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“What was that all about?” Lisa asked. “Daniela chatting you up? I don’t think so.”
“I feel like she’s spying on me,” Ryan said, looking at the view and then back to his painting. “Find out what she wants. My paranoia doesn’t need any fuel.”
“I wonder if Hocus is involved,” Lisa replied. “She knows too much, yet my mother insists on keeping her around. Does she even do anything anymore?”
“I’m there all day,” Ryan said. “Besides giving me a cup of coffee when I ask, she might grocery shop and do a little cooking, but other than that, not much. And she’s living there rent-free, which really grinds my gears.”
“Yeah, well, you know Pam. She’s not going to listen to either one of us. I just hope she’s safe there. But why would she care what you’re doing here? I hate to confront Daniela, but I can’t take the chance that she’s spying on us.”
“I thought things were going too smoothly.” He dabbed some more red paint on the canvas. “Are you ready for the party?”
“I guess so. I wonder who will conceive.”
“Ha! Thanks for reminding me,” Ryan drawled. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Maybe you’d better stay home after all,” she said, laughing, but on the inside, she was not happy.
Years earlier, Ryan and his half-sister, Alison, had an early morning sexual encounter on Pam’s terrace in one of the lounge chairs after her July 4 party that resulted in the birth of baby Morgan. They were both drunk, which was the usual excuse for bad behavior.
Yes, there were a lot of interwoven relationships. She’d mastered the ability to act indifferent to Ryan’s past indiscretions, but the truth was that it bothered her a lot, and she remained on the lookout for any possible new flirtations. Ryan was about as unimpressed with the women in his realm as was humanly possible, due to antidepressants. All except for Lisa.
Lisa was still the love of his life. He was only calm when he was in her presence, surrounded by her many children, or if he was helping Pam in some way. With Hocus causing a possible issue, the fear grew that his carefully organized life would be disrupted.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and, letting it out, opened them to that view that was quickly fading.
In the children’s playroom on the second floor, Daniela was helping the boys return Legos and other toys with small parts so they could get in the shower, when Lisa appeared.
“Daniela, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, pushing the boys toward the bathroom.
“Is Hocus digging for information about Ryan? I know something’s brewing, so don’t deny it.”
“Lisa, I swear to you, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Come on, boys, don’t be nosy. Get in the shower.”
“Why were you on the porch with Ryan?”
“Lisa, I’ve worked for you for how many years? I was looking at the painting he’s doing, that’s all. It’s beautiful, and the sunset was beautiful tonight.”
“You’ve never taken an interest in anything he does. Why now?”
“I swear to you, no reason. I went out to the porch to return porch toys. I’m trying to straighten the toy room because I know all the relatives are going to be coming down here to see the place tomorrow.”
Lisa stared at her, still not convinced. “I think you’re up to something on Hocus’s behalf.”
“You need to calm down,” Daniela said. “Look at me, Lisa. There’s nothing. Nothing, okay? Hocus loves Pam. She’d never do anything to hurt you or anyone Pam loved.”
“I might be overreacting. Jake Stevens got a cancer diagnosis tonight. And we have that damn party tomorrow. I wish my mother would stop with the Memorial Day parties. No one cares about them anymore. Not like they did when my father was alive.”
Daniela put her hand on Lisa’s shoulder. “Go down and be with Ryan. I’ll get these boys to bed, and then I have to get back to the Bronx before nine tonight. Do you want me to work tomorrow?”
“Yes, if you can, Daniela. If not, I’ll find someone to help out.”
“I asked, didn’t I? You go on now, and I’ll get the children in bed. I’ll be back in the morning.”
Daniela had about had it with spoiled-brat Lisa. As soon as she could, she’d let the other nannies know that Lisa was on the edge.Proceed with caution.It didn’t make any sense. Lisa had always been the levelheaded, sane one. Something had happened that year that had life-changing consequences. Everyone talked about it. It had to do with the baby skeleton and the suicide of the Manhattan DA’s wife. Gossip said Pam had pull from a higher place that had put a gag order on the whole proceedings.
“Come on, boys, into your pj’s. I’ll give you your iPads if you’re extra quiet. If you make a peep up here, they’ll get taken away.” She was teaching sly behavior at a young age.
