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I fill my glass half full with more wine. “I just hope I don’t miss my Prince Charming while I’m dealing with the devil.”
* * *
The next day,I finish packing the last box of stuff I plan on taking with me to Gabriel’s. It’s not a lot. After I dropped Tennyson off at daycare, I stopped and picked up boxes and once I started packing, I realized there’s no need for half my things. All the things I’ve become attached to or that have sentimental value are coming with me, the rest will be staying.
I texted Gabriel earlier to send a car over for my things, and in just a few hours I’ll be living with him.
My stomach is in knots when I pick up Tennyson and then drive to the Prince estate.
“Are we almost there?” Tennyson asks from the backseat.
“Yes,” I answer with a smile, even though inside I’m a wreck.
This morning, I had a long talk with Tennyson about us moving and our ‘adventure.’ To my relief, he’s excited he gets to stay in the ‘big house with the movies.’ Life’s so simple when you’re four.
“Remember I told you how we’d be staying here?” I know once he sees his new room he’ll no longer care why we’re staying here.
When I pull into the circular drive, Gabriel stands outside, wearing jeans and a black button down dress shirt.
His arms are crossed over his broad chest, and his eyes watch me. His stare is always so penetrating, like he can read my mind and see into my soul all at the same time.
I park the car, turn off the ignition, and step out. I open the door for Tennyson, and unbuckle him from his car seat. He runs toward Gabriel.
“We’re staying here,” Tenny says over and over as he bounces around with his yellow blankie held tight to him.
“Hi,” I say to Gabriel as I open the trunk of the car.
“Leave it,” he says. “I’ll have my men bring in your things. And I can introduce you to the staff.”
“Oh, ok.” I walk away from the car, taking Tennyson’s hand in mine on my way to the front door. “Lead the way.”
Gabriel steps aside to let us enter the front door, and when I do, there’s a line of people standing in the foyer.
“This is Stefan.” Gabriel clasps the shoulder of a tall man with light brown hair. “He’s my driver, and he’ll be driving us when we’re together.” Stefan smiles a warm smile, and I shake his outstretched hand.
“Hello, Stefan.”
Gabriel moves to the man standing next to Stefan. He’s shorter, a little older, with a balding spot on top of his head. “This is Mayer, he’ll be your driver. He’ll take you anywhere you need to go.”
“Oh, well I have a car and don’t mind driving myself.”
Gabriel’s dark eyes meet mine. “Clementine, my wife doesn’t drive herself.”
“Fine.” Pick your battles, I tell myself. I shake Mayer’s hand, and try to remember the names as Gabriel introduces me to more people. June, the head housekeeper. Sarah, the head chef.
“And this is Amy. She runs the house.” He motions toward the petite brown-haired woman with a no funny-business type smile.
“Hi, Amy.” I shake her hand.
There’s a few other housekeepers and workers he introduces me to, and by the end of it my head spins.
“Let’s get Tennyson to his room.” He steps closer to an older woman with kind grey eyes. “This is Faye. She’ll be Tennyson’s nanny.”
“Nanny?” My head shakes a bit at the idea of Tenny needing a nanny.
“She’s here to make sure Tenny is safe and well-cared for at all times.”
“Well, that’s what I do.” I meet his stare head on. “I’m his mother.”
