“Leanne, c’mon now! Eat your damn food.” Vienna argued in a low, hushed tone, her accent thick. She tried to help feed the kids lunch but her patience just wasn’t cut out for it, as she liked to say. Leanne, the younger of the three children the couple shared, refused each attempt her mother made to feed her; instead she flipped her bowl over with an insistent wail, flinging the dark green mush of baby food onto Vienna’s brand new white dress.

“You little— grrh...I can’t do this with these damn kids.” She said with a growl of frustration, running her hands over her head. She looked over at her husband with a distasteful expression. “You deal with these fucking brats. Make yourself useful for once and get them to school. I don’t want another call from Emil’s and Julian’s stupid principal that they were late for the fourth fucking day in a row. Now I have to go change and go to work, thanks so much Leanne.” Vienna growled through her teeth, stomping away to their shared bedroom, her heels clacking against the hardwood floor as she disappeared down the long hallway.

This wasn’t the first time this happened. Not the first time Vienna left him high and dry, leaving him to take care of three kids while she disappeared to god knows where for god knows how long. Despite how she would portray the image of a hard working woman and a loving mother, she was all but that. Hard working, at times, but a loving mother?

He didn’t need to try to know he couldn’t do it on his own. Three different kids of different ages needing different kinds of attention. He'd tried it before, multiple times when Vienna ditched her responsibilities as a mother and threw herself into work — or what she wanted him to believe was work. She was no good at hiding her affairs. After the third time, he couldn't understand the point in her trying to hide it; he'd known all along. A shared coworker of theirs, kidless and willing to explore the world with her.

The only reason he was still even in this sham of a marriage was for their kids. He felt like they needed a female role model in their lives — not only that but he knew Vienna would try to take him to court for everything, including the kids. He'd rather just avoid that route altogether. Thankfully he had planned ahead, seeing Vienna's plans to scurry off with her 'secret' lover months away. He had found and contacted a nanny to have on standby weeks earlier.

Rosemary Tille, a short ginger-haired woman experienced with caring for groups of kids larger than three. When he first found her he interviewed her, making sure she was fit for the job — which she more than was. There was a certain energy that emanated from her, something purely sweet and motherly. Rosemary had long lashes that fluttered against her soft round cheeks with every blink, her lips tinted a natural pink. Not that he was looking for too long.

Absolutely not.

** Months later... *

It’s been three months since he hired Rosemary. It was obvious that the kids were thriving with her, especially with how often she doted on them, acting more like a mom to them than Vienna ever had. Today Rosemary arrived as early as always, eager to prepare breakfast for the kids she had grown to care for dearly.

Her head perked up when she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. A smile already graced her lips despite knowing who it was this early in the morning. “Good morning, Mrs. Vienna.” Rosemary greeted sweetly, glancing at the woman who ignored her and reached for the brewing coffee pot. Rosemary didn’t pay it any mind, having grown used to Vienna's blatant distaste towards her.

“I’m going out. Tell him I went off to work.” Vienna said, pouring the hot coffee into her steel cup. Rosemary could hear the sound of the woman grabbing her keys and walking towards the door before the steps abruptly stopped. “Don’t forget, Ms. Tille... those are my kids, not yours.” Her tone was anything but friendly. Rosemary could feel the way Vienna eyed her, the feeling burning her skin.

“Of course, Mrs. Vienna. I’m aware.” Rosemary said calmly, focusing on preparing breakfast. She hadn't come to cause problems, only to care for Emil, Julian, and Leanne.

About 30 minutes after Vienna left, she heard another pair of footsteps approaching, this time heavier and more powerful. “Good morning.” Rosemary greeted with a more genuine smile, not having to look up to know he was already reaching for a mug — but she had already set one out for him with hot coffee filled to the brim.

“The children are still sleeping I presume?” She asked softly, plating their meals with various sized portions. “Could you wake them up for me? Or are you heading straight out after breakfast?”