Episode 11

Alice: I go straight to the pool with Theo, the twins Ana and Cecilia join us, the three of them become super mysterious and we have a pleasant morning. Isabella stays here with us, she is so lovely. By the way, Lorenzo's whole family is incredible. The hours pass and Lorenzo comes back home for lunch, Isabella says he hasn't done something like this since Suzi passed away. Theo gets very excited.

Lorenzo: How was your morning, son?

Theo: It was really cool, I played with Anna and Cecilia in the pool with Alice.

Lorenzo: Let's have lunch and then Theo can get ready for school. I'll go to his room. Can I take you to school today, son?

Theo: Only if Alice can come too.

Lorenzo: Of course she can, son. Shall we go?

Theo extends one hand to me and the other to Alice, we go downstairs together. Alice counts to three and we lift him up by his hands, making him burst into beautiful laughter. We continue like this until we reach the car, take him to the classroom door, and I decide to accompany Alice back to the mansion. She is very quiet during the drive and coughs a few times.

Are you okay?

Alice: It's just a cold.

Lorenzo: Do you want me to call a doctor?

Alice: No need, it's just a regular cold.

Lorenzo: I fall silent and Alice gets out of the car. I watch her enter the mansion. I turn on the cameras to see what she will do, she seems bored and goes to the library to read. I see her smile while reading a book, but her smile fades when Lina enters the library.

Lina: Well, well, if it isn't the nanny who sits at the boss's table and now reads with her legs up in the library.

Alice: Lina, you are quite bitter for someone with whom I have absolutely no interest in starting any dialogue. Have a good afternoon.

Lina: Do you think you will be more than just a nanny?

Alice: I walked through those gates to interview for a nanny position, and that's what I am, Theo's nanny. Nothing inside here interests me beyond him. I see you wandering around the house with a sparkle in your eyes, fascinated by material things, and if you want to know something, I find it pitiful. All of this, everything that money can buy, holds no value at the end of life. What matters, what truly counts, are the people and not what they have.

Lina: You are indeed strange, Alice. Money brings comfort and power, my dear. Don't think you can deceive me with your innocent and naive demeanor. People like you are the worst.

Alice: I'm sorry you think that way. I imagine you have suffered from speaking like that, but reconsider what you've been through and turn that pain into something good, or else you'll be bitter and unhappy.

I speak and leave the library. I would never prolong this conversation, Lina is not pleasant and it's highly unlikely that we would become friends with her thinking like that. I go to Theo's room and organize everything. Suzi's photo falls and I pick it up.

Suzi, from what little I've heard about you, I learned to admire you. You seemed like an incredible woman. Know that as long as Mr. Lorenzo allows me to stay in this house, I will honor your memory and never let Theo forget you. I will take care of him and protect him. Rest assured wherever you are because I love Theo.

Lorenzo: I hear Alice talking to Suzi's photo and feel a mix of emotions. I am so overwhelmed that I can't focus on work. I go to the restaurant where I proposed to Suzi, sit down, and reminisce about that day. I come back home late and Theo is already asleep. I go to the balcony and there is Alice, sitting on the cold ground, staring at the sky on the coldest night of the year. I go back to bed and fall asleep.

Theo: Lorenzo... Lorenzo...

Lorenzo: I wake up startled with Theo in my bed calling my name.

Son, is everything okay?

Theo: Alice, she won't wake up and she's very hot.

Lorenzo: I quickly get up and go to Alice's room, which is freezing with the window open. I close the window and touch her forehead, she has a high fever. I ask Theo to call his grandparents and bring them here quickly.

Alice... Alice...

Alice doesn't wake up, I take her dressed to the shower and turn on the warm water to cold. I hold her, shivering from the cold, she doesn't wake up and I become worried. My mother enters the room and helps me, I leave and change my clothes while my mother and Julia change Alice's clothes. Theo is very worried, and I pick him up in my arms.

Theo: Is Alice going to die?

Lorenzo: No, son, the doctor is coming and will help us take care of her. Let's ask Maria to make a hearty soup for her. I take care of Theo and give him my full attention.

Daniela: The doctor arrives and evaluates Alice, she has a cold with "early pneumonia," he prescribes antibiotics and we stay with her until she wakes up. Lorenzo comes into the room several times, Alice's fever subsides and she wakes up.

Alice: What... happened? I wake up disoriented, Julia and Daniela are by my side, I'm sweaty and tired.

Daniela: You had a fever over 40° that took a while to subside, you have an early pneumonia, Alice.

Alice: I'm sorry for the trouble I caused.

Julia: It wasn't any trouble, you need to take care of yourself and rest for three days. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and you'll be fine if you follow his recommendation.

Alice: I give a weak smile, my whole body aches, I try to get up to take a shower but I am too weak.

Daniela: Let me help you. Alice nods, I ask Lina to change her bedsheet and Julia and I help her in the shower. We lay her down and something unbelievable happens, Lorenzo enters the room with a tray, which has a flower, juice, and soup.

Theo: We came to take care of you, Alice. Look at the flower I put for you.

Alice: The little one, you didn't have to. Thank you very much.

Theo: Lorenzo said we take care of those who take care of us. Eat all the soup to get strong.

Alice: Lorenzo doesn't look me in the eyes once, he puts the tray on the bed and I start eating slowly. Julia and Daniela say their goodbyes, telling me that I'm in good hands, and Lorenzo goes to put Theo to bed. I get up, open the window, and lie down.

Theo: Are you going to take care of Alice?

Lorenzo: Yes, I am.

Theo: Promise?

Lorenzo: I'm lost with regards to Theo's sleep routine, I brush his teeth and put on his pajamas. I promise. Goodnight, son.

Theo: You need to read a story, Lorenzo. I want this one.

Lorenzo: Theo hands me the story and lies down, looking at me. I sit next to him on the bed and he rests his head on my leg, I start reading the story and he falls asleep towards the end. I tuck him into bed and give a kiss on the top of his head. I love you, my son, and I promise I will get better for you. I go to check on Alice and can't believe she's sleeping with the window open in this condition. I close the window, and she wakes up startled.

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