A Risky Business

by Sandra K Rhoades

  'Oh, I don't mind. They said you didn't want them swimming in the deep end without an adult. I'd be happy to swim with them.'

  'You're sure you wouldn't mind?' The woman's face softened as she looked at the boys. 'I would really appreciate it if you would. We were hoping to meet my husband in Calgary today, but I wasn't feeling well, so we stopped. They were disappointed about not seeing their dad so I told them they could use the pool. Unfortunately, I don't feel up to going in with them.'

  'I don't mind.' Merle hesitated a fraction of a second, then continued, 'In fact, if you wanted to go lay down for a nap, I wouldn't mind looking after the kids for a couple of hours.' Now that she realised the woman was in ill-health, and not just worn out from looking after the boys, the idea of looking after them became attractive. 'I'll take good care of them. My name's Merle Halliday, you can ask them about me at the desk. I've been staying here for several weeks.'

  'I'm sure I could trust you. It's not that, I just don't want to impose.'

  'It wouldn't be an imposition. I'd enjoy it,' Merle assured her, hoping she was telling the truth. Somehow, she had missed out on the normal teenage experiences of babysitting, but looking down at the two boys, she thought it might be fun to take care of them for a few hours. It would give her something to do. Now that she was getting back to normal, physically and mentally, she was starting to get bored.

  'Well,' the woman said doubtfully, 'if you really wouldn't mind. To tell you the truth, I do feel a little rough.'

  'Don't worry about them. We'll have fun,' Merle assured her, any doubts she might have entertained being lost in a surge of sympathy for the woman.

  'Well then, thank you.' The woman smiled as she accepted. 'I guess I should introduce us. My name is Mary Blake, and this is Andrew and Sean.' She indicated the boys. 'Lisa's sleeping over there in her car bed. I doubt if she'll wake up for a couple of hours, but I'm in room fifteen if she does. You can send one of the boys in to get me.'

  Merle's smile wavered slightly as she glanced over at the car bed. She hadn't realised the woman had a baby. If what she knew about children wouldn't fill a paragraph, what she knew about babies wouldn't take up a sentence. Well, maybe it wouldn't wake up. Mary Blake could be damned sure that if it did one of the boys would be in to get her mighty fast.

  Fortunately, Mary Blake didn't seem to notice Merle's doubt about her ability to care for a baby and left the pool area a couple of minutes later with an easy mind.

  For the next half hour, Merle dived and splashed in the pool with the boys. She didn't think Mary needed to have any doubts about their swimming ability, as she found she was easily out-classed by them even though she had been doing a lot of swimming over the summer. Their expertise amazed her as Andrew, the larger of the two, confided he was only six. He told her he would be starting grade one in Calgary when they got there and seemed to consider six to be considerably older than she did, much to Merle's amusement. Sean, the smaller boy, was five, and even more forthcoming than his older brother. He would be in kindergarten and was going to be a cowboy now that they were moving to Calgary. His father had promised him a pair of boots, and they would be new ones, he assured Merle, not hand-me-downs from his brother.

  Merle had not gone to have a look at little Lisa yet, though she kept her ear tuned for a sound from her. She was half-afraid to look. If the baby did need something, Merle wouldn't have a clue how to handle it. She would hate to disturb Mary over something minor, so she decided to let sleeping dogs, or in this case babies, lie.

  By the end of the half hour, Merle was worn out and she pulled herself up on to the concrete apron that surrounded the pool and lay in the sun to dry. The boys joined her almost immediately and they chattered to her, displaying typical sibling rivalry by trying to outshout one another to hold her attention. Nonetheless, she did learn something about their background. Their father had recently taken a job in Calgary and they were coming from Ontario now to join him. When they explained they hadn't been able to go with him initially because they were waiting for their baby sister to arrive, Merle paled slightly, her eyes going to the car bed. Just how old was that baby? She knew enough about babies to know she hoped it wasn't newborn.

  She had just decided to stop being a coward and go have a look at the child when she saw the manageress of the motel come out to the pool area. Spotting Merle, the woman made a beeline for her, arriving faintly breathless.

  'Miss Halliday?'

  'Yes.'

  'Oh, something terrible has happened,' she said, wringing her hands. 'Do you think I could speak to you in private for a moment?' She eyed the boys.

  'Yes, of course,' Merle agreed, suggesting the boys take their ball and play catch on the opposite side of the pool. She had a strong sense of impending disaster when she turned back to the woman.

  'You're looking after Mrs Blake's children, aren't you?'

  Merle nodded slowly, her foreboding increasing geometrically.

  'She collapsed in the hall a little while ago. My husband has taken her to the hospital in Medicine Hat. I've tried to contact her husband, but I haven't been able to reach him yet. You will be able to continue with the children until we get things sorted out, won't you?'

  'Well…?' She looked at the car bed again. What would she do when it woke up?

  'Oh, please say you'll help. I really shouldn't even be spending this time away from the desk. This is when everyone starts stopping for the night. If you don't keep the children, I don't know what we'll do with them.'

  Put like that, what could she do but agree?

  'Oh, thank you. You don't know how much I appreciate this,' the manageress said gratefully. 'I'm sure as soon as I reach Mr Blake he'll be able to arrange something for tomorrow. Now, I must go. Here's the key to Mrs Blake's room,' she said, handing it to her. 'It will be easier for you to care for the children in there.' As the woman scurried away, Merle wondered how tomorrow could seem such a long time away.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Merle carried the car bed from the pool area with all the care of a man shifting a case of nitroglycerine. She would have gladly traded loads. She stopped briefly at her own room, changing from her bikini into jeans and a T-shirt, and filled up an overnight case with her night things and clothes for tomorrow, then shepherded the children to room fifteen. Once settled, Merle set about entertaining the boys, vainly hoping that the baby wouldn't awaken until morning. Fortunately, Mary Blake had left the boys well supplied with toys and games and Merle was able to keep them quiet by playing a board game with them.

  Strangely enough, neither of the boys seemed overly concerned about their mother, seemingly content with Merle's explanation that she had had to go into the hospital for a few days. It wasn't until she overheard them whispering together later, speculating as to whether this time their mother would supply them with a baby brother, that she realised they didn't really understand that their mother was in fact ill. Merle didn't have the courage to correct their misapprehension.

  The event she had been most dreading occurred when they had been in the room for about a half an hour. Lisa, to Merle's consternation, had turned out to be the smallest human being she had ever seen. By questioning the boys, Merle discovered she had been born only three weeks earlier and Merle wondered how fate could be so cruel to such a tiny baby as to place her in the care of such a rank amateur. As Merle stood gazing into the baby's calm, trusting blue eyes, she hoped she wasn't going to let her down.

  With the help of Andrew and Sean, Merle found the carton of disposable nappies Mrs Blake had for Lisa, and changed her. She was rather surprised to find this task was relatively simple, partially because some of her nervousness disappeared when she discovered that the nappies fastened with tapes rather than pins so there was no danger of stabbing her charge. She wasn't even repulsed by the chore as she had feared she would be.

  Her confidence increased when the baby accepted a bottle of formula quite readily, gulping it down while Merle cradled her in her lap. Lis
a's brothers seemed to find Merle's inexperience extremely amusing but nevertheless eagerly pitched in to help, particularly with advice. Andrew prepared the formula, mixing it from a powdered concentrate and warm water, assuring Merle that his mother frequently allocated this job to him.

  After draining the bottle, Lisa's eyelids fluttered down and Merle placed her back into the car bed, relieved that the baby seemed content to go back to sleep. The boys lost interest in the toy cars they had been racing across the carpeting while Merle fed the baby and wanted to watch television. As the request was made at the top of their lungs and the baby still didn't stir, Merle could see no harm in this and allowed them to turn on the set.

  Everything is going swimmingly, Merle thought ten minutes later, even if the boys did insist the volume on the television be set at a level designed to wake the dead. As long as it didn't wake Lisa, Merle didn't mind.

  Merle had settled herself in a chair while the boys sprawled on one of the beds and stared at the television screen. Room fifteen was larger than her own, being fitted with two double beds instead of the single queen size one, but other than that, there was little difference between the two. She read the back of the nappy carton, wishing Mrs Blake had had a book on child care. She had been forced to go through the woman's suitcase to find a clean sleeper for the baby, acutely conscious of a strong sense of trespassing. Removing all the baby's clothes, Merle had closed the case, expecting that Mr Blake would want to take it to his wife. She hoped Mary wasn't seriously ill and would be able to rejoin her children soon. Her illness could be connected to the recent childbirth, but once again, Merle was aware of her lack of knowledge in this area.

  The cartoons the boys had been watching ended, and Andrew went over to the set and began flipping through the channels. Sean saw something he wanted to watch and demanded that his brother leave it on that show. This request resulted, naturally, in Andrew setting the dial on another station and the two boys started to quarrel. Merle had just decided to settle the argument by turning the set off altogether, when Lisa woke up and started to cry.

  The first time the baby had awakened, she had only whimpered softly and had stopped as soon as Merle had picked her up. This time, however, the child was screaming when Merle reached the car bed, loud wails that didn't lessen when Merle lifted her out.

  Merle cradled Lisa in her arms, murmuring softly to her, and wondering what could possibly be wrong. The baby's face was flushed with angry red, her features screwed up, as she took a deep breath in preparation for another scream.

  'Andrew, maybe you had better fix her another bottle,' Merle told him, her voice raised to be heard over the racket in the room.

  'But I want to watch this show,' the boy protested, holding his brother away from the set so he couldn't change the channel.

  'Aunt Merle,' Sean wailed, 'can't we watch Sesame Street? I don't like police shows.'

  'That show's for babies,' Andrew sneered at Sean.

  'Boys, can't you see your sister is crying?' Merle snapped impatiently. 'Now, Andrew, will you do as you're told?'

  'She's always crying. Mom just ignores her,' Andrew informed her, trying to wrestle his brother to the floor.

  Merle thought this highly unlikely and once again ordered Andrew to prepare a bottle of formula. This time he obeyed, his expression sulky as he scuffled into the bathroom to mix the bottle with none of his former enthusiasm for helping. As his brother left the room, Sean shot him a triumphant look before switching the channel to the other station.

  Merle paced the floor as she waited for Andrew to return with the bottle. The prolonged crying was starting to tire the baby, and her wails had deteriorated to heart-rending sobs which to Merle's mind were even worse. If only she knew what was wrong. She didn't really think Lisa was still hungry but had asked Andrew to fix another bottle because it was the only thing she could think of to do.

  She turned at the window to make another circuit of the room, when the exterior door was pushed open. Leon stood in the doorway taking in the scene in one glance. Andrew emerged from the bathroom and rushed over to the television. Shoving his brother aside, he switched the station, nearly dropping the newly prepared bottle.

  'I was looking for you,' Leon said loudly. 'I should have known I only needed to look for trouble and you'd be in the middle of it.' He strode into the room and going to the television, snapped it off. The boys started to protest and he silenced them with a look. Sweeping his eyes over the toys and game pieces littering the floor, he said, 'You two can clean this mess up while I see what Merle has done to the baby.'

  He walked over to Merle and held out his arms to take the baby. 'I haven't done anything to the baby,' Merle protested, though she meekly relinquished her burden. 'I don't know what's wrong with her.'

  Leon lifted the sobbing bundle to his shoulder and started stroking her back. 'Have you fed her?'

  'Of course I have,' Merle answered shortly. 'And I changed her, too,' she added when she saw him eyeing the carton of nappies. She could see those little lines at the corners of Leon's eyes starting to crinkle up. They always did that when he was laughing at her. Well, just let him take care of Lisa! He wouldn't find it nearly so funny then!

  Leon thumped the baby firmly on her back and Merle made a grab for her. 'What are you doing?' she cried, outraged. 'Don't you dare hit her.'

  'I'm not hitting her.' Leon stepped back out of range and administered another blow. 'I'm trying to get some of the gas out of her.' As he spoke, Lisa belched loudly and immediately stopped crying. Leon continued holding her, firmly running his hand up her back and the baby burped again.

  'How did you know that was what was wrong with her?' Merle was staring at him in open-mouthed astonishment and he started to laugh.

  'Since you won't believe I'm Superman, would you believe I'm really Mary Poppins?' Merle didn't think this remark deserved a comment, so she merely scowled at him in exasperation. He laughed again, then said, 'Okay, Merle, I'll stop teasing you. I used to babysit for pocket money when I was a teenager.' Lisa had snuggled against his shoulder, her eyes closing as she fell into an exhausted sleep.

  'But why?'

  'Why? I guess because I like kids.' Leon shrugged, taking the baby over to the car bed and laying her gently on her stomach. 'It was that or get a paper route,' he said, turning back to her.

  'But why would you need money?' Merle asked, confused.

  He gave her a mocking look. 'Merle, why does any teenage boy need money? So he can spend it on teenage girls,' he answered the question for her.

  'But your father's wealthy.'

  'He is?' His brows lifted, his eyes flashing with amusement. 'I'll have to tell him so he can quit his job with the government.'

  'Your father's a civil servant?' Merle frowned. 'But everybody says…'

  Leon's laughter interrupted her. 'You've been listening to gossip, Merle,' he accused her, still chuckling. 'That rumour got started when someone discovered I had the same last name as Sir Robert Crane who is very big in shipping or something. Because I had enough leverage to start up Puma Resources, they assumed I must of have got the money from him. It didn't help that my father is also named Robert, but if I am related to Sir Robert, I assure you it must be a very distant relationship. I've never even met the man.'

  The boys came up as Merle was mulling over this bit of information and asked Leon if they could watch television again. They had picked up their toys, so he gave his permission, providing they could agree on which show to watch and kept the volume at a reasonable level. Sean looked like he would like to renew their argument over the choice of show, but his brother took one look at Leon's face and stifled him. Eventually, they compromised on an old rerun of a situation comedy and were soon happily engrossed in the antics of the Skipper and Gilligan.

  Leon looked back at Merle and started to grin. 'Okay, out with it. I can see you're dying to ask me something.'

  'Where did you get the money to start Puma?' Her forehead was pleated in a p
uzzled frown. Starting up an oil company wasn't exactly in the same league as opening a corner grocery store. It took a tremendous amount of capital to assemble the equipment and men needed for such an enterprise.

  'The number fourteen,' Leon said simply.

  'Fourteen?' Merle echoed, more confused than ever.

  'Come on, I can see I'll have to tell you the story of my life.' He settled himself in one of the chairs and indicated that she should join him. Once Merle had sat down, he started to speak. 'I had been working in Saudi Arabia for about three years, and when I had some time off, I went to Monte Carlo to think over whether or not I wanted to stay in the Middle East. I was happy enough in the job, but I had been wanting to go out on my own for several years. I'd saved quite a bit of my salary over the years but even though I had a tidy sum of money, it wasn't anywhere near enough to start an oil exploration company, and I was starting to realise I would never save enough. One night in the casino, I decided what to do. I walked over to the roulette table and put my savings on number fourteen. If I won, I would have enough money to start my company. If I lost, I figured I would just go back to Saudi Arabia.'

  'And you won?'

  Leon nodded, grinning. 'It paid off at thirty-five to one. I took the money and came to Canada. The rest is, as they say, history.'

  'But what if you had lost? It would have been all your savings.' Merle stared at him incredulously.

  'My savings weren't doing me any good.' He shrugged. 'Working for a salary, I could never hope to save up enough to start my own company if I spent the rest of my life trying. So I thought, what the hell?'

  Merle frowned. 'I still don't see how you could have done it.'

  'It was easy. I just walked over to the table and put the money down.' He flashed her a grin.

  She ignored his taunt. 'Why fourteen?'

  'There was this old lady sitting at the table. She had an enormous stack of chips in front of her. When she reached out to place her bets, I was amazed she could even lift her hand. She must have had ten rings on it, all set with huge stones. I've always had this theory that money breeds money, even when it's just luck that's involved. So, when she put some chips on number fourteen, that's where I put my money.'