I exclaim as I run down the stairs. "Daddy, can we make pancakes for breakfast?" I ask.

"Sure, princess." Dad smiles. I look around. "Where's Cassidy?" I ask.

"Still sleepin'." Dad says making me nod. I go into the kitchen and pour myself a cup of coffee. "You shouldn't drink coffee, Mel."

"It keeps me awake, Daddy." I state.

"Its not good for you." Dad states. I look at his mug and he rolls his eyes. "You seein' Isobel today?" He asks making me nod.

"She's comin' over soon." I state. I take a sip of my coffee and get a pop tart from the pantry.

"Hey. Mornin'." Dad says as Bailey comes down the stairs in one of his pajama shirts.

"Oh. You're up. You're here. I'm just gonna go to the dryer and grab my clothes. Oh, by the way, that pillow top mattress, it's like I died and went to heaven. Not died. Not heaven. Oh god, Cassidy's not here, is she?" Bailey asks making dad and I chuckle.

"She's still sleepin'." I state.

"I don't remember the last time she slept this late." Dad says making me nod in agreement.

"Oh, that makes me so happy. Ok, I'm just gonna go grab my clothes." Bailey says.

"Oh, they're right here." Dad says as he picks up the folded laundry on the counter.

"You folded my laundry? No man has ever folded my laundry. Not to imply there have been so many men, but the man I was with never once folded my laundry, never once did a dish, and twice forgot my birthday." Bailey says.

"Sure can pick 'em." I say making dad look back and glare at me.

"Well, it is the least I could do. I mean, you brought my little girl back. What else can I do to thank you?" Dad asks.

"Coffee'd be nice." Bailey says.

"Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were gonna ask for cash." Dad says making me chuckle.

"How do you take it?" I ask.

"Fifties would be nice." Bailey jokes. I chuckle as I pour her a cup of coffee.

"Oh, I hope you're giving her money to buy pants. See, I know those pajamas come with pants 'cause I gave 'em to Beau for Christmas." Summer says as she comes into the room.

"Ok, well, I'm just gonna throw these pants on." Bailey says as she goes behind the counter.

"Well, Bailey, how soon can you start?" Dad asks.

"Start? I already got my second leg in." Bailey says.

"I mean, how soon can you start as our nanny? The rooms already fixed up, and you said you liked the mattress." Dad says.

"But darlin', she's not a nanny, remember?" Summer asks dad.

"She could've fooled me." I state causing Summer to look at me and God, I wish she didn't.

"I've never seen the kids respond to anybody like this." Dad says.

"Yeah, but she's not a professional. I bet she doesn't even know CPR." Summer says.

"No, I know CPR." Bailey says.

"Do you know the Heimlich?" Summer asks.

"I do." Bailey states.

"Do you know where Beau keeps the bourbon?" Summer asks. I open a cupboard and pull out a bottle of bourbon, handing it to her.

"Well, Summer's right. I'm not a nanny, I'm a singer. Been my dream since I was four years old." Bailey says.

"Well, you can't give up on your dream!" Summer says in a high pitched voice making me smile.

"Well, things are a little tougher now that my dreams turned into a nightmare. I got no money, no place to sing, nowhere to live. Maybe I should try this nanny thing." Bailey says.

"You're stayin'?" Brody asks as he and Tuck enter the house.

"Yes, she's stayin'!" Tuck exclaims.

"Hold on. She hasn't said yes yet." Dad says.

"Let me handle this, Daddy. Name your price, Bailey. Everybody's got a price. And don't settle. He squeezes the quarter so tight, the eagle screams." Dylan says.

"Oh my god, can you stop talking about the screamin' eagle?" I ask.

"But Bailey doesn't want to be a nanny, she wants to be a singer." Summer states.

"Well, why can't you be a nanny and a singer?" I ask.

"Yeah, Maria from The Sound of Music was a singer, a nanny, and a nun." Chloe points out.

"That horse has already left the barn." Bailey says making me choke on my coffee.

"I don't get it." Chloe says.

"Good." Dad says as he looks at Chloe. Then he looks at me. "Not good."

"Bailey, if you move in with us, you'll have an even better shot at being a singer. Trust me. You got talent, kid. The only reason you haven't made it is because you've been lacking decent management. But the good news is, you stay here, I'm willing to offer you a mere twenty percent." Dylan says.

"When can I beat his teeth in, Daddy?" I ask.

"Never would be good." He says.

"Managers only charge ten." Bailey says.

"Fifteen it is." Dylan says as he shakes Bailey's hand. Cassidy comes down the stairs making us all look at her.

"Well, morning, sleepyhead." Dad says.

"What time is it?" Cassidy asks.

"Time to celebrate." Brody says.

"Please don't ever say that again." I order making the boy nod.

"Bailey's gonna be our new nanny!" Chloe exclaims.

"Unless you have any objections, Cass." Tuck says making Cassidy smile.

"But she is not a nanny, Cassidy. And I appeal to you, as the responsible lady of the house, do you think it's a good idea to put your life and the lives of your siblings in the hands of someone who's just not a professional?" Summer asks.

I roll my eyes and continue drinking my coffee. "Let me tell you a little story, Summer. Once upon a time, we had a chicken named Naomi." Cassidy starts.

"Oh, here we go." I whisper to myself.

"Mama named her after Naomi Judd 'cause they both battled depression. Well, we found out the reason our Naomi was so sad was 'cause she was laying fewer and fewer eggs, and started to feel like the best years of her life were behind her. I feel like that's what's happening to Bailey." Cassidy says.

"Huh?" Bailey asks.

"I mean, what has she got left? She lost her man, her home, her career. And like Naomi, she's no spring chicken." Cassidy states.

"Huh?" Bailey asks again.

Summer starts laughing. "What are you sayin' darlin'?" Summer asks.

"She's sayin', we didn't get rid of Naomi." I state.

"How do they do that?" Tuck asks.

"So you want me to stay?" Bailey asks.

"Who else is gonna take you?" Cassidy asks.

"No one!" Bailey states. We all hug Bailey and dad smiles.

"Well, welcome to the family, Naomi." Dad says making us laugh.

Someone knocks on the back door and we all turn our heads to see Isobel and her mom standing there.

The door opens and Isobel runs up and hugs me. "God, feels like I haven't seen you in months, Mel." She says making me chuckle.

"I saw you the other day, Izzy." I laugh.

"The tornado really shook us up." She says making me nod in agreement. We part and she looks behind me. "Who's that?"

I look behind me and notice that she's looking at Bailey. "That's our new nanny." I state.

"What happened to the other nine?" Isobel's mom asks.

"In the basement." Bailey says making everyone laugh.

📺🥧🦔

^outfit^