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Her eyes light up and she claps her hands. “I hope there’s a Golden Retriever! They’re my favorite.”
From the corner of my eye, I spot Theo in a very intense conversation with his parents, no doubt telling them about Serena’s early release, perhaps asking them to make a similar promise to the one he asked of me.
“Why don’t we get stuff ready for a bonfire and s’mores tonight on the beach,” I suggest to the kids, attempting to hold their attention so it doesn’t wander to the serious discussion taking place under their noses.
They let out a cheer of excitement before I fall back into the familiar role of being their nanny. I help them unpack, putting away clean clothes and sorting out anything dirty. I spot several new toys, no doubt gifts from doting grandparents, so we find places to store them. And then we make our way to the kitchen, filling a beach bag with all the necessary ingredients for s’mores.
“Hadley.” I look up at the sound of Theo’s voice. The serious expression on his face worries me. He beckons me to his office.
I leave the kids to continue getting things ready for the bonfire and hurry toward Theo. He closes the door as soon as I enter the room and leans against the wall. “My parents think Colton and Piper should go back to their house until things are settled with Serena.”
I’m nervous standing there with his parents both looking at me, wondering what he might have told them about our relationship.
“Okay,” I say. “If that’s what you think is best.”
I’m careful with my words because I’m new to their world. I’ve only been a part of it for a brief amount of time and though Theo and I are romantically involved, I’m unsure of my place in this matter.
“I want to know what you think,” he tells me.
I choose my words carefully because I don’t want to upset anyone. “Why don’t you wait until you know when she’s going to be released? She will have to stay in Washington for a while after she’s released. I think sending the kids back with your parents is premature until we know more information.”
I hold my breath, waiting to see if my answer was diplomatic enough.
“She probably just wants more money from you,” his mother says tersely. “If the kids come and stay with us, then she’s out of a job.”
My jaw drops. How dare she assume anything about me. “Ma’am, I don’t need Theo’s money. I’ve got plenty of my own,” I tell her. She doesn’t need to know I can’t access it until my twenty-fifth birthday. I turn to him and say, “The kids are excited about having a bonfire on the beach tonight. I’m going to help them get everything ready. You asked for my thoughts, and I gave them. What you do is up to you since they’re your kids. I’m only the nanny.”
I don’t want to push him to reveal the truth of our relationship, especially if he’s not ready. It’ll only lead to more questions that I don’t even think I’m capable of answering. If he wants to tell his parents about us then I’ll support him, but I’m not going to be the one to spill the beans.
A moment passes as I wait for him to respond, but when he doesn’t, I rush from his office. There is a bit of a sting, as if not acknowledging our relationship in front of his parents is some sort of rejection, but I can’t push him to admit something he’s not ready to.
“Hadley.” His voice stops me, and I spin to face him. “Please come back.”
Something connects us, an invisible string or a magnet, and the force of that bond propels me forward. When I reach him, he slips his hand into mine and tugs me back into his office.
He clears his throat and faces his parents before saying, “There’s something you should know about Hadley.”
