Chapter 8
Buffy woke up with a smile on her face; she got out of bed giddily and proceeded with her morning routine. As soon as she reached the door of her charge’s room inside the mansion, she heard activity coming from within. As she opened the door she saw father and daughter by the veranda as William tried pointing out the terrain of the whole street to his daughter.
She slid the glass panel open and knocked softly to announce her presence. William looked back with Prudence tucked securely under his arm. “Hey”, he cleared his throat, “She woke up early, started crying…I thought I’d stay with her for a while” he defended his presence. Buffy nodded in understanding as she offered to take Prue but he turned back to the landscape overlooking the balcony. “See that green hill, princess. Daddy’s gonna build you a castle atop that hill someday… Wouldn’t you like that?”
Buffy went back inside to tidy up the room as William trailed off. It had been the first time William willingly went into her daughters room to spend some time with her and she’s not gonna get in the way of that.
Later as she was finished changing the sheets, William came out from the balcony with a sleeping Prue in his shoulder. “She fell asleep” he whispered as he continued to sway her back and forth. “She hadn’t finished her milk and she fell back to sleep again.”
“She must have been tired,” Buffy concluded as she tuck the last sheet in. “It’s almost lunch, let me take her and start on her porridge just in case she wakes up hungry.” But William decided to tuck her in himself. “I think you should start getting ready for the office, Sir. Faith had been calling nonstop.”
“You can call me William. And had she?” he asked as he and Buffy walked out the room shutting the door behind them as they made their way down the hall.
William fished his cell phone out of his pocket as she punched in some numbers. “Faith-“ Before he could get anything in one could hear the voice of his secretary straining his ear. “Yes-…yes” he answered patiently. “Faith!” he said which caused the voices to stop booming. “I’d like to have all my appointments cancelled and won’t be taking any phone calls,” he looked at Buffy as if awaiting her reaction. As soon as he had finished the voice started booming in again, “Faith, please just reschedule them” with then he flipped the phone successfully cutting the chattering of voices on the other line. “So I was thinking-“
“You’re not going to the office?” Buffy interrupted.
“Actually, I just wanted to sit in all day and do absolutely nothing.” Buffy looked at him astound as if weighing the idea. William couldn’t help but grin at her naivety. “You’re just adorable, pet!” he said mindlessly as they descended the stairs. Buffy followed behind him a bit startled. “So I was wondering, if you have no plans with Prue today, I’d love to take you guys out.”
“Oh really?” William raised one brow in reply. “Well,” Buffy started, “we were supposed to play outside or lock ourselves up in her room and bore ourselves with toys we have repeatedly played with,” she shook her head, “we couldn’t possibly give that up for a day out with you, who I might add have cleared your whole schedule for.” She went pass the swinging doors of the kitchen a bright smile on her face.
“That’s good to hear” William matched her expression, “We’ll leave after lunch? That good?” Buffy nodded in approval. “Great. You guys start getting ready then. Willow,” he called the redhead over who was just sitting at the kitchen island having breakfast with Giles. “Can you come with me for a while; I’ll just need you to pack a few things up.” Willow hastily rose from her seat and followed William out the door.
“He taking you out?” Giles inquired as he sat at the bench nursing his cup of tea.
“Me and Prue actually.”
“Well that’s something…”
“I think William just wanted to spend some time with Prue is all” she defended his actions as she went over to the cupboard and took out pots and pans. “Something we don’t see everyday, but maybe that’s just what the New Year brings.”
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“Ready to load up?” Giles asked from the threshold of the front door of the house as Buffy brought over Prue’s things.
“Yup” she said as she picked Prue up from her stroller to give way for Giles to take it. Just then Joyce followed by Willow came out carrying a couple of bags and a cooler.
“Put this in the trunk too will you?” Joyce handed it to Giles who slumped over because of its weight.
“What is in this?” Giles asked as he hauled it over the trunk of the SUV they constantly used.
Just then a black convertible swiftly halted in front of them all. They all stared at the unfamiliar vehicle with a wary look on their face. The window slowly rolled down, “Well what are you waiting for, Ms. Summer?” William took off the shades that rested on the bridge of his nose, “hop in!”
She couldn’t help but grin at the boyish attitude he had, she felt like a high school girl being picked up by her college boyfriend. “Isn’t Mr. Giles going to drive us?”
“Nonsense” he got out from the driver seat and rested his head on his hands over the roof of the car. “I’ll drive. They can all have the day off if they want.” He walked over to them to relive Buffy of her belongings as he placed the things inside the trunk of his car.
“But-“ he turned to her, eyebrow raised in question. She shook her head, “does the car have a car seat for Prue?” William had a proud smile on his lips as he clicked something in the small remote thing he was holding and the roof of the car opened and on the middle of the backseat was a tiny car seat just the exact size for Prue.
“Are you ready to get going then? Unless of course you want to check if I have the proper kind of brakes or something,” he teased her. She merely narrowed her eyes on him as she placed Prue on the backseat and got on the passenger seat herself. And soon they were speeding down the road.
“So, where are we going?” Buffy inquired, she had been silently seating on the passenger seat. The silence was deafening, fortunately or unfortunately Prue had been quiet the whole car ride making the stillness more unbearable. William briefly looked at her direction as their eyes met before turning his attention back to the road.
“Somewhere special.”
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Crates were being hauled over trucks as the ships blew their horns signaling their last departure for the day.
It had been quite sometime since he had come over and visited the docks. Drusilla had requested that her ashes be thrown into the ocean when she dies and he did just that even though he thought putting her under the ground would have been more appropriate. After her funeral he had isolated himself from the world, from his family and friends. And that was the last he had visited the place or pretty much anywhere that reminded him of her. But he realized that it was time to move on with his life, she would have wanted him too and maybe this is the first step.
“This was her favorite spot” William declared, not to anyone in particular, “We almost considered getting married here but decided on a cruise wedding instead. She had loved the water.”
They were walking along the docks, private ships were anchored on their left and right as Buffy, pushing Prudence along, followed William to the edge. He stopped on one particular yacht. It was the kind with a cozy small home-like structure beneath, it was indeed a beauty, if you were in to those things that it.
“What’s this?” Buffy asked as she followed William up the yacht. He walked over to the edge of the railing, taking in the blow of the wind.
“This, is Spike’s most prized possession… next to his motorcycle and let’s not forget that piece of metal he passes off as a classic sedan” A voice from behind them answered her question.
Buffy turned around to learn that the voice had come from a man in his mid –thirties. He stood in front of them with his hair all up in the wrong places, he looked liked someone who had just woke up from sleep but nonetheless offered Buffy a warm smile then approached William. William offered him a handshake but he seemed to be over formalities as he pulled William in for a hug, tapping his back a couple of times in the process.
“So how you’ve been my man?”
“I guess I’m doing okay and it’s William now,” William replied as he explored his yacht more closely, “You been taking care of Edith here?”
“Of course! I practically live here!”
“I can see that, Clem” William threw an awkward glance towards Clem’s messed up hair, “I can definitely see that.”
Clem chuckled as he run his hands through his hair to try to smoothen it out, “Not that I’m complaining of course, this thing is better than any apartment I could find, at no cost too.” They turned back to the front of the vessel; William satisfied that nothing major damage had happened to it. “So who’s the lady? Don’t you think we’re moving on just a little too fast?” He said meant as a joke which William seemed to take differently as he sent him a death-defying stare. Clem just held his hand up as a sign of surrender.
“This is Buffy,” William introduced the two, “Prue’s nanny” he stressed a little too much for Clem’s comfort. “Buffy, this is Clem. A friend I met along in the business who also happens to be taking care of Edith for the past month or two.”
They both extended their hand to shake exchanging they’re pleasantries. “Edith? The boat you mean?” Buffy asked.
“Ye-“ Before William could answer her question, Clem had cut him off.
“It’s not just a boat, sweetie. It’s a yacht, a very important yacht for this boss of yours I might add. Entrusted me with it didn’t he?” He shrugged as a smile formed in his lips. “Gotta be important right?” Buffy couldn’t help but laugh. “Is this little Prue?” He bent down to look at the baby in the stroller, playing with her tiny hand in the process.
“It sure is!”
“She sure isn’t that little anymore, last time I saw her she was tiny. Can I?” Clem asked to take Prue into his arms and Buffy simply answered him with a shrug and a nod. “Has Daddy been taking good care of you, cupcake?” He touched her nose and she answered him by wriggling her nose beneath his finger. “She’s a beauty, Sp-Will. Just like her mother…” Silence fell as they all felt the awkwardness of the moment.
“Yeah…” William was the first to recover as he tried to change the subject, “Hey, you think I can borrow the yacht for today?”
Clem smiled as he handed Prue back to Buffy’s care, “Why not? It’s your boat! Go for it!”
Later after Clem had cleaned himself and his mess up, he hesitated to leave William and his company alone in the vessel insisting that maybe he should go along with them, even if it’s just to get the boat away and back. But William had insisted that he didn’t need him, he’s pretty sure that he still remembers how to stir a boat. With a wave and a last look at Prue, Clem had shook on his backup onto his shoulder and left the three of them to themselves.
“So what are we to do here?” Buffy broke the silence that settled over as soon as Clem left them to themselves.
“Anchor off, I guess,” William started to get the ropes out of the dock and hauled the anchor out of the water. “There are some things inside the cooler and a couple of chairs and others things beneath,” he pointed to the small structure with a stairs leading beneath the yacht. “I’ll look after Prue after I get this out.” He continued pulling at the ropes and put the sail up then stirred the vessel off into the sea.
As soon as Buffy reached the lower section of the boat she began searching for a closet or something where all the things William had said could be found. The bottom portion of the structure was pretty impressive with its own living room and kitchen. As she went in deeper, there was also a bedroom at the end and another door which she opened the found the folded up beach chairs and tables which she skillfully maneuvered out from beneath the yacht.
She began hauling all the things up the stairs, then realizing that she wouldn’t be able to do it herself. She decided to call for William’s help. As soon as her head reached the top of the boat. She saw father and daughter by the wheel as William dexterously stirred the vessel as he had Prue tucked securely under one arm. She couldn’t quite make out what William was supposedly telling his daughter, but seeing them just like this gave her a sense of accomplishment. Somehow she was responsible for bringing the two of them closer to each other, and maybe this was her purpose for coming to England earlier than she had planned. She had accomplished it, so it will be easier for her to leave them. Right?
“Hey!” William startled Buffy out of her reverie. He had turned around wondering if Buffy had any problem finding the stuff for she had been gone for a pretty long time. But instead he found her standing on the steps looking at their general direction as if she had spaced out with a look of, he didn’t know what it was but his guess was that it was a look of longing. “What are you doing there?”
Buffy blinked her eyes a couple of times as she heard a voice talking to her. She had been thinking… thinking about- well it’s not really something she should still be pondering about it’s not even something that is open for discussion. It was her plan and nothing’s stopping her, there is no thinking that needed to be done. “Umm, I just needed help in bringing the things up.”
William simply pulled something on the panel and set Prue down on her stroller, locking the wheels as he walked over to her. Holding onto her shoulders, he asked “Is everything okay?” Buffy plainly nodded her head he walked pass her. ‘no thinking…no thinking’.
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“Is that your stomach growling I hear?” Buffy and Prue were sitting on a beach towel on the far end of the yacht. They had been watching the sunset together while William was at the other side barbequing some meat. The three of them had spent the whole four hours or so sitting around the boat and sight seeing the different islands and mountain the scenery before them had to offer. Apparently, William had some fishing poles and bait in the vessel so they enjoyed a nice hour or so of silently trying to get the fishes under the water to bite on their bait. Neither of them got any though Buffy did almost catch one but pulled on the reel to early causing the fish to get away but nonetheless she had to admit that she did have fun. William was not as uptight once you get to know him, Buffy guessed that Joyce was right, he was a wonderful man if you took time long enough to look.
Prue buried her face in Buffy’s shoulder as she nuzzled the infant’s stomach and rose from their position to go and fetch her thermos. “Okay, okay. It’s coming, sweetheart.” Buffy said as she heard another soft growl come from Prue’s stomach, or she could just be imagining it.
“Hey,” William greeted them as he saw Buffy and his daughter, ‘his daughter’, that was probably the first time he had allowed himself to think that, walking over to him as Buffy searched for something from the bags they had brought. “Dinner’s almost ready, too bad we didn’t caught any fish.” He threw them a smile as he placed the last of the meat from the grill into the plate and put out the fire.
“So how’s my princess been?” He walked over to them as he wiped his hands on the apron on him. He relived Buffy of Prue and brought her over to one side as the Buffy searched for the thermos. “Did daddy’s little girl had fun?” he asked her as if she would be able to understand what he was trying to convey but Prue smiled nonetheless. He scrunched his nose up in respond and he brought her above his head to simulate an airplane which made Prue giggle with laughter as he brought her down and gave her a tight hug.
“Da-ddy” Prue had uttered incoherently but it still seemed to make William have a warm smile spread across his face as she repeated it another time.
“That’s right, bit. Your daddy’s little princess.” He slightly patted her on the nose, “Such a smart girl.”
“Well that smart little girl of yours is currently hungry,” Buffy interrupted them carrying with her a bowl and spoon, “so I suggest you haul her over to me, daddy.” Buffy had stressed good humouredly as she gave him a lingering smile.
He raised an eyebrow at her in question, something she just noticed he loves doing, but handed Prue over to her nonetheless. He then made his way down the steps to the lower level of the boat. He walked around as if searching for something, he looked inside the bedroom and let his eyes linger there for a while then tuned his head over to the living room couch then over to the kitchen, surveying the place. He stood in the middle a couple of minutes before finally grabbing his phone at the back of his pocket and flipping it over and started to punch in some numbers.
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“Buffy! Buffy!” William called from the lower deck, “Can you and Prue come down here for a second?” He heard footsteps descending the steps as he grabbed some sheets from the cabinet on the far back of the cabin. He didn’t wait for them to actually get to the landing and without looking at them he asked, “Did you guys bring any extra clothes?”
“I brought an extra shirt and shorts for Prue in case of any accidents.” Buffy tried to answer over Prue’s wails. The baby had been crying for the last five minutes, she guessed she was starting to get tired, she couldn’t blame her for they had a busy day. It was now eight o’clock at night and she didn’t get her afternoon nap either, no wonder she was restless.
“And you?” William asked as if there was no noise preventing Buffy from hearing him.
Buffy’s ears strained just trying to make out what he said, “No. I didn’t think we would need it.”
“What do you think about-“ William stopped short as it was the first time he heard his daughter wailing her discomfort just across from him. “Why is she crying like that? Is there something wrong with her?”
Buffy smiled at him in the naivety his employer possessed, he can make a big business run smoothly, and get his will all done with a snap of his finger but when it comes to his own daughter it’s like he’s a four year old boy learning to ride his first bike.
“Are you laughing at me, Ms. Summers?” William asked in a straight face, making Buffy suppress her smile and rub smoothing circles behind Prue’s back to let her cries subside. “I don’t think anything’s funny, do you?” Buffy face held no emotion at that moment. She didn’t know if she should feel scared, maybe she had offended him, should she apologize? But as soon as she saw that smile twitch in the corner of William’s lips she had to prevent herself from killing the man before her for making her heart jump and do summersaults. “Who’s funny now?” He laughed, a deep laugh those kinds that only men can do.
Buffy looked at him pointly, eyes narrowing in annoyance? Either way he stopped and got back to his original question. “What do you think about staying here for the night?”
“Here? As in, in the middle of the ocean?” William nodded in reply. “Is it safe?”
“I’ve done it before and so has Clem, we’ll be fine. We’ll just anchor ourselves to the nearest shoreline just to be on the safe side.” He had answered her with a question, trying to assure her of their safety.
“Okay, if you say so. I guess Prue can sleep on the bed?”
“Yeah. I just changed the sheets I think she’s really starting to get tired.” He noticed, Prue had stopped her crying opting instead for soft whimpers as she made herself comfortable on Buffy’s shoulder. “I’ll just be upstairs if you need me.”
Buffy proceed into the bedroom and saw the newly spread sheet and decided to lay Prue on it, she shared the bed with her for a while until she had fallen into a deep slumber. Wanting to make sure that Prudence didn’t fall onto the floor anytime during the night, she had found some body pillows beneath the bed. Buffy took them out of their containers and placed it on both sides of Prue. Satisfied with the safety of her charge, she placed the monitor on the bedside table and decided to go and look for William.
She found him by the control panel seemingly holding on to the wheel as he looked into a far away place. “What are you looking at?” She asked as she came from behind him. He looked up seemingly pulled out of his gaze.
“The lighthouse.”
“What of it?”
“Did you know that in literature a body of water symbolized life?” He asked as if he didn’t hear Buffy at all. “And that a lighthouse shows you the right path to take. Just like in life, everyone has a lighthouse… don’t you think so?” Buffy swallowed the lump on her throat, not knowing how to answer William’s question. That didn’t really become a problem for he had continued on, “Something or someone has to guide them right? Or they would loose their path…” he trailed off seemingly unaware of his surroundings.
Soon Buffy and William found themselves near the shoreline, Deciding that this spot would do, William started to let go of the anchor and safely secured themselves for the night.
Neither had said anything after that mini-monologue William had spoke. Buffy simply didn’t know how to respond to his words and William didn’t find it fitting to say anything more thus they both stayed silent. “We should settle in,” William broke the silence as Buffy stood by the stairs fidgeting with her hands. “Start early tomorrow, maybe we could go over to one of the near by beaches?” He suggested as he offered Buffy a warm smile to which Buffy replied with one of her own as she nodded her head and went below the deck with William following in from behind.
“You can have the bed,” he told her as he went for the small closet and got some sheets and a blanket, “I’ll take the couch.” Buffy argued that she can sleep in the couch, it is his yacht and she was just a helper after all. But William would have none of it, insisting that she take the bed, even if she is a nanny he stressed that it didn’t exclude her of the privileges a woman should have over a man and it’s never just a nanny. She plainly smiled at him in reply conceding defeat. He had handed her some oversize shirts and sweatpants to change into. And just before they settled themselves for the night William had gave her a kiss goodnight on her left cheek, a kiss she didn’t know the meaning of and didn’t care to ask either.
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Creeping into the mansion was not as easy has she had first thought, there were hidden cameras in places she didn’t give notice to before. Now that she’s just a few meters from the library she made sure to stay quite so not to attract attention. As she swung the door open she immediately went in search for the particular case she was looking for. Fear was overwhelming her as she walked around the study. She went over to the mantel and tried to look there seeing nothing she rose from her position overturning a frame. She quickly spotted the briefcase on the chair being camouflage by the dark night. How stupid was she, it’s probably because her nerves were killing her. Having done her task she stealthily retreated.
to be continued...
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