After his wife, Laney, passed away giving birth to their fourth child, Austin needed help. His sister-in-law assisted him in a search for a live-in nanny, and posted an ad on Care.com. The obstacle was finding someone willing to live with a single dad, most people found that a little unnerving due to the fact that there are so many creeps out there, and a single dad could take advantage.
After about a week, only one good candidate had applied, Megan. Austin and his sister-in-law, Ruby, set the interview up. The next day, Megan came over while the kids were at a cousins home. Ruby and Austin were very pleased by the way Megan conducted herself, she would be a great role model for the kids, and would be able to help them cope with the loss of their mother. Ruby and Austin stepped aside for a moment, and talked to each other, and agreed to hire the eighteen-year-old.
The following week, Megan moved in. The kids had met her over the weekend and had fallen in love with her. The kids were a six-year-old girl, four-year-old boy, three-year-old boy, and a newborn girl. Megan had a charm about her, and had a soft spot for the kids. She instantly took to housekeeper and nanny, even had a motherly touch to her.
***
The following year, Austin was missing something in his life. He missed the love from his wife. He and Laney had talked about the need to move on if one of them passed young, but he still wrestled with emotions. Laney was his true love, and while not his first, she was his high school sweetheart.
He was also, struggling with the hot nanny downstairs. At nineteen, Megan was a knockout. With her dirty blonde hair, slender body, and, plump breasts, she was causing more and more temptation, especially when he saw her with his kids. She was a natural with the kids, and the kids all admired her.
Megan was feeling attraction to Austin as well, even told her mom she didn't know what to do. She loved the kids, but wondered if it was appropriate to continue working for the family knowing her feelings were becoming inappropriate. Her mom assured her she should hang in a bit longer, and maybe something would come of it.
One day, that's exactly what happened. Bella, Zach, and Bentley were spending the night at school and Jessie, the baby, was napping when Austin walked in early from work. Megan was in the kitchen prepping dinner. Austin leaned up against the counter, and started to talk with Megan.
Eventually, without warning, Austin wrapped his right arm around Megan's waist, pressed himself against her, his left hand tilted her face up, and he kissed her deeply. After a moment of kissing, Megan pushed back. She loved it, but said, "Austin, this is wrong."
"I know, I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself, you're just gorgeous, and I'm lonely. I'm sorry I shouldn't have."
"It's okay, I know you're lonely. I just don't want you to regret it later."
"I wouldn't have." He paused, "Maybe we could go slow, and start dating, but the whole thing might just weird, but I just want you. There's something about you, and I feel like we've been dating this year you've lived here, we know each other so well."
Megan kissed him back, and said, "Let's just take it one step at a time. I agree though, there's something between us."
Austin picked her up and sat her on the counter. They continued to make-out the next ten or fifteen minutes before the older kids ran in from the bus. Austin and Megan had tried to break the kiss, jump off the counter, and straighten themselves before the kids figured something was up but weren't quick enough. Bella dropped her backpack and asked, "What are you two doing kissing?" She glared at her father and finished with, "Glad you could forget about mommy and move on." Megan's heart sunk as she and Austin watched her storm off to her room crying.
Austin had tried to stop Bella, but wasn't in time. Austin kissed Megan on the forehead, "This isn't your fault. She will learn to adjust, it'll be a bit of an adjustment for her. I'll go talk to her." Megan gave him a half smile and nodded, saying, "I just hate that as a nanny, I was supposed to love her and make her pain go away, and I caused her pain."
Austin squeezed her shoulder and went upstairs. Knocking on his daughter's door, slowly opening it, he entered. Bella was on her bed, crying into her pillow. Austin sat next to her and rubbed her back. Austin took a deep breath, and spoke carefully, "Bell, I love your mom, and always will. I know it's hard for you to see me loving someone other than your mom, but your understands."
Through the sobs you could hear, "How do you know?"
She sat up facing him, her face still red and puffy, tears streaming down her face. Austin pulled her close to him, kissed her head softly. He took a second before responding, "Your mom and I talked before she passed. We agreed if her or I died young, and you kids were young, that we needed to find someone to make us happy, and who loved you kids. Megan and I have developed feelings for each other over the time she's been here, feelings I had with your mom, I now share with Megan as well. And I would think that Megan fills the one biggest thing your mom always wanted if I was the one who was raising you kids and needed someone to love again."