by Emma Quinn
Lottie pouted. “Being an adult sounds like the worst. I never want to grow up.”
Alana’s laughter grew louder. “I thought the same thing when I was your age,” she admitted. “But if I had never grown up I would never have met you!”
Lottie sat up, pondering this. “True,” she said finally. Then she bounced on the duvet and grinned. “Wanna make waffles with me? It’s Sunday!”
Alana smiled. “I would love to make waffles with you. Why don’t you go wake up your dad and I’ll wash my face and meet you down in the kitchen?”
“Okay!” Lottie grinned and, after one more bounce, raced off to find her father.
Alana was beating the egg whites when Jack and Lottie came downstairs. She looked up with a smile and then grimaced as a bit of egg white flew out of the bowl and landed on her nose. Jack grinned at her and came forward, gently wiping the egg white away with his thumb.
“I hear we’ve been found out,” he said, leaning down to kiss Alana on the forehead.
Alana glanced over at Lottie: the little girl was watching them with a huge smile on her face. Alana sighed with relief. “Apparently we’re not as subtle as we thought we were,” she agreed.
Jack shook his head and kissed her again. “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“You can keep beating these while Lottie and I measure the flour,” said Alana, gratefully passing off the hand beater to Jack.
“Can we make them with chocolate chips?” Lottie asked as she and Alana got out the measuring cups.
“Hmmm,” said Alana, pretending to think.
“Puh-lease,” Lottie begged.
Alana giggled. “Of course we can,” she said.
“Best day ever!” said Lottie as she went to find the chocolate chips.
Alana looked up and saw Jack looking down at her, his dark eyes warm and molten, a loving smile on his face. Alana blushed at the intensity of his gaze, but smiled back, feeling love rush through her.
“I found them!” said Lottie.
Alana couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy.
9
J
ack came home grinning. He was having dinner with Lottie and Alana after three days in Chicago for work. A few hours earlier, Alana had texted him a photo of Lottie adorable and covered in flour as they tried to make homemade ravioli under Maria’s supervision. He couldn’t wait to see his girls again.
He smiled even as he thought the words. It had only been a month and a half since he and Alana had begun seeing each other but it already felt so natural, so easy. He felt like, finally, he had a family again.
Unfortunately, instead of finding Lottie and Alana in the kitchen, he found Eleanor. She was dressed in form-fitting black jeans, elegant black heels, and a white silk blouse open just low enough that he could see the gold cross she wore nestled between her pale breasts. She’d dressed for him and he knew it.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, forcing his eyes away from the golden pendant and up to hers.
“I came to see you,” she said, getting up off the stool she was perched on. “Jack...I’ve missed you.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t been expecting this. To be honest, he’d been so happy, he hadn’t even thought of Eleanor since the night of their break up. “Oh,” he said.
“Jack, please,” Eleanor came closer to him, reaching out to take hold of his lapel. Gently, he brushed her hand away. “Please,” she whispered, looking up at him through her lashes. “I know things were difficult. But we can work it out. I can learn to be more…maternal. We were good together. When we were alone. You can’t deny that.”
Her voice was as seductive and sweet as it had been when he’d first fallen for her. But her choice of words hadn’t been lost on him. “That’s the point, Eleanor,” he said. “I’m not alone. Lottie and I are a done deal. We were good together. But not as a family. And that’s the most important thing.”
Eleanor gave him a dirty smile and reached out for his lapels again. “It wasn’t always the most important thing,” she breathed, licking her lips invitingly.
“No, it wasn’t,” Jack agreed. “And that was a mistake.” Again, he brushed away her hands. “We’re not getting back together, Eleanor,” he said. “To be honest, I’ve...I’ve met someone else.”
Eleanor recoiled as if slapped. “What?” she said. “Already? Did I mean so little to you?” she asked, bristling.
“No, Eleanor. You know I cared deeply for you. But I’ve moved on. I hope you can too,” said Jack as kindly as he could. He forced himself to be polite, but, in all honesty, he just wanted her to go so he could see Lottie and Alana.
Eleanor made a disgusted sound. “Who?” she asked.
“Does it matter?” Jack replied.
“Who?” she asked again.
Jack sighed. “Alana,” he replied.
“Who?” This time she was confused. Eleanor never could remember the names of anyone who worked at the house.
“Alana,” Jack repeated. “Lottie’s new-”
“The nanny?” Eleanor interrupted. “Ugh, of all the stereotypical - for heaven’s sake, Jack. I expected better from you.”
“It’s not like tha—” Jack began, but she had already pushed past him and was out the door before he could finish his sentence. He sighed again. “It’s not like that,” he finished softly. Eleanor had this amazing capacity to make everything she didn’t like feel small and dirty and shameful.
“Was that who I think it was?”
Jack turned and saw Maria standing in the hall door. “Yeah,” he said, running a hand through his dark hair. “The one and only Eleanor.”
“Hmm,” said Maria, coming into the kitchen. “How are you?”
“Fine,” said Jack. “She’s angry, but she’ll get over it.”
“Well, there’s a much better surprise waiting for you in the dining room,” Maria told him with a gentle smile.
Jack perked up immediately. “I was wondering where they’d gone,” he said. “Have they been waiting this whole time?”
“They’re fine,” said Maria. “But go to them. It’ll make you all much happier.”
Grinning, Jack went off to find his girls and, finally, try their ravioli.
“Alana?”
Alana blinked, startled. She’d been daydreaming about the night before - Jack’s delight in Lottie’s ravioli, Lottie’s pride in having made her father happy. It had been a perfect night and Jack had made sure to show her just how appreciative he was once they were alone in his room.
“Uh,” Alana said as she came back to the present. “I - Eleanor?” she asked, frowning at Jack’s ex-girlfriend. “What are you doing here?”
Alana was standing outside Lottie’s school, waiting to pick the girl up. It was the last place she’d expect to run into Eleanor.
Eleanor smiled self-consciously. “I just came to say congratulations,” she said. “I talked to Jack yesterday and he told me about you guys. For what it’s worth, I wanted to tell you that you have my blessing.”
“Um...okay,” said Alana, still confused. “Thanks.”
Eleanor nodded, then bit her lip, looking contrite. “Just...be careful, okay?” Her voice was soft and hesitant and she came closer, leaning in and laying her hand on Alana’s arm, just above her handbag.
“Be careful?” Alana repeated, her eyebrows rising.
“Jack’s a player. He likes younger women and as soon as someone one new and fresh comes along, he’ll leave you. That’s what happened to the women before me - and that’s what happened to me.” She smiled wanly. “As I’m sure you know.”
“Okay,” said Alana, trying to move away.
“I know you don’t believe me. But he’ll use any excuse to get rid of you once he gets bored. So just…be careful, okay?”
Alana nodded, keen to finish the conversation as fast as possible. “Okay, thanks. I will. Thanks for stopping by.”
Eleanor nodded and finally moved aw
ay. “Good luck,” she said, and went back to her car.
Weird, thought Alana to herself. But all other thoughts of the encounter were pushed from her head as the bell rang and children began pouring out of the school.
Within minutes, Alana heard her name being called as, through the crowd, she could see Lottie’s red beret coming towards her. With a grin, she bent down and opened her arms to the girl, just as Lottie flung herself forwards. Laughing, Alana twirled them around before setting Lottie on her feet and adjusting her scarf.
“It’s cold!” said Lottie.
“I know!” Alana replied. “What would you say if we went for hot chocolate on the way home?”
“I’d say woohooooooooo!” said Lottie, grabbing Alana’s hand.
“Well, that settles that then,” said Alana with a grin.
They came home warm and smiling from their hot chocolates and a walk through the park. But their smiles were soon wiped away when they got home: the house was in chaos.
“There you are!” said Maria, her face pulled down into a pinched frown. “Where have you been?”
“We went for hot chocolate after school,” said Alana, confused. “What’s happening?”
“Jack came home this afternoon and found a ring of his mother’s was missing,” Maria explained. “He’s having the whole house searched.”
“A ring of nona’s?” Lottie asked. “You mean the emerald one?”
Maria looked down at Lottie. “Yes. Honey, do you know where it is?”
Lottie shook her head. “No, it was in the box last time I saw it.”
“What’s the ring?” Alana asked, still pretty confused.
“My nona had a beautiful emerald and diamond ring that was, like, really, really old,” Lottie explained. “It was her – what’s it called, Maria?”
“Her engagement ring,” Maria said.
“Her ‘gagement ring,” said Lottie. “It was my grandfather’s mother’s ring before that. Anyway, Dad has it in a jewelry box in his room and sometimes he lets me look at it. It was there two days ago. I looked at it when I went to wake him up.”
Maria sighed. “This isn’t going to end well,” she said. “He’s having everyone’s room searched,” she told Alana, watching her closely.
Alana shook her head. “That’s awful. Who would do something like that?”
Just then, Jack came into the kitchen. He was followed by the guard that had let Alana in her first day.
“We’ve searched everywhere,” said Jack, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t understand where it’s gone.”
“We haven’t checked her bag,” said the guard, pointing at Alana.
Alana blinked and Jack paused, clearly taken aback by the idea. “I…” he began, hesitating.
“We checked her room along with everyone else’s,” the guard said. “May as well check her bag.”
“Here,” said Alana, offering her purse, taking the decision away from Jack. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t have anything to hide.”
The guard took her bag and unceremoniously dumped everything on the kitchen island. Out spilled her wallet, keys, novel, hand sanitizer, band aids, lipstick, mascara, tweezers, water bottle, some tea bags, a little packet of trail mix in case she or Lottie got hungry, her Diva cup (thankfully invisible in its pink cotton bag), and, last but not least, a stunning emerald and diamond ring.
The ring fell out last, rolled a few times on the wooden counter top and stopped, its jewels facing the stunned audience. The gems reflected the afternoon sunlight, glittering prettily. Slowly, Jack reached out and picked up the ring.
“I…” Alana gaped at the ring. “I don’t understand.”
“Really?” Jack asked, his voice hard and dangerous. “The situation seems pretty clear to me.”
“No,” Alana shook her head. “No, I’ve never seen that ring before in my life. I swear to you, Jack. I didn’t take it. Would I have offered you my purse if I’d known the ring was in it? Jack…please. You have to believe me.”
Lottie nodded, clinging to Alana’s hand. “Alana wouldn’t lie, Daddy. She wouldn’t take the ring. She didn’t even know it existed.”
“Lottie, go to your room,” said Jack coldly.
Lottie looked up at Alana and Alana looked down at her, tears pricking both their eyes.
“No,” said Lottie, still holding Alana’s hand.
“Lottie,” said her father, almost growling her name.
But Lottie pinched her lips together, drawing herself up, readying for a fight.
“Lottie,” said Alana softly. “Go to your room, sweetie.” A treacherous tear rolled down Alana’s cheek. She’d never see Lottie again. She swallowed hard, pushing Lottie’s hair off her forehead one last time. “Go on, honey.”
“But Alana…” Lottie looked up at her nanny.
“Go on,” Alana gave her charge a gentle push. “I love you, you know that right?”
“Stop talking to my daughter,” Jack commanded.
Lottie’s lower lip trembled and, with one last look at Alana, she pushed past her father and ran from the room.
“If you love her so much, why did you steal from us?” Jack asked, his voice furious.
“I didn’t,” Alana said, trying to keep her voice from quavering, still looking at the far door, where Lottie had disappeared. “I know I can’t prove it, but I didn’t.”
“Stop lying,” Jack snapped. “How did it get in your bag, then? Just flew there by itself? You know, the really ironic thing is that I was only looking for it because I wanted to give it to you. If you’d been able to control yourself a little longer you’d have had it anyway.”
“I didn’t take it!” Alana insisted, tears now streaming down her face. “I would never take anything! You know me!”
“I thought I knew you,” Jack replied. “But it seems you’re just like everyone else, after me for my money. Well, you’re not getting another cent of it. You’re fired. I expect you and your things to be out of this house within the hour or I’ll have you arrested for thievery and trespassing.”
“Jack…” Alana gasped. “Please, I…”
But Jack had already turned away from her, heading back into the house. With one last disgusted look, the guard followed his employer.
Alana pressed her hand to her mouth, trying to keep from sobbing. “I didn’t…” she moaned. “I didn’t do it.”
Maria, the only other person left in the kitchen, said nothing, but gently put all of Alana’s things back into her purse. “You’d better get going, Alana,” she said. “Jack doesn’t make idle threats.”
Alana sobbed once, then dug the heels of her palms into her eyes, trying to calm down. Then, unable to bear Maria’s eyes on her any longer, she ran upstairs to pack her things and leave the house she had hoped to spend the rest of her life in.
That evening, Alana lay sprawled on her sister’s bed, sobbing uncontrollably as Claire hushed her and pushed her hair off her forehead.
“Don’t cry, Alana,” she said, trying to soother her older sister. “It’ll be okay. You’ll find another job.”
But Alana just kept sobbing into the pillows she held clutched in a death grip to her chest. “But I lo-loved him. I loved them both. So much. I’ll never get to see Lottie again! And she’ll think I’m a thief!” Alana wailed the last part and buried her face in the pillow once more.
Claire sighed. After a moment, she stopped rubbing Alana’s back and reached for her phone. “Here,” she said. “Call Anita. Tell her you need a new job ASAP. A new family will get your mind off things.”
But Alana just shook her head and sobbed into the pillow. “I don’t want a new family! I want that family!”
“Call Anita,” said Claire sternly, still holding out her phone.
After a moment, Alana raised her head. Her eyes were red and puffy from so much crying, and mascara was smudged all over her cheeks. “Okay,” she mumbled, taking the phone from Claire.
The phone line rang and rang on the other e
nd. Finally, just as Alana was going to hang up, Anita picked up. But Alana’s agent was not her usually brash self.
“What the hell did you do, Alana?” Anita said by way of greeting.
Alana blinked. “Nothing,” she replied. “I didn’t steal anything. I don’t know what happened, Anita, but it wasn’t me. You know me.”
Anita sighed. “Yeah, I do. But it doesn’t change anything. Menuda’s on a rampage. The guy’s had you blacklisted.”
“What?” Alana gasped.
“Yes,” Anita answered.
“But that means…”
“That means it’s time to find a new career, honey,” said Anita. “Or pack your bags for a galaxy far, far away, because you’re not working in Boston anymore. At least not as a nanny.”
Alana closed her eyes and fell backwards on the bed. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered.
“Sorry, kiddo. I tried to reason with him, but the man was off his rocker. There’s nothing I can do,” said Anita. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, Anita,” Alana said faintly. “Bye.”
“Bye, Alana.”
The line went dead and Alana felt tears leak out from beneath her closed lids.
“So?” Claire asked. “What happened?”
Without a word, Alan rolled onto her stomach and pressed her face into the darkness of the pillows. She wanted to stay like that forever.
10
J
ack sat at the kitchen island, playing with a chive that had managed to escape Maria. The older woman moved around her boss, having grown used to his silent, sulking presence over the last few weeks. She was making homemade pizza for dinner. Pear and brie with walnuts and chives for Lottie and pizza margarita for Jack, who liked his pizzas more traditional.
“Lottie still isn’t talking to me,” Jack said suddenly.
Maria nodded.
“It’s been six weeks,” he said. “Six weeks without a word to me. I’m her father.”
Maria nodded.
“What the hell am I supposed to do? Is it my fault her favorite nanny was a thief?”
