Penny sighed and rubbed her temples. In truth, she didn’t know why she was reacting so dramatically. She simply had a feeling that her boss wouldn’t appreciate hearing that someone was using the children’s real names when he was trying so hard to help them forget about their past and integrate in his family.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know. Truly.”
Penny shook her head and smiled as kindly as she could.
“No, I’m the one who should be sorry. It’s my fault. I should have mentioned it.”
“I didn’t even know they had other names before moving here,” Angela Bailey insisted. “They told me yesterday and asked me to call them Nina and Kosta. I took it as a sign that they trusted me.”
“No, no… please. It’s all my fault. I should have been more transparent with you. Mr. Goldman thinks that if they get used to their new names, they will forget about Bulgaria and the orphanage more easily, that’s all. From now on, can you please remember this and go back to calling them Juniper and Thorn? I’d be very grateful.”
The English teacher bit the inside of her cheek. Penny could tell she didn’t feel comfortable with her request.
“Of course, Ms. Walton,” she finally said. “But… if I may…”
“Sure.”
“I know it’s not my place to get involved like this, but I really do care about my students.”
“I understand. Go ahead.”
“Just one small suggestion… Have you thought about hiring a therapist, as well? It’s not easy for them to open up, and they’ve just gone through a huge change. They have no friends, no children their age to interact with… That can’t be healthy. Every day, surrounded by adults who are putting so much pressure on them… unwillingly, of course. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to overstep my bounds.”
Penny thought for a second. “Not at all. In fact, I think you’re right. I should have thought about this sooner. Thank you so much!”
Angela sighed in relief, then Penny walked her to the door and bid her a good rest of the day. Once she found herself alone, she made a few notes on her phone for the report she was supposed to prepare for Goldman at the end of the first week and went upstairs. She knew the twins wouldn’t say “no” to a game of hide-and-seek before dinner, and she had to admit to herself that she’d missed them.
***
She was getting ready to leave when Richard Goldman came out of the living room and stopped her on the hall.
“Penny.”
A little startled, she turned to him and smiled.
“Hi, Mr. Goldman! I was just about to leave. Juniper and Thorn will be ready for dinner in a few minutes.”
She didn’t know why she had said that. She knew the kids never dined downstairs with the family, which she thought was very weird.
“Yes, yes. Good. I need you to do something for me before you leave. It won’t take more than ten minutes.”
“Of course.”
“Please bring them to the living room. I want them to meet someone special.”
She nodded and went back upstairs. As she knocked on the door and Juniper answered, she felt her stomach clench with something akin to anxiety. What was wrong with her? Goldman’s request was normal and simple. Then, why did she feel so out of place while leading the twins downstairs? And who was that special someone they were about to meet?
As they entered the large living room, Penny stopped in her tracks. Richard Goldman was just handing his guest, Enzo Salvador, a glass of whiskey. Enzo was comfortably sprawled on the sofa, a grin on his full lips. His whole demeanor made Penny flinch. It was as if she didn’t know this man. Although he was dressed just as classy and elegantly as ever, there was something in his attitude that screamed that he didn’t give a shit about anything and anyone because he owned the world.
“Juniper, Thorn… come here, my darlings.” Goldman took the kids by their tiny, shaking hands and pulled them to the middle of the room, so Enzo could see them better. “What do you think?”
For a long minute, Enzo didn’t say anything. He studied the twins, then felt Penny was still in the room with them and turned to look at her. He had wanted to avoid her. He had sworn to himself that he would not look into her eyes even for a second, but the temptation was too much. The confusion and slight panic he saw painted all over her pretty face almost broke his heart. He couldn’t believe he was doing this to her!
Penny forgot how to breathe. When her eyes met his, she was sure she saw a flicker of regret in them, but it was gone in an instant. Maybe she imagined it. She had no idea what was happening right then and there, but she couldn’t walk away. She simply couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Both Juniper and Thorn seemed tense, and Enzo was not acting like himself. Or… maybe this was who he really was, and he’d deceived her all along? She prayed to God that Goldman wouldn’t tell her to leave.
“They’re very young,” Enzo said dismissively. “Is this all you got?”
Goldman pushed the kids aside and launched himself in a long explanation, gesturing widely to better persuade Enzo.
