Rosa looked down, obviously conflicted, and Lily squeezed her hands encouragingly.
“I don’t know how to ask—so I apologize in advance.”
Lily’s brow furrowed. “In my experience, sometimes it helps just to say it. Whatever’s bothering you. And I promise you, there won’t be any need for apologies, just for asking whatever it is.”
The woman took a deep breath, lifting up her face to Lily’s. How very much like Clover she looked, Lily thought. Although she could see a lot of Brady’s features as well.
“OK, well. Here goes. I’m supposed to go into the hospital tomorrow—” At Lily’s gasp, Rosa shook her head. “No, it’s just to remove my gallbladder, so barring any complications, I should be out the same day.”
Lily nodded. The rule for the use of the Staff Childcare Center was that it could only be used if the employee was on the premises. No doubt this had to do with the care of the twins while Rosa was at the hospital. But as difficult as TraceyAnn could be, Lily couldn’t imagine that the older woman would be a stickler about that rule, given the circumstances.
“So I’ll be recovering at home. The problem is that for a week or two, I’d have to be careful not to lift anything, and avoid any impact that could rupture the stitches.”
Lily nodded, but she was starting to see what the dilemma was. Brady and Clover were extremely high energy. It would not be a good situation to have to care for them when recovering from surgery.
“I had made arrangements with Luna to help out, she was supposed to pick up and drop off the twins at Staff Childcare each day she was working or on site, and stay with them at my apartment when Staff Childcare was closed.”
“But she can’t do that now with her ankle.” Lily said. The last she heard, Luna was supposed to be on crutches for about a week at least to recover from her latest accident. She was still going to come into work, but assigned to tasks that didn’t require much moving around. And, Lily guessed that Rosa would not want the twins in a car that Luna was driving with a hurt ankle.
“I had asked Luna, because I can’t afford to hire anyone. Especially if I can’t use Staff Childcare. And because of the situation with Clover and Brady’s father—” Rosa paused to collect herself, and Lily squeezed her hands again with compassion. “I’m already under close scrutiny by Child Protective Services, so I’m really desperate. I can’t let them go into a foster care situation.”
She tore up, and her hands shook more.
Lily nodded. In her past life, she had often worked with preschoolers from similar backgrounds. She knew that Rosa’s concerns were very real, especially with twins as high-spirited as Clover and Brady. And as sweet as Luna was, she already would have had her hands full with the two kids, even with two sturdy ankles. Handling them while on crutches would be impossible. It really wasn’t that much to ask of Lily, she was already at the Staff Childcare Center most of the time it was open except for—
“A few hours each day I work for Simon directly, or at least with five members of his security team. It’s usually off-premises though. Starting tomorrow, I’m supposed to have dinner with them one each night, just to go over etiquette. Would that be a problem —if I can’t leave them at Staff Childcare— if I have Brady and Clover with me?”
The relief that flooded Rosa’s face was palpable, as a smile spread across her face. She really was very pretty. “Oh my God, you’re actually considering it. I can’t thank you enough! Of course that would be fine, if it’s your judgment that whatever environment you were bringing to is ok for them.”
Lily laughed. She was definitely not bringing them to Ye Olde Taverne! But at the same time, she was touched by Rosa’s trust in her.
“You’re really good with my kids, and really caring. I know they’ve really lucked out with you.”
Lily smiled. “In more ways than you can imagine, I feel like I’m the one that lucked out.” She thought of the car that Simon had lent her. “I’d have to install the car seats for them.”
“Absolutely! We can do that tonight, at my apartment,” Rosa said. “That is—can you stay over tonight? I have to leave for the hospital a few hours before Staff Childcare opens.”
That made more sense than Lily driving there before sunrise, so she agreed. It didn’t take long to make simple plans —it wouldn’t take Lily but a few minutes to throw an overnight bag together on her way back to the Center. And as soon as her shift ended, she would drive over to the apartment.
Rosa impulsively hugged her, and ran back to her station, just in time for the dinner rush to begin in earnest.
Lily wrapped up the slab of cheesecake. She’d bring it to TraceyAnn, who she knew would appreciate it. And maybe be cool with the twins in Staff Childcare while Lily started her one-on-one dinner dates the next night.
* * *
Ye Olde Taverne had been packed since Rey arrived, hours ago. He had gotten himself a sweet spot by the bar, with a chatty bartender dressed as a buccaneer, complete with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder. Rey learned over the course of the evening and several of the beers on tap that no new Serving Wenches had been hired within the last week or so, but this was definitely the place to be if someone was looking to make quick connections, whatever kind they were looking for.
Even without a costume, Rey had been hit on by several women, some wearing medieval inspired clothing, and some who didn’t need the theme as an excuse to wear something skintight, low cut, and flashing lots of thigh. Although the bottle blond bimbo wearing a too-small t-shirt inviting people toShake Your Pirate Bootythat hovered over her even smaller skirt fell somewhere in between.
Rey also made another interesting discovery. This could also be another great place to move TheRage, which — as he found with the mechanic—was in short supply still in this area. This might be a backwoods place, but there were fifteen thousand or more attendees that passed through the gates of the Faire each day at the height of the season. Ye Olde Taverne made a killing from people passing through, as well as the staff and other folk that lived within a short radius.
The Faire also drew a crowd for its traveling performers and specialty vendors. And the occasional tattoo artist or other body modification specialist from out of town, who might come here at night, drumming up business for the next day.
It was ripe for someone bringing in TheRage. This piece of intel was sure to pleaseEl Monstruo. Although it had to come on a serving platter of Fuckin’ Bitch.
Rey had been sitting here long enough for one night. He’d gotten useful info, it was time to leave before he got too smashed to drive. The last thing he needed was to get pulled over for a DUI. After leaving a decent tip—just enough to not stand out as a bad or generous tipper—he moved his ass off the stool he’d been warming for hours, shook off the pirate booty blonde in the crowds, and exited through the oaken doors.
Later, he was going to be thankful he had parked a fair distance from the entrance. He was going to think that each step he had taken all the way to his car was worth it, when he started up the engine, looked in his rearview mirror, and did a double take.
Did he drink too much? Because this was too good to be true. He squinted, leaned forward. He saw a woman wearing a long summery dress in the parking lot who —after being surrounded by so much cleavage and corsetry at Ye Olde Taverne—stood out with how modest her outfit was. He didn’t see her at the tavern, but it was crowded enough that she could have been in one of the areas that escaped his notice. Especially since Pirate Booty kept blocking his view, with her big…..hair.
The girl opened the door to a red car that he could make out was a late model Subaru SUV. But as she got in, for a split second her face was angled upwards, just enough for the bright light overhead to illuminate it.
And give her away.
It was Lily. He fought the urge to fistpump in the car. He was right to have come to Ye Olde Taverne. And Bucky the Buccaneer Bartender was right that it was the place where connections were made. And fates were sealed.
“I’ve got you now, bitch.” Rey smiled.
As she pulled out of her space, he started to follow her.
