Blackmailed For Love

Chapter 36: Mama missed you too Elsa

When I unlocked my apartment door I found Anna, my little angel, standing in the foyer waiting for me as she must've heard the key turning in the lock.

The moment I entered, she ran to me and threw her arms around me, engulfing me in her sweet scent and soft affection.

2 My heart melted and since morning for the first time I felt my shoulders relaxing as I hugged her tightly and she almost choked me with how tight she was gripping me.

But I didn't care I would die a hundred times like this knowing my baby was there till the end but my daughter needed her mother so I wasn't going to go anywhere.

1 "Mama, missed you too, angel."

I murmured as I pressed soft kisses on her head and temple.

When I stood up, I picked her up with me.

It was the first time that I had left her alone, otherwise Mom was always here to keep an eye on her and she had always made sure that Anna wouldn't feel lonely.

But now I could feel it more than I saw it that my daughter didn't like it here all alone, and I even liked it less to leave her like this without any supervision.

But I didn't have any choice today.

2 I walked with her to the kitchen, throwing my bag on the sofa as I went.

I sat her down on the kitchen counter but she was reluctant to release her hold on me and I had to blink several times to control my tears.

I cupped her face and kissed her forehead, cheeks, nose and lips softly.

I said, "Let Mama wash her hands then we'll eat lunch together."

"Pizza?"

She asked with her grey eyes looking so hopeful.

I tweaked her nose and shook my nope.

I said, "We had pizza last night.

Now, we are going to eat something healthy."

"Healthy is not tasty."

She pouted.

"But tasty food doesn't make us strong and fit."

She made a face and I couldn't help but press another soft kiss on her head before I turned around and went to the sink to wash my hands.

I asked her what she did in my absence and heard her retelling me the story of one of the cartoons she watches and that she did all her sums I had left in her notebook while I found all the things I needed in the refrigerator to make us a nice lunch.

1 It took me half an hour to prepare veg lentil soup and rice with beans and carrots.

And while I prepared our lunch, my little angel appeased her own curiosity.

"Where is Gammy? Why isn't she with you?"

"She is in the hospital.

She will return tomorrow in the noon."

I answered her, keeping my voice level.

"Is she okay?"

At the plaintive note in her voice, I turned to her and stood up between her small swinging legs as I answered, "She will be.

You remember, I told you that Gammy was sick…"

She nodded.

I said, "So, she's getting better in the hospital.

The doctor there is looking after her and giving her new medicines to make her well again."

I touched a dark curl behind her ear.

She asked, "Are you going to leave me alone tomorrow too?"

"I was thinking maybe you'd like to go downstairs again."

Her eyes went wide with excitement and I said, "We could find a really nice babysitter for you and you would get a chance to spend some time with other kids too while I'll go to work and pick up your Gammy from the hospital."

"I would like it!"

She managed to barely hold her squeal of delight.

I pinched her cheek softly and said with a pout, "And I thought you would miss me."

Her small hands clasped my cheek as she leaned closer and pressed her forehead against mine.

"Of course, I will miss you, Mama.

But I want to make new friends."

"Come on, then.

After we finish our lunch, we will call downstairs and meet the babysitters.

You get to choose the one you like, how does that sound?"

1 "Awesome!"

She whooped.

After the free guess if our lunch, I talked to my mom on the nurse's phone and made a note to buy two new phones.

One for Mom and one for my little angel in case I had to leave her alone again but I will make sure it won't happen as I couldn't feel her sadness like I felt today.

My little angel was too small to feel that kind of sadness.

1 Later that evening, we were sitting on the floor when the door bell rang and another girl came for the babysitting job.

The speaker on the phone had told me about their babysitting company, Toddles sitters company had several branches in the city and they look after the kids from age four to ten.

The last babysitter that had come didn't feel like someone I would want my baby with.

She talked and behaved like she was doing this job just because she had to and didn't have any other options, so I politely told her that I will let the company know and then I asked them to send someone else.

This time I was hoping that this would be someone my angel would feel comfortable with.

And when I opened the door and came face to face with a girl who looked even shorter than me, if that was even possible.

She had very beautiful set of hazel eyes on her oval face and her cheeks looked pink as if she had made a run to the fifty eighth floor instead of taking the elevator but I knew it must be her nervousness because there were no stairwells here.

"Hi, I am Bianca.

I'm here for the interview for babysitting your daughter."

She said she looked uncomfortable like she was expecting me to deny her claim.

"Oh, yes, please come inside."

I tried as I took a step back, giving her space to enter.

She stepped inside and gave me a warm smile.

When we reached the sitting area, I called Anna to come and sit with us.

I asked Bianca a few basic questions like why she was doing this and how many hours she'd be able to give.

"Do you have any siblings, Bianca?"

I asked as I put down a cup of coffee for her.

For the first time her features brightened and she looked relaxed as she answered, "Yes, I have a brother who's two years younger than me and a sister who's just five."

"I am five, but I'm going to be six soon."

Anna piped up, edging closer to Bianca.

I smiled softly as I knew that Bianca's soft nature was calling to my little girl.

"How old are you?" Anna asked.