Page 17 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“It’s odd, though. I took weeks for Michaela to open up to me.”

“Really? Weeks?”

“Oh yes. The boys are open to just about everyone. As you’ve witnessed firsthand.”

“They came and jumped on my bed to wake me up a few days ago. So yes,” I said with a giggle, “I know what you’re talking about.”

“But Michaela? She’s always so serious and reserved. But she’s really taken a liking to you. I think you’ll do just fine.”

“That means a lot coming from you, Miss Gertrude.”

“If I could pass on one piece of advice, it would be this. Have patience with Anya.”

“Their mother?” I asked.

“Yes. I always try to be sympathetic towards the mothers, no matter what light is shed on them. There’s a biological imperative that comes with being a mother, and even though she has her trials and tribulations, that biological imperative is still surging through her veins. Despite her struggles and how the media portrays her, she’s a woman who gave birth. A woman who grew a child.”

“Maybe one day I’ll know what that’s like,” I said.

“Do you want children?”

“Always have. I’ve always wanted to try and raise them better than I was raised.”

“All parents have their good parts and their bad parts.”

“Yeah, well. Mostly bad parts for mine,” I said.

“Patience, child. Patience is something we could all use a little more of. That and understanding.”

“So where will you go after you’re done here?” I asked. “You’ve been here for, what? Five years? Six years?”

“Six years, yes. I’m retiring, actually. Friday’s my last day nannying period.”

“Oh, wow. Have you been doing it all your life?” I asked.

“Ever since I was a little girl taking care of my younger siblings. My mother was an interesting woman. Drank a little too much and used her body to bring in what little money we had.”

“Wait, are you serious?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. She was a hardened woman. Strong in all the wrong ways. I can remember her in her older years. She always had a cigarette hanging from her lips and a glass of putrid wine in her hand. She raised seven children on the measly money she pulled in from being the town’s stress release. And we all knew it. But once I looked past what my mother did for money, I realized something.”

“What?” I asked.

“She did it to feed us,” I said. “She owned up to the risks of her choice of career. Seven children by seven different fathers, and not once did she consider abortion an option. Maybe because she couldn't afford it, or maybe she didn’t want to live with it. I don’t know. But the bottom line was, she did what she did so we could eat. Have clothes. They weren’t the best, but we never went without because of her. That’s why I always tell people to have patience and understanding. Because the motives for someone’s actions aren’t always selfish.”

I learned as much as I could from that woman in the two weeks we were together. And not a day went by where she didn’t try to teach me some sort of lesson. I could see why the children would miss her. I would miss her and I’d only known her twelve days. The children were slowly transitioning over to me. Asking me to do things while Gertrude stayed in the background cooking and cleaning.

But then, an odd request came from Jace the last day Gertrude was there.

“Could I ask you for one last favor, Miss Gertrude?”

“Of course you can, Mr. Logan.”

“Six years and I never once got you to call me by my name. Why is that?” he asked.

“Is that your favor?”

“No, no. I’m just curious,” he said.

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