#iris.alejandro1

[constellaetions]

IRESHI 'IRIS' TEPHNAKORN — starters

�� SETTING: the Hernandez's house ; — AVAILABILITY: closed starter for ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ  | ( @lcvelctters )

Iris had just finished bathing Elena when she heard the oven's ding announcing that dinner was ready. Usually, Alejandro didn't have dinner with them, but it seemed like these last couple of day, Elena's papa was home before seven, so that was good news. As someone who grew up without having her parents around, Iris had always found it important to have family time, and, especially in Elena's case, she was getting to an age where her personality was being shaped and her values were being taken into account, too.

By the time the front door keys dangled, announcing Alejandro's arrival, the two girls were in the dining room, Elena chewing on the lasagna that Shihi had made for them. The sound of the front door opening caused the little girl to storm towards her dad and hug his legs. "Papaaaaaaaaa!" The scene stole chuckle from Iris' lips as she followed the little girl across the house. "She was telling me she wanted to wait for you to have dinner, but I wasn't sure you'd be home early." And children needed a set time to eat and play and all that. They needed structure. "Come join us, Mr. Hernandez. There's lasagna and a plate waiting for you."

[constellaetions]

"I'm sorry." The younger woman couldn't help but chuckle at his request. This was definitely not the first time that Alejandro had asked Iris to call him by his first name, and the nanny was certain that it wouldn't be the last, but, in these last six months that she'd been working for him, she also knew that she'd gotten a lot better at it. "Alejandro." Iris repeated while giving him a pointed look to let him know she'd try harder. "'Lena, why don't you take papa to wash your hands, hm? Lavar las manos?" The nanny repeated the instructions in Spanish as she rubbed her hands together as if she were washing them, then looked up at her boss and motioned her head towards the nearby bathroom.

While they were at it, Iris took the opportunity to place the scorching hot lasagna on the table and the cut a small piece for Elena. She also added more ground meat to the toddler's plate, as well as the vegetables she'd made for her, so, by the time the duo returned to the dining area, both Elena's and Alejandro's dishes were ready. "Riri, can I have some juice, please?" The little girl asked as she climbed up on her chair and Iris smiled at her. "Of course you can, mi amor." The nanny gently brushed Elena's hair away from her forehead and then planted a kiss on the crown of her head. "Would you like some juice too, Mr—Alejandro?"

alejandro had managed to get lucky over the past week and scored himself a couple of morning shifts, which meant that he got to have dinner with his daughter. while he felt bad that he wasn't around more, he knew that he had a good woman taking care of his daughter and he did what he could to be there for them both. after all, he had to make a living and he hoped that despite his absence, his daughter understood that he was doing what he had to do.

he unlocked his front door, keys making their way to the bowl next to the door that his wife had placed there before she'd passed. a smile managed to take over his face at the sound of his daughter running toward him. "elena, my girl," he spoke and bent down to lift the little girl into his arms so that he could give her a proper hug. "i missed you today," he paused, his eyes flickering toward his daughter's nanny as he shook his head to reassure her. "that's alright. we know my schedule is pretty unpredictable." slowly, he shifted toward the dinning room to join them. "come iris, call me alejandro. mr. hernandez makes me feel old."