The next few days were quiet. I was so sad about Cody.

Cody was so upset that the only way to calm him was Mr Black finally giving in to his demands.

Cody wanted his grandparents. So on Tuesday night, after both myself and Oliver having such a hard time with him, Oliver brought plane tickets for Sydney. He flew with Cody and left him there for the week and flew home the next morning all by himself.

I slowly did my work as a housekeeper and I missed the noise Cody would make in this mansion. How can one little boy make such a difference?

I barely saw Mr Black as he went in and out for business. Some nights he never got home, or if he did, it was after I fell asleep and him sneaking out before I awake.

I had enjoyed my Friday night off and cuddled in to the sofa watching a movie on my tablet. It was bliss!

I did my usual housekeeping hours while Cody was gone and I prepared dinner for Mr Black on Saturday night, unsure if he was in or not. I was deep in to my book when I finally let sleep take over.

But Sunday was the day I was looking forward to. I had the whole day off! The weather was playing nice and I opted for my jeans and thigh high boots and pulled on a sky blue coloured off the shoulder knitted jumper. I brushed my hair and threw my tablet, phone, car keys and wallet in my handbag and some sunglasses on my head.

I went down the stairs and straight for the kitchen to make myself a coffee to go when I stopped short.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I gasped at the very tall woman in the fridge. She stood up straight and pulled down what looked like one of Oliver's shirts, to cover her derrière.

Her short blonde hair was in a pixie cut and flicked to one side.

"I'm sorry. I was looking for a drink." Her high pitched voice came to my ears. I felt like shrivelling away. But instead I smiled and turned around, closing the door behind me.

Oliver appeared, making me jump slightly. "Ah, Miss Kelly. Have you seen a red head, aye high?" He showed me the height with one of his hands. My eyes widened more if it was possible.

"No. Blonde, short hair, this high." I pointed to the kitchen.

"Ah." He smiled as he walked past me. I followed him with my eyes till he disappeared and I could hear a girl squealing.

I shook my head and went out the front door to my car. My initial thought of what Oliver was months ago floated in my head.

Pig.

I drove to a nice park with a large pond and made myself comfortable under a shady tree and pulled up my tablet and opened an eBook.

It was a lovely day, minimal wind, the snow gone and the sun beating.

I spent hours there, reading, watching kids play, and just staring off in to space. I enjoyed the quiet of nature as I recharged my batteries and took it all in.

I managed to get home about five that evening, getting caught red handed with the last of my sub sandwich in my hands.

"Miss Kelly. Can you please tell me what Cody's favourite book is. Apparently my mother doesn't have a copy."

"How I became a pirate." I answered immediately without thought. How could I not know that one? I read it to Cody nearly every night. "I found it in a second hand shop."

"Interesting." I heard Oliver mutter as I went to the stairs. "Miss Kelly, please follow me."

I did as I was told and went to the study and sat at the huge desk.

Mr Black pulled out a piece of paper and started scribbling on it.

"What's Cody's favourite show?"

"The Lions Guard." I asked in confusion.

"His favourite toy?"

"That teddy, the one missing its eye."

"What's its name?"

"Popeye." I said. What is this?

"Colour?"

I sighed. "It was blue, but now white. His favourite cereal is rice bubbles. He likes his crust cut off his bread and cut in to triangles. His favourite juice is apple and he won't eat anything orange right now."

"He likes puppies and kittens but his favourite animal is a Koala. Cody loves chocolate mint ice cream and it's hard to come across."

"He likes his books read with flair and every character has to have a different voice."

I know what this is. My shoulders slumped. He is replacing me. I should have guessed. I knew this day would come.

"Cody likes to help while shopping and you have to remind him every 20 minutes about going to the toilet. I usually buy him a treat when he behaves and uses his manners. Some days it's an ice cream cone, other days a new book or a small toy, his crayons need topping up every week."

"To help make him feel safe or when he is overwhelmed, I gently stroke my fingers on he's back. To help him sleep a little bit quicker, he likes his hair brushed with my fingers. He likes it when you praise him, even for the smallest things. He loves pet names, like sweetheart and his new favourite hobby since he has been here is us sneaking out behind you back to play in the snow."

I gritted my teeth with that last fact. I was angry with him now.

Oliver waited for me to say more, but there was no more left to say. I felt the lump in my throat and I tried swallowing it down.

I stood up without saying anything else and walked out of the study. I went straight to my room. I was feeling refreshed and new. Now I was back to being drained.

I dropped off my handbag and took off my boots and socks and went to the bathroom.

I ran myself a bath. Bubbles and all. I slipped in and turned the water off once it got full and I relaxed into it. It was so hot, the room was steamy and I felt at peace, for the time being.

I had my hair up in a messy top knot bun as I sunk in deeper. The water came to my lips as my ears were emerged. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the simplicity of it all.

I don't know how long I was in there, but it felt like heaven.

I looked at my fingers and saw the wrinkles in them. I smiled to myself. I should get out, I thought to myself as the bubbles slowly died, the water cooling down.

I just sat up as the bathroom door opened. It all happened at once. The door opening, Oliver calling me, 'Miss Kelly', me screaming like a banshee as Oliver replaced his words with 'Monty' and me covering myself up.

"Get out!" I cried at him.

"Oh God. I'm sorry!" He said as he stared at me. I widened my eyes with my arms across my chest, one leg weaved on top of the other.

"Out!"

"Oh right. Sorry!"

The bathroom door slammed shut and I waited a couple seconds before revealing myself and standing up. I dried myself hastily and wrapped a towel around me, leaving puddles of water everywhere.

Oliver tapped on the door. "Monty?"

"Oh Monty now?" I mumbled to myself as I made sure the towel was secure around me. "All week it has been 'Miss Kelly', now we are Monty again." I mimicked his voice as I opened the door. I was not pleased.

"What?" I snarled at him.

"I want to apologise." Oliver looked slightly embarrassed as he tried not to look at me. I wasn't exactly naked. I had a towel wrapped around me. It's not like he hasn't seen a naked woman before. Well, me now too.

"Haven't you heard of knocking?" I was still trapped in the bathroom, Oliver blocking my way.

"I did knock. You didn't answer."

I scoffed at him. "I would have heard you knock."

Suddenly Oliver's hand went to my neck and my eyes followed it. I felt the slight tug of hair.

"I reckon your ears were under water."

I opened my mouth to argue but he was right.

"So?" He got me there.

A small smile tugged at his lips. I stood there frozen, his finger tips tickled the side of my neck.

"What, what were you after me for?" I managed out in a whisper.

"You left the study looking very hurt. I wanted to see if you were alright." He replied back in a soft tone.

I frowned at Oliver as I stepped away, out of his reach. Oliver put his hand down and stepped out of the doorway.

"Yes, I'm hurt." I answered him and stepped out off the bathroom. The chill from the open balcony room had hit me as I shivered.

"How else am I going to know this stuff once you're gone?"

"I don't know, Oliver. Spend time with him. It's not going to hurt you." I growled.

I saw Oliver recoil at that.

"I needed to know,"

"Yes I know. For when you hire another nanny." I gritted my teeth as I kept my back to him. My hand was on the door knob to my room and I just wanted to get dressed.

I then remembered I had left my phone in the bathroom. With the clothes I wanted to wear. I sighed and slumped my shoulders. When is this day going to end?

"Do you think I want to hire someone else?" Oliver snapped at me as I turned to him in surprise.

"Uh..." He doesn't want to hire someone else to take my spot?

"You and I have both tried to separate Cody from you and everything we tried just made him more attached."

"Until the other day." I said sadly.

"Yes. He was mean and cruel."

"He was hurt, Oliver. Little kids don't know how to control their emotions and they get frustrated, resulting in that display he showed us."

"Have you ever done any thing like this before?" Oliver asked. "Handling children?"

"I grew up in foster homes. Sometimes there were little kids there, some times there wasn't." I shrugged as I made my way back to the bathroom.

"I can't seem to shake Cody off you though."

I half laughed. "I don't think you need to. I think I already did the damage."

I stepped in and found my clothes folded on the bench with my phone. I heard Oliver behind me. I frowned at that. Why is he following me in here.

I turned to tell him to get out but my bare foot slipped on the puddle as I slid in it. I heard a click and then I fell.

Well I thought I did. Oliver's hands were on my waist as one of my hands gripped the bench, the other had managed to land on his shoulder.

The look of surprised on his face mirrored mine.