by E. Walsh
Warning
This book contains graphic content intended for readers 18+ years old.
If you are under 18 years old, or are not comfortable with adult content, please close this book now.
* * *
Prologue
“Okay, who can tell me what happens after we finish Snack Time?” Kira Bishop asked, handing out the last of the cheese and crackers to the children.
A chorus of excited little voices went up around the circle. “Music Time!”
“That’s right! Music Time!” she said, beaming. “Are we all ready to get our groove on?”
“Yeah!”
“All right!” Kira held out her hand to the little boy nearest to her and he slapped his tiny palm against hers. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” She looked over at her fellow daycare volunteer. “Miss Laura, can you get Music Time started?”
“Sure thing, Miss Kira!”
“Thanks.” Collecting all the empty juice boxes and plates, Kira headed for the kitchen.
The daycare’s owner and manager, Dorothy, was pulling clean blankets out of the dryer for Nap Time, which came after Music Time when the kids were worn out from dancing and getting their indoor exercise for the afternoon. The older woman smiled at her young assistant. “You really are good with them,” Dorothy remarked, nodding in the direction of the main activity room. “You’re going to make a great mother someday.”
Kira chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know if I’ll have kids of my own,” she said, as she loaded the dishwasher. “I just love working with children.” She added soap and closed the door. “What I’d really like to do is go into child psychology, so I can help kids like Andrew.” She looked out at the group, to a sad-looking, dark-skinned little boy sitting quietly at the outermost edge of the circle. Andrew came from a broken home. His abusive father now sat behind bars serving a maximum of fifteen years, but the scars he left on his five children – from the oldest at thirteen to five-year-old Andrew – would be a lifetime sentence. Kira’s heart had gone out to the boy from the moment his mother first dropped him off.
“Well, you certainly have brought him out of his shell,” Dorothy remarked. “When he first got here, I didn’t think we would be able to keep him – what with the nightmares, and the acting out during playtime.” She shook her head and looked up at the tall, thin high school girl. “But you reached him. He doesn’t disrupt naptime anymore, he isn’t fighting over toys, and he hasn’t wet his pants in over a month. You have a natural aptitude, a real gift when it comes to understanding the needs of others.”
The corners of Kira’s lips lifted. “I try,” she said. She accepted the freshly folded blankets, still warm and smelling of lavender, from Dorothy and took them back out to the main room. Placing them on the shelf next to the sleeping pads, she returned to the circle just as Miss Laura was getting everyone on their feet in preparation for Music Time. “Everyone find their partner!” Kira called out. Each child joined hands with the boy or girl to their right. Kira made sure to be next to Andrew. She got down on her knees beside him to be closer to his height, and held out her hand. “Oh, lucky me – looks like I get to be your partner, today.” Seeing the boy’s shy smile made her heart sing with happiness.
Miss Laura started the music. “Okay, here we go! Everyone, now: hands up high…now bow down low!”
They lifted their joined hands into the air. Bringing them down again, they bent forward at the waist.
“Now face your partner!”
Kira shifted around on her knees to face Andrew. They went through a series of making silly faces per Miss Laura’s instructions, shaking their shoulders, rocking back and forth, and marching in place. You never knew what she would say next, and it would have the kids – and Kira – laughing as they followed along.
“Aaaand jazz hands!” Miss Laura said at the end, which was everyone’s favorite part.
With Nap Time came a story. All the kids begged for Miss Kira to read to them. Kira, Laura and Dorothy rolled out the sleeping pads and the children got comfortable, each covered with a fresh, soft blanket. Once they had the kids settled in, Kira sat down with a storybook and began to read out loud.
“Once upon a time…”
* * *
Chapter 1
“Kira!”
She stopped walking and looked around. The cool, late autumn breeze caught a few strands of her dark hair and blew them across her face; she reached up with one hand and brushed them away from her brown eyes, smiling when she saw a diminutive girl running toward her across the quad. Kira could feel her heart already pounding in her chest with excitement. When she first met her dorm mate, Emily Carter, Kira had not expected they would hit it off so quickly. She also had not counted on developing a sizable crush on her friend. Of course, how could she not? Emily was like something out of a fairy tale, delicate and gamin, with pixie-cut strawberry blonde hair and large, sleepy green eyes. And she had that adorable British accent. All she was missing was a pair of gossamer wings and a magic wand. Kira waited for Emily to catch up to her and they started walking again. “Where have you been?” Kira asked. “I didn’t see you in PSYC 201 today. Everything okay?”
“Sort of,” Emily replied, and Kira could hear the tension in her voice. Like Kira, her nose and cheeks were flushed red but not from the crisp fall air. No, Emily had been crying. She looked up at Kira with a grimace. “The baby came this morning. My father called to give me all the details.”
“Oh.” Kira cringed. In their two months of being friends, she knew two things about Emily: one, that her mother had been killed in a car accident five years ago when she was just fifteen; and two, that her father was billionaire record producer Benton Carter, founder and CEO of Euterpe Music, and had recently remarried to a woman just ten years older than Emily.
Kira also knew that Emily hated her stepmother. She had often described the woman as condescending and self-centered. Emily could not stand to be in her presence. That in itself explained the reason for her dour expression and sullen tone. Kira could offer little more than a sympathetic, “I’m sorry.”
“Not as sorry as he should be,” Emily muttered, referring to her father. She tightened both hands around the strap of her messenger bag, the knuckles on her small fists going white from the grip. “He refuses to see her for what she really is – a gold digger. And a tramp,” she threw in, as her deep-seated contempt began to rear its head. “Did I tell you how she was still seeing this one chap right up until Dad proposed? Pathetic bugger continued to send her tweets, telling her how much he missed her and wanted to see her again, even after word of the engagement broke out over the media.” She huffed and shook her head. “And Dad, he just refused to see any of it. He only started dating her last year and within a few months she was pregnant. If you ask me, I don’t even think the baby is his – I think the other man is the father. But it was being ‘in the family way’ that made them rush into marriage. Naturally, she just had to have this big, expensive, private wedding – Dad paying for everything, of course. I didn’t want to go but he begged me to be there. God, but you should have heard the whispers, Kira! So many of Dad’s friends were shaking their heads…one of his closest friends didn’t even bother to show up, calling it a ‘joke.’ His best man looked embarrassed through the entire ceremony. You could cut the discomfort in the chapel with a knife.”
Kira listened and picked at a pill of fuzz on her red pullover sweater. She didn’t have to imagine how hard it was to have a famous father and have your entire life under a microscope. She saw firsthand how Emily often had to dodge Paparazzi whenever they left the Vassar campus to go shopping or have lunch together around Poughkeepsie. Kira found herself becoming protective, often insinuating herself between the cameras and her smaller companion. Once, a rather pushy photographer had shouted out, asking Emily if Kira was her lover and if her father would approve of her dating “a commoner.” The question had shaken Kira; if she had been a violent person, she would have hauled off and d
ecked the guy.
“So,” Kira said, putting on a new smile, “what did she have – a boy or a girl?”
“Boy,” Emily said, with another sour face. She let out a loud sigh. “Which Sofia is probably already referring to as the first-born male heir to the throne.” She snorted and scuffed at the sidewalk with the toe of one knee-high boot. “Like I care if I don’t inherit Dad’s business. I want to be a forensic psychologist, that’s why I’m going to university. I’m not a bloody Kardashian, living off my father’s fame.”
“I doubt there’s a Kardashian who can even spell the word ‘psychologist,’” Kira said, in an attempt at dry humor to lighten Emily’s mood. She shot a sideways glance at her friend and noted with some triumph – going by the smile that curled Emily’s bowed lips – it had worked. She tossed her head. “Come on. Let’s head over to The Kiosk and get some coffee. I’ll share my notes from class so you’re all caught up.”
“Ta,” Emily said. “And thanks for letting me bitch about my stepmother and my father’s joke of a marriage to that beastly woman.” She leaned into Kira’s side, briefly pressing her head against the taller girl’s shoulder. “Don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Kira said lightly. In spite of her smile, she felt the ache of longing deep inside, a feeling she knew she would never be able to share with Emily for fear of losing her friendship. In two months, Emily gave no indication of being attracted to other women; she had even gone out on a few dates with two different guys, nothing serious. Kira pursed her full lips and resigned herself to the fact that she would have to get this crush of hers under control.
* * *
Chapter 2
At the end of her second year of college, Kira found herself facing more tuition fees in order to continue her education. Still dressed in the shorts and t-shirt she had worn for her morning jog, she sat in a chair by the window, long, pale legs stretched out in the warm spring sunlight, and contemplated her options. “I have to get a job,” she announced at last.
“What’s that?” Emily asked, coming into their shared dorm room after her final class for the day. She dropped her bag onto the single bed across from Kira’s and flopped down onto the edge of the mattress, reaching down to slip off her high heel sandals. She looked cute today – when doesn’t she? Kira wondered, still harboring an attraction toward her friend despite the past seven months of trying to distract herself. The sleeveless sheath dress came to just above the knee and had a delicate floral print.
“I need to find a summer job,” Kira said.
“A job?” Emily echoed, frowning. “But, I thought you were going to come with me to Europe this summer!”
“I know,” Kira said, equally disappointed. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford to do both. And I don’t want you paying my way,” she added, when Emily started to open her mouth. “I already told you, I’m not going to be one of those friends who sponges off you just because you come from money.” She smiled, hooking her elbows on the arms of the office chair and folding her hands over her stomach. “Besides, didn’t you say you wanted to visit some of your mother’s relatives while you were over there?” Kira shook her head. “You really don’t need me tagging along, for that.”
“Well, I wasn’t planning on staying with them the whole time,” Emily said. “I wanted the two of us to have some fun. You’ve never been to London or Paris. I was looking forward to showing you all the best sights…going to some of the best clubs.”
“Getting thrown into some of the best jails?” Kira offered with a teasing smirk and an arched eyebrow.
Emily snorted. “Hardly!” She grabbed a pillow off her bed and lobbed it at Kira, who laughed and caught it. “Bloody hell,” Emily groaned, and fell over onto her side across her bed, one arm and one leg hanging off the side to complete her dramatic display. “Well, what are you going to do, then?” She turned her head, craning her neck to look over at Kira. “Wait tables?”
“Actually, I was looking into applying for a nanny position somewhere down in Manhattan,” Kira said. “I worked at a daycare center throughout high school, I’m sure I can get references from there. Plus, I just finished my second year of studies into child psychology and development.”
Emily stared at her a moment. Letting out an amused snort, she looked away.
“What?” Kira asked, frowning in confusion.
“Nothing.” Emily rocked her head on the mattress. “Well, actually…what you just said…it made me think of something.” She pushed herself up onto her elbow. “My dad sent me a text last night saying he was thinking about hiring an au pair to help with William. Apparently, his wife is too busy swanning about to be bothered with raising her own child. It’s not like Dad can do it – he’s got a company to run.”
“Your father needs someone to help take care of the baby?” Kira perked up at this news. “I know I said I wouldn’t sponge off you for money, but would you be willing to put in a good word for me, if you think he might hire me? At least to let me get an interview.”
“Oh, no,” Emily said, sitting up and shaking her head again. “Kira, no – I couldn’t let you do that.”
“Why not?”
Emily leveled her with a stare. “You do realize if you got the position you would be forced to live under the same roof as Sofia the Succubus, right? I cannot in good conscience allow a dear friend of mine to be subjected to that kind of torment.”
“Well, you just said she’s never home. Maybe I wouldn’t have to see her that much.” Kira smiled. “Come on, Em – I really need a job. This would be perfect for me!” She tilted her head, stuck out her lower lip, and gave Emily the biggest brown doe-eyes she could muster. “Pleeease?”
“Oh, all right!” Emily threw up her hands in defeat. She then shook a finger at Kira. “Just remember: I warned you about her. My stepmother is an utter bitch. She will talk down to you, she will treat you like you’re an idiot, and when she isn’t doing that she will nauseate you with her vanity. We’re talking about the same woman who once elbowed my elderly grandparents – I am not joking, she physically pushed them – out of the way at an awards ceremony Dad invited them to attend, just so she could get a photo taken alongside my father and see a picture of herself on TMZ.” She leaned back, arms folded under her small breasts. “That’s the kind of monster you would be exposed to, on a daily basis.”
“All right, all right,” Kira chuckled, holding up her hands. “I get it. And I’ll be careful. But just think of this.” She bent forward in a conspiratorial manner and lowered her voice. “I can send you reports over the summer and we can totally talk trash about her through Skype chats and text messages.”
Emily’s green eyes widened. “You wicked girl,” she breathed, and broke into a wide grin. “I love it.”
True to her word, Emily made a referral to her father on Kira’s behalf. With the school year complete, they packed up their dorm room and headed down to Manhattan and the luxurious Central Park West townhouse owned by Benton Carter. Kira tried not to let her mouth hang open as she took in the opulent décor. She made sure not to touch anything, either, for fear she would break something worth more than a lifetime of Vassar tuition.
“Where’s your dad?” Kira asked.
“He’s on a conference call right now,” Emily said. She led the way toward the stairs. “Come on, I’ll give you a quick tour of the place while we’re waiting for him to finish up.” She looked back over her shoulder. “Unless Sofia had my room converted into a nursery, you’re more than welcome to use it while you’re here.”
“If I get the position,” Kira said. “What if your stepmom decides not to hire me because I’m your friend?”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Emily said, as they reached the second floor. “Dad is handling the whole hiring process. Sofia said she didn’t want to be bothered with it.”
They found that one of the guest rooms closer to the master suite had been converted to a nursery, and that Emily’s bedc
hamber and private bath had been left untouched. Kira saw the baby asleep in his crib. She smiled and leaned over to stroke his brown hair. “He’s so beautiful,” she said softly. William began to stir and opened his eyes. Immediately, he began to fuss. Kira cooed at him. “Oh, hey, now. What’s going on, huh? Come here, sweetheart…” She reached in and gently scooped him up. “Well, hello, you! Hello, William! Aren’t you a handsome boy? Smells like you’ve got a wet diaper, too. Why don’t we just take care of that, all right?” She carried him over to a changing table and laid him down. The whole time she worked, she spoke to him, made faces, and had him laughing by the time she had William cleaned up and into a fresh diaper. “There we go! All done!”
Emily watched the whole process, bemused. “You really are good with kids,” she said.
“So I’ve been told,” Kira remarked, and sent a grin in her direction. She returned her attention to the baby. “Oh, he’s a big boy, too.” She had seen photos of Emily’s father and stepmother, and decided the child looked more like the latter. “Well, I don’t want to just leave him alone, now that he’s awake…plus, he might be hungry.”
“They probably have bottles made up for him downstairs in the kitchen,” Emily said.
They left the nursery and took a second staircase down that led directly to a large kitchen with state of the art appliances and granite countertops. Hitching William on one hip, Kira opened the refrigerator and searched inside. To her surprise she found a container labeled as ‘BREAST MILK.’ “Looks like Sofia is at least pumping,” she said, pulling the carton from the shelf. With Emily’s help, they were able to locate bottles and formula, and mix up something for William. Kira sat down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table and proceeded to feed the baby. She noticed Emily watching her and smiled. “Want to try it?” she asked. “If nothing else, you can use it as blackmail down the line when he’s older, telling him how you once fixed his bottles. I sometimes like to remind my youngest brother not to give me grief because I used to change his diapers when he was a baby and I was ten. It has more impact if you do it in front of their potential girlfriends. And yes, he just turned eleven and he now has a girlfriend.”