Chapter 5 Catching Feelings

Maxine and Heather were currently in the playroom, the kid playing with her iPad. Maxine glanced at it and saw she was playing the good old game, Plants VS Zombies.

"What level are you at?" She then asked, eyes on the screen, undeniably curious.

"Already fighting with Dr. Zomboss, Mommy! This zombie doctor looks scary." She answered with a smile. Her attention was still on the screen, so focused on what she was doing. Maxine was amazed by how this seven-year-old kid could gracefully play this not-so-easy game. While there she was, a 30-year-old woman who couldn't even edit her PowerPoint presentations properly on her cheap laptop.

'World's unfair,' she thought as her friend Laura came to mind. It had been a long time since she last had a conversation with her, and she somehow missed her friend. Well, in fact, everyone in her life before she got the job.

Maxine then got her phone, opened her Facebook application, and sent Laura a message. It was in that instant when she gave her a reply. They talked for a while like how best friends would do. Maxine then told her that she was working at the Robbins household as a mom to an adorable kid and sometimes a wife to his hot dad. Of course, Laura didn't miss teasing her friend, saying she might fall in love.

Staring at her phone, then at Heather, who was still playing, Maxine thought about what her friend had said for a while. A smile appeared on her lips, thinking that it was never impossible. Yet, she said to Laura that she was just there for the money and not for the jaw-dropping, uber-handsome husband she had.

She hoped she could really make it, though.

And, of course, her best friend interfered. "You do know that it would be difficult for you not to fall for him, as well as for his child. Stanley, too could fall for you, that's for sure. The question is, was it really you whom he would fall for if ever that really happened? What if it was only because you resembled his child's mother?" That was Laura's exact text message, and upon receiving and reading it, Maxine froze to where she was seated. She was baffled and immediately lost in her thoughts, knowing that her friend had a point-a perfect one.

Having a deep attachment to the two will make everything hard for her. But, with the fact that Maureen, the birth mother, had come back, there really was a chance for her to be replaced-immediately.

"Maxine? Maxine?" A husky voice brought Maxine back to reality. It turned out that Stanley had been calling her name a few times already. She then just looked up at him without saying a word. "You seemed to be daydreaming." He said with a chuckle.

Maxine gave him a smile as she sighed. "Just thinking of my life back before my feet landed here," she lied.

Stanley grabbed a seat next to her as he stared Maxine in the eyes. It intimidated the hell of her. "Don't you have a boyfriend?" He then asked. Maxine was beyond shocked. She didn't expect Stanley to ask her that question. Wasn't that written on the contract?

"I- I don't have a boyfriend," she said in a low voice. Actually, Maxine hasn't had a relationship ever since. Her world basically just revolved around her work, family, and friends-and now to the two, Stanley and Heather, since she started working at them.

"Great. I was worried you might leave us soon if you have," Stanley playfully answered.

Maxine gave him a small grin, "you were giving me chunks of money. Why would I even want to leave?" Maxine answered even more playfully.

It made Stanley laugh as he went closer to her face, eyes piercing through her soul. "I don't believe you, honey." He let out, almost a whisper. Maxine could feel his breath. "You're staying because you liked taking care of Heather." He continued as he went closer, almost kissing Maxine. "You're staying because you liked being with me," he ended as he intently let their noses touch.

"What are- what are you talking about?" Maxine whispered, not wanting Heather to hear them.

Stanley didn't give her an answer anymore. His tease for a kiss immediately became a real kiss. Maxine closed her eyes while tasting his mouth, completely caught off guard. Again, butterflies began to rumble in her stomach. The feeling was unfathomable, and she inexplicably gave the kiss back. It went deeper and more passionate as if it was made by someone who was truly in love.

It felt real.

It felt like it was not a job.

"Daddy! Mommy! What are you doing? Are you kissing?" Heather's shout broke the kiss with her endless questions. The two immediately looked at her, then at each other, then back at the child who was complaining. In the heat of the moment, they almost forgot that they were in the playroom with Heather.

"You didn't see anything!" Stanley said in defense, it was more like a joke.

Heather had her eyebrows furrowed when she answered. "I was the only one allowed to kiss mommy!" She said as she went close to Maxine. She then hugged and gave her a kiss on her cheek-three kisses which made Maxine chuckle.

Stanley laughed at the sight while raising both hands as if he accepted his defeat. This little moment soon turned to them playing, laughing, and tickling each other. At some point, Maxine had stared at the two when they were so distracted by their playful gestures. Again, she smiled. It was a sad smile while a thought ran through her mind.

'How could I even handle losing both of you?'