I followed him as he carried his son on his shoulders. I could not pull my eyes from his tall athletic figure. The little boy kept turning back to call at me. We had become friends in the few weeks since his mother, estranged from the tall man ahead of me, had employed me to look after her two children.
Then, out of the blue, the children's father had appeared as if by magic. The moment I laid eyes on him my body rioted against me. True, he was no longer living with my mistress, but legally he was her husband. So I should have zero interest in him, yet my heart was racing, my breathing had become irregular, and all my internal organs were in a riot. I had to stop these feelings before they ruined many lives!
Only a week later an event changed the course of all our lives. The younger child, a girl had an accident. Falling from some height, she suffered a broken femur and was hospitalised. Of course the mother had to be there. I was left with the young boy at home. I prayed and prayed that their father would come to see his son. And late one afternoon, just after dark there was a knock on the door. With dry throat I croaked a welcome. It was he!
He poked his head inside and smiled at his son then came in. He greeted me by a loose hug, which nevertheless excited me all through. He asked me for a glass of water as he sat down. I tried to behave well during his short stay but found myself passing close to where he sat so that he would be tempted to touch me somewhere, even a brush against my hand. Twice his hand touched mine but I felt it was by accident.
The meal I was preparing for my little charge and myself was nearly ready. I said to the boy, "After we eat daddy will sleep here, won't he?"
"Daddy won't you spend the night here?" patting the sofa.
"I can't fit onto that, Nyoiks!"
"Please daddy, do not leave us alone. We get very scared at night without mummy!" implored the little angel, pushing for my cause unwittingly.
Quickly I served the meal. I caught Daddy staring at the backs of my thighs as I was bent over at my tasks.