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“What’s that, Sweetheart?”
“We made you an ice bath! Anna said that it would help your muscles feel better. Is that true?”
He nods. “It is. That was very thoughtful of you both. Thank you. Do I have time to soak before dinner?”
I look at the timer on the oven before answering him with a small smile. “Dinner should be ready in 20 minutes. The longest you should soak in an ice bath is ten minutes max, depending on your body’s tolerance to the cold. That should give you plenty of time.”
“Did my mom tell you that?” The hint of arrogance lacing his tone ruffles my feathers.
I may be nothing more than a nanny to him, but that doesn’t mean I’m uneducated. “No. Amazingly enough, I was able to figure that out all on my own.”
Chapter six
Savannah
Idon’t bother waiting for Aiden’s response as I walk away, thinking that I may have overreacted. After listening to Martha’s conversation with him this morning, Aiden could have simply wondered if she had anything to do with the act of kindness. I can’t really blame him for that. While it was Martha who informed us of the tough workout that he was sure to endure, it was in passing and without any ulterior motives, as far as I could tell.
I turn around to apologize to Aiden for my attitude, only to see his retreating form as he heads upstairs.
“How come you don’t like my dad?” Penny asks, picking up on the tension between Aiden and me.
“I like him just fine. Sometimes, I take things more personally than I should, which comes out in a snarky tone. It’s not one of my best qualities, but I promise I’m working on it,” I tell her.
Martha walks in, having overheard what I just said. “We’re all a work in progress, and no one is perfect. All we can do is ask for forgiveness, right? Lord knows I’ve asked Him for enough of it when I hit menopause. Those mood swings are a doozy.”
A handsome man who looks like an older version of Aiden walks in and introduces himself. “I’m Reginald Shaw, but everyone calls me Reggie. You must be Anna. Martha has told me so much about you.” The twinkle in his eye tells me he has been appraised of who I am and why I’m here. He offers his hand for me to shake, and I take it.
“Anna Blackwood, nanny extraordinaire! Mary Poppins has nothing on me!” I tease, and then I take the loaf of freshly-baked bread out of the oven to prove my point.
He laughs. “I don’t doubt it for a second. I apologize for not introducing myself as soon as I got here. I snuck in and spent a few minutes with this gorgeous woman while I could.” He puts his arm around Martha’s shoulders and squeezes lovingly.
I frown and pull out my phone. I didn’t get any alerts indicating that anyone had arrived, including Aiden, who had just surprised me by his presence.
“What’s the matter? Why do you look sad?” Penny asks.
“I’m not sad. This is my thinking face. I’m just a little perplexed why there wasn’t a notification that your dad and grandpa had arrived.” The comment was more for Martha and Reggie, hoping they might provide me with a little insight.
“Oh, that! You won’t as long as someone has the code to get in. The only time it pings is when security lets someone through the front gate and if the cameras are activated by motion,” Martha explains.
“Penny, why don’t you go get washed up for dinner? Then I’ll need your help to set the table,” I suggest.
Once Penny leaves to do as I requested, I ask Martha, “How many people have this code?”
She briefly thinks about it but then starts rattling off a long list of names. “Aiden, Reggie, me, Swank, Patricia’s parents, Paul, the maid, the gardener, our maintenance personnel, the bodyguards Aiden hired, and the security team. Reggie, can you think of anyone else I might have forgotten?”
He notices my arched eyebrows and shakes his head. “I think that’s all, but by the expression on Anna’s face, I’m assuming that’s more than there should be. Anna, every time a code is used, it’s registered in the system. No one can get through the gate without it getting recorded and logged.”
“Can you set it up so that an alert is sent every time the gate opens, regardless of who has the code? I need to know who is on the premises and when. There’s nothing to stop someone from compromising any of you or your employees to gain access. Aiden’s arrival surprised me, too, and that concerns me. I don’t have eyes in the back of my head, so I have to trust the security to some degree to keep me informed of what’s going on.” I really wish I had my team with me right now.
“Those are all people we trust, so we hadn’t thought that would be an issue,” Martha says, slightly chagrined. The sound of tiny footsteps approaching prevents us from discussing it further, but Reggie dips his chin once and silently promises to take care of the problem.
“Is dinner ready?” Penny asks.
“Almost. Do you want to help me set the table?” I grab five forks, butter knives, and spoons for her, not giving her the chance to decline. I reach for the plates and set them on the table, then the glasses. Penny puts everything in its proper place without argument. Martha and Reggie smile approvingly.
“Many hands make light work. Thank you for the help,” I tell Penny, who is more than satisfied with herself and a job well done.
“Did you know that saying was first used in Sir Bevis of Hampton, dating back to the 1300s?” she asks.
