“Mary Poppins,” she said.
“On a Julie Andrews kick, I see,” I said, shooting Archer a look.“Have you seenMary Poppins?”
“Nope.”He took the coffee pot and filled it at the sink.“What’s it about?”
“A magic nanny who puts a family back together,” Lenni said.A small smile appeared on her lips.“Kind of like Wyn, actually.”
Don’t cry.Don’t cry.Don’t cry.
Archer pressed BREW on the coffee maker and a moment later it began to gurgle.“Yeah, so Wyn’s not going to be your nanny anymore.”
“Yeah, I know.Because she gave her two weeks’ notice.”Lenni’s lip wobbled.“She’s finally leaving, isn’t she?”
“The opposite, actually,” Archer said.“Wyn and I are together.”
She tucked her solemn lip away.“Together?Like boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“Yeah,” Archer said, his eyes darting from his daughter to me before landing back on her.
“Well, holy cow, you did it,” Lenni said to Archer.“I didn’t think you could, but you totally did.”
I frowned.“Did what?”
Lenni looked at me.“When he told me you gave your two weeks’ notice, he said that meant he had two weeks to convince you to be his girlfriend.”
I glanced at Archer.“You said that, huh?”
He shrugged.“I was a desperate optimist.What can I say?”
Lenni stood up from the couch so fast Mildred let out a little woof of surprise.
“Does this mean you’re staying forever?”
I looked at her father.“I hope so.”
ChapterThirty-Two
The House
“Lenni!”I yelled from the base of the stairs.“You’re gonna be late!”
“I’m not going to school!”Lenni shouted back.“I’m sick!”
Frowning, I ascended the staircase.For someone who wasn’t feeling well, she sure had enough energy to bring down the roof.
“What’s wrong?”I asked when I was at her door.“Headache?Sniffles?”
“I just don’t feel well!”
“Can I come in?”I asked.
After a moment, Lenni muttered.“Yeah.”
I opened the door.Lenni was buried underneath her coverlet.Something moved beneath it—and then Mildred’s snout appeared.
“Are you really sick?”I asked.
“No.”
