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“Did something bad happen?” I ask, concern rushing through me. “Is your family okay? Your friends?”
Something softens in her expression. “It’s nothing like that.”
“Celeste. Please, honey. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
I don’t mean to call herhoney. It just slips out of my mouth. I’m not sure if it’s that slip of the tongue that makes her gaze lift again or if it’s something else, but suddenly her eyes are locked on mine. She wets her lips, and I can tell she wants to say something important to me, but she’s struggling with it, unable to speak the words…
…and before she can get them out, the sound of my doorbell rings out through the house.
Immediately, Celeste’s lips press together. I curse under my breath and tell her I’ll be right back. I rush downstairs and hurtle toward my front door, pulling it open with impatience.
A young woman is standing on my doorstep, a cheerful smile on her face.
“Hi there,” she says. “My name is Tara. I’m from Stellar Nannies.”
I stare at her, confusion swirling through my mind. But suddenly all the pieces fall into place. Celeste’s packed bags. Her strange behavior this evening. My suspicion that she was getting ready to leave. Goddamn it. It’s really happening.
“You’re here to replace Celeste,” I say flatly.
“Yes, that’s correct,” says Tara, still smiling. “Is she available for me to chat with? That will help us make this transition as seamless as possible.”
The sound of Celeste’s footsteps rush up behind me. I hear her gasp, and then suddenly she’s by my side.
“No, there’s been a misunderstanding,” Celeste says, her voice panicky. “You aren’t needed. I’m so sorry for the trouble.”
Tara’s smile flips into a confused frown. “I’m not needed? But I was told?—”
“It was my mistake,” Celeste says quickly. “Completely my fault.”
Tara still looks confused. She looks at me and says, “Sir? Is this correct?”
I’m just as confused as she is. But I nod. “Yes. I’m sorry you had to come out here.”
Another few seconds pass while Tara looks at the two of us with bewilderment, but then she shrugs and starts to walk back to her car.
As she drives off, I close the door and turn to Celeste, a million questions on my tongue. But this time, she’s not hesitant to speak. It all comes pouring out.
“When I first came here, I didn’t think I could work for you again,” she says in a rush. “You understand why I felt that way at first, don’t you, Henry? I thought it was going to be like when I was your secretary. I thought you were going to be just as cold to me. Just as demanding.”
“So you requested a replacement?”
She nods. “But then you turned out to be so different. I meant to call the agency and tell them I changed my mind. But I got distracted. These last couple of days have been…” She swallows. “They’ve been really nice.”
“Why did you pack up all your things, then?”
Her brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I saw your bags, Celeste. When I was walking past your room. All your things are packed.”
“Oh. No, it’s not what it looked like. I neverunpackedthem in the first place.”
“That’s supposed to reassure me?” I ask. “Celeste, if you don’t want to be here, just say so.”
“I do want to be here. Ido, Henry. I care so much about Aria, and I enjoy spending time with you.”
Her words should mean the world to me, but I’m still feeling cautious after what just happened. “What do you mean by that?”
She hesitates. Wets her lips, just like she did when we were upstairs. “I’m saying that I like you, Henry.”
