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“As I said, Mr. Allen, I called you earlier to let you know about the new arrangements. How Mr. Groves and I met and arranged for Tia to be his daughter’s nanny is, unfortunately, private information I cannot share with you, but I’m sure you’re happy to know the little girl is going to get to stay with Tia. From what I understand from her, they really do care about one another. That must make you happy.”
My heart clenched at the thought that Tia would be able to stay with Grace. She wouldn’t be heartbroken about having to miss the little girl, and my niece was going to be thrilled to know her favorite person in the world would be able to stay with her.
But that would mean she and I couldn’t be together. I had planned on asking Tia to stay with me here. She wouldn’t have to work as anyone’s nanny ever again because I’d take care of her. Anything she could want I’d give her.
Now that plan seemed impossible. How could I ask her to let Grace go when I knew it would devastate her?
I swallowed hard to push my emotions down before I answered DeVille. “Yes, of course it makes me happy. I know Tia and Grace are going to be ecstatic.”
“Good. Well, I’ll be there in just a few minutes to pick up Tia. Mr. Groves thought it would be best if he and his daughter met alone, without the nanny, and then he’s going to surprise her later tonight.”
No doubt Grace would love that. I imagined her little face when she saw Tia walk through the door at her new house in the city. I could see the two of them doing that squealing thing they did when they’re happy, like when they ran around the yard chasing leaves.
But if Tia knew about this, why didn’t she tell me and why did she look so torn up about Grace leaving?
“Wait, Mr. DeVille. When did you tell Tia about her new assignment?” I asked, feeling utterly betrayed by everyone at that moment.
“I haven’t,” he said with a laugh. “Mr. Groves thought it would be a nice surprise for her too, so I must insist that you don’t say a word to her about it.”
My heart sank. I couldn’t even give her the good news myself. Even that had been taken away from me.
“That Mr. Groves is really a kid at heart, don’t you think? When I heard he was planning to take his daughter, I immediately put out the word that I wanted to speak to him since Tia had told me about how close she and the little girl are. As soon as he heard his daughter loved her nanny, he told me he wanted to hire her permanently. I know Tia is going to be over the moon about having a full time position with a child she adores. Don’t you agree?”
Unable to say much of anything as the reality of all I was losing settled in, I mumbled, “I’m sure. Well, I need to get things in order for all the changes that will be happening. I hope you understand I won’t be here when you arrive, but my staff will be happy to help you and Tia take her things. Thank you for everything, Mr. DeVille.”
“You’re more than welcome, Mr. Allen. I’m so happy Tia turned out to be exactly what you needed.”
As I ended the call, that truth hit me hard. She had been just what I needed. Tia was everything I needed, and now I had no choice but to give her up so Grace could be happy.
I had to get out of this house before he arrived because there was no way in hell I wanted to watch her walk out the door and leave my life forever.
Chapter Twelve
Tia
I packedthe last of Grace’s clothes in her suitcase and heard a knock on the door behind us. When I turned around, I saw Mr. DeVille, of all people. Surprised he would be standing there in the hallway, I smiled as I zipped up the bag.
“Mr. DeVille? What are you doing here?”
With a charming smile, he said, “I’m here to take you to your next assignment. It’s time to go, Tia.”
Panic tore through me. I hadn’t gotten to talk to Nico since I’d been so busy getting Grace ready for her father’s arrival. I couldn’t leave yet. I needed to speak to him. We had so many things we needed to discuss.
“I can’t yet. I need to have a final meeting with Mr. Allen before I go. It seems only right and the professional thing to do.”
Mr. DeVille held up his hand to stop me. “No need. I’ve told him all about you having to leave now, and I believe he said he was leaving before I arrived.”
“But I need to talk to him. And Grace isn’t ready to go yet. Her father isn’t here. I can’t leave her alone.”
With a smile, he stepped into the bedroom and nodded. “I saw someone coming up the drive as I pulled in, so I think he just arrived. She’s going to be leaving too.”
“Are you saying she doesn’t get a chance to say goodbye to her uncle?” I asked in horror.
So the two of us were just going to leave without even a word to him? Is that how Nico wanted it? He must have if he left the house.
But why? I thought he cared about me. After the last few days, I was sure he did. And I thought he had grown to care about his niece too. It seemed like he had. Was it all an act? Why?
I knew why. I didn’t need to ask such a stupid question. God, I was such a fool. I thought we had something special.
