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“I know,” she whispered.
“Madelyn did mention one curious thing.”
Here it comes. Sweet baby Jesus, don’t let it be about Landon! She couldn’t handle more lying.
“And what was that?” she replied, keeping her tone even.
“She’s having trouble matching a client.”
“Oh yeah?” she answered and cleared her throat.
“Her client is in the music industry. She wanted to get my opinion on the kind of nanny who’d work well with a musician.”
The music industry?
It had to be Landon.
“Is that so,” she answered, unable to keep her voice from rising an irritated octave as she worked to maintain her cool.
She bristled.
Why was she bristling? She didn’t want to be the guy’s nanny, right?
Still, the thought of Landon employing another nanny had her gnashing her teeth.
She was, at least on paper, his wife.
Pull yourself together, woman.
Thanks to the ample amount of sugar in her bloodstream, she was as jittery as a caffeinated Chihuahua. She caught sight of her sandals out of the corner of her eye and lunged for them. Why she thought she needed to reach for her shoes like she was engaged in an interpretive dance number was anyone’s guess. She slipped and dropped her tote in a spastic convulsion. The contents clattered onto the floor, along with a flurry of lollipops and lip balms.
Stop acting like a lunatic.
She sank to her knees and furiously collected the items, tossing them in willy-nilly.
“Are you okay, little miss?” Babs asked, squinting as she peered at the ground. “You seem a little…excited. Have you eaten a real meal since you got back, or have you been existing on lollipops and bonbons?”
“I’m super great. I’m doing a candy detox diet. First, you eat a ton of candy, then you detox,” she shot back, not making a lick of sense as her voice climbed another octave.
She’d be singing opera if she didn’t calm down.
“Is that a bird mask?” her grandmother continued, taking a few steps toward her. “What are you doing with a bird mask?”
She stuffed the feathery face-covering into her bag. “That old thing? I found it in the attic,” she lied again. The lies were stacking up. “I wanted to show it to Libby. She’s got a thing for birds. Yes, that’s why I have a feathery bird mask in my purse. And speaking of Libby, I need to leave right now to make it to the housewarming party. Not a minute to lose.”
“Give me a hug,” Babs said, opening her arms. “I’ll be on my way to New Mexico by the time you get back. Promise me you’ll remember your grandad’s advice. Music is part of your soul, little miss. Never forget that,” she added as they embraced.
“I’ll try,” she whispered, tightening her hold.
“I know you will. And you should venture down to the basement.”
“To your and grandpa’s soundproof practice room?”
“It’s an excellent place to revive your creativity and find your voice,” the woman answered with a flirty little smile.
That was a little weird, but okay.
Babs sniffed the air. “And promise me you’ll take a shower. Good heavens, missy.”
