Nothing Without Love

Josephine's POV- 6 months later

“Don't be nervous, you'll be fine.” Adam assures me as I keep checking myself in the mirror. It's a nervous habit of mine, to mess with my hair or tap with my fingernails on the closes table. It might appear that I'm bored but mainly it's just that something is always moving on me.

“I'm fine.” I shake my head as if I would ever be nervous.

“Do you know who the interview is with?” He asks, pulling out a slice of cheese for his sandwich. His second sandwich for lunch if I may add.

“No. I just sign up with the company and then when a family requests a nanny, they send them applicants based on what the family says and then they pick who they want to interview.” I explain to him.

“So you're going to work with celebrities?” He speaks with a mouthful and I'm sure my face reacts with disgust. Just because I grew up the only girl in the house doesn't mean that I didn't pick up on some manners. By some miracle.

“Maybe.” I shrug. “I gotta go, we're meeting at a restaurant and I don't want to be late.” Instead of a traditional kiss on the cheek Adam high fives me as his mouth is full and wishes me good luck on my way out. LA is so hot this time of year, it's August and I can't even fathom living in a place with out air conditioning or driving a car without it. Ophelia did for two weeks when her AC was out on her car, she told me she was usually dripping wet by the time she would get to where she needed to be. The heat and LA traffic don't really mix.

We're meeting at an easy to find place, actually just a few minutes from my place. I've had a few of these interviews before but nothing really came of them. I was okay with it, you can usually tell if you're going to click with someone in the first five minutes, and the others just didn't have it. I'm still about ten minutes early, oddly enough I can find a spot right in the front. I fill the meter with quarters, its so hot out I know I'm not going to sit outside. I put the reservations under my name, actually the company I go through sets up these interviews and they make the reservations, but to protect the family, it's always set under the potential nanny's name.

I'm guided to an empty table and I wait patiently as the waiter fills up my water glass, I gesture for her to fill the other spot as well. I notice it's a two person table as opposed to a four person table so I can assume that quite possibly it's either a single mom, or one with a very busy husband.

“Hi, are you Josephine?” A woman comes from behind my chair and I notice her slight English accent.

“Yes, hi, I'm Josephine, you can call me Josie.” I inform her as we shake hands briefly.

“I'm Erica, it's nice to meet you.” I notice that Erica is quite pregnant, likely due at any time. It almost makes me nervous that she's out and about alone. “Thank you for meeting with me, I'm starving.” She laughs to herself as she starts looking at the menu. I've been so nervous that I haven't even looked. Another perk to the company, they pick up the tab.

The waiter comes over and asks for our order, Erica ordering a taco salad with extra black olives, myself ordering a southwest chicken sandwich. They bring over a bowl of salad and crackers, I watch as Erica all but snatches the tongs from the side and starts filling up her plate.

“I'm so sorry about my manners, I've just gotten out of a doctors appointment and I was there for what felt like hours.” She has a heaping bowl of salad as she starts crunching her crackers to top upon her bowl. It's quite comical.

“It's quite all right, I grew up with an older brother, his friends were always at my house making messes.” I take two scoops of salad and settle in.

“So Josie, tell me about yourself.” She starts, she looks so familiar but I really just can't put my finger on it.

“Well, I graduated from USC three years ago with an Elementary Education degree, taught for two years at Whitmore Elementary, kindergarten, but to be honest my heart just wasn't in it. I had so many good memories but the constant testing, the standards, the lesson plans, it was something that didn't interest me. I've been working at a preschool over the summer and I just love it but I really want to work one on one with a child or two.” I tell her. I feel like I've practiced this answer a million times, it's always one that gets asked.

“Ah, very cool. I like that. This is actually the only one you'll have.” She points to her stomach.

“When are you due?” I ask.

“September thirteenth, his dad's birthday. Sorry he's not here, he wanted to come but he's got quite a busy schedule right now and we just couldn't make it work.” She explains between bites of lettuce.

“That's all right.” I respond. We exchange questions a few more times, mostly her asking the questions and myself chatting away. We laugh quite a bit, she's quite easy to talk to.

“So the position would be a live in spot. We have an apartment over our garage that has it's own kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, and laundry. It also has it's own entrance separate from the house. Of course it is still attached to the house through a walkway. You'll get days and even some weekends off. And to be honest, a lot of times Niall or I will be there, but I have P.h.D. Courses I'll be taking that I need to focus on and Niall will be busy in the basement in the studio.” I'm sure my eyes are wide right now. No fucking way. She is not talking about Niall Horan. It all clicks in my head as I remember Niall marrying his former housekeeper, Erica, whom he was secretly in love with. I remember this huge interview he did after they had gotten together, the boys all teasing him. It was big on social media for days. I hadn't realized he was to be a father.

I think of Louis for a split second, but then calm myself knowing that he won't be coming around as he still lives in London, he won't really be visiting LA. At least I hope not, that will be awkward. Damn it, I thought this world was suppose to be big.

“I'm sorry, I haven't mention my husband, Niall Horan. He was in One Direction, some people know, some people don't. He's a singer on his own now which is why we live in LA, the scene is better, even though I'm not a huge fan. No offense if it's your hometown, I'm just used to London.” She explains. “And the job would start in probably two weeks. Mainly just because this baby will be making an appearance before we know it!” She sounds excited but I know a lot of friends who are soon to be moms that are extremely nervous.

“Do you know what you're having?” I ask.

“No, Niall really wanted to know, like really bad, but I talked him out of it. I want at least one surprise. But I think it's a boy.” She rubs her belly just slightly, smiling. “So do you think you're up for it?” She asks, smiling.

“Yes!” I exclaim probably a little too quickly but things seem to be easy with Erica, I think we'll get along just fine.

“Oh thank God! I've been interviewing potential nanny's for months and no one has seemed to click as easy as you and I do. Might sound odd I guess but I'm big with first impressions.” She finishes up her entire plate of taco salad. “Oh, Niall would be so proud of me.” She laughs. It makes me smile, the way he talks about him, you can just see a sparkle in her when she brings up his name.

“Well I'm excited.” A brand new baby, I've never really been around them for long periods of time but I'm excited for a new adventure.

“Me too, I'll be calling Niall and maybe we can set up a time that all three of us can meet.” I agree and we exchange numbers, I feel like this was the easiest interview I've ever had. Almost like I was chatting with a friend and not someone I had just met.

“All right, well I'll see you in about a week? You can stop over to the house and we can show you around, show you the space where you'd be living and we can go from there!” She smiles once again and holds her arms out for a hug. “Sorry, I'm a little weird, I'm just so excited!” She smiles and then stops abruptly grabbing her belly.

“Are you okay?” I ask concerned.

“Yeah, I just get contractions every now and then but nothing consistent or strong.” She rubs her stomach a little bit more. I wait around, I'd rather not send this woman driving home, I don't know how far away home is and if anyone is even there.

“Are you sure you don't want to get checked out?” I ask. I don't really know how this whole labor thing works.

She lets out a big breath. “Nope, it's passed. I still have about a month till baby comes.” She's literally full of smiles. “I'll see you next week!” She walks out to a white Range Rover and easily climbs in, driving away. This girl's got a job!

Notes

So no Louis in this chapter but we have Erica back from one of my previous stories! Hopefully you all have read it, if not, it's not entirely necessary but feel free!! Just As Much, both Niall and Erica will come in quite a few times. Also remember, like every story I've written, I go slow! I mean, things went quick in chapter two but things will progress differently. :)

Thank you all so much for the response with this story! It was a bit overwhelming but I appreciate it so much!! Thank you for all the votes, comments, subscriptions, and views! Hopefully we can keep it up!

xoxox