I opened it.
Ms. Blythe,
Mr. Renault requires assistance with a project this afternoon. He would like to organize and catalog some of the estate's items. It would be out of your scope, and the estate would pay you directly. Double the rate for your time. If available.
I felt Eleanor watching me.
“You good?” she asked.
“Fine,” I said automatically.
My brain was already calculating. Double rate could cover—Stop. I typed back before I could overthink it.
Belle - Available. What time?
The response came quickly.
Geoffrey - As soon as convenient. Twelve p.m. would suffice.
Two hours.
Plenty of time to pretend I wasn’t jumping at it.
“I have to head out later,” I said, setting my phone down like it weighed nothing. “Extra work.”
Eleanor’s jaw tightened slightly. “I thought you were supposed to have today off.”
“I was,” I said brightly. “I’m choosing productivity.”
“Belle.”
“It’s double time.”
Silence. That was the wrong thing to say. Ava slid off her chair and wandered toward the living room, mercifully distracted by something shiny.
Eleanor leaned forward. “You don’t have to run yourself into the ground,” she said quietly.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
I held her gaze. “I’m fine.”
We both knew that was a partial truth at best.
After spending a couple of hours catching up with her and watching Ava and Leo create a massive art piece on the driveway, it was time to go. I stood and grabbed my bag.
“Free day’s been lovely,” I said lightly. “But capitalism calls.”
Eleanor didn’t laugh. She hugged me instead.
“Text me when you leave,” she said.
“I always do.”
Outside, Ava waved from the window as I climbed into the van.
“Bye, Van Belle!” she shouted.
