The Reluctant Au Pair

by Melinda Barron

  “Hi.” Michelle stood and held out her arms as Alex reached for her. She gathered him in her arms and his giggle made her smile for the first time that day.

  “Hey, sweets, how’s it going?” Bea admonished Amelie not to touch anything, then glanced at Michelle for an answer to her question.

  “Alliot’s a jerk, and Mrs. Thaxton hates me, but other than that, it’s fine.”

  “I warned you that he could be stern.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Bea’s wide eyes made Michelle regret her words. “Do tell.”

  “No, it’s just he’s … demanding.” She wasn’t about to tell her childhood friend that she’d been taken over her boss’s knee the night before, and that her bottom still ached from the spanking he’d given her.

  “Oh, well, he is that. And don’t worry, Mrs. Thaxton will warm up to you.”

  “Doubt it.” Michelle bounced Alex on her hip. “Please tell me you’re staying for dinner.”

  “Sorry, not tonight. Duty calls, and we have to go to Luc’s mother’s house. We won’t be back until late because she always insists on playing a game of marbles with the kids.”

  “Marbles? I didn’t think anyone still played marbles.”

  “She does, and the boys love it. Amelie just watches, but everyone else really gets into it, and sometimes we play two or three games.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Michelle thought about inviting herself along, but knew that she had other things to do, like take care of Alex.

  “Hey, let’s go for a picnic this weekend. It’ll be fun, and the kids will love it.” Bea glanced behind her and she knew Alliot had come inside. “You can come, too.”

  “No, I’ll watch the baby.”

  “Nonsense,” Bea said. “A little play time is always fun, for everyone.”

  “It’s funny you should say that.” He put out his arms and took Alex from Michelle. The baby fussed for a few minutes, then settled down into his uncle’s arms for a few seconds before starting to squirm again. “I was just going to suggest to Michelle that we go for a walk. She’s been inside her all day long.”

  He tried to soothe the baby, who wasn’t having any part of it. Realizing defeat, he handed him back to Michelle.

  “I’ll get the baby carrier and meet you downstairs.” He nodded and left and Bea flashed a shocked look at Michelle.

  “You’re taming the wild beast.”

  “No, he’s just trying to prove he has feelings. I told him earlier that he had none.”

  “Oh, Michelle, why did you do that?” Bea took a step closer and put her hand on Michelle’s arm. “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story, and I don’t want to go into it. He’s right, though. I’ve been in here all day and it’s time to get some sunshine.”

  They found Alliot waiting on the back deck. He strapped Alex into a stroller as Michelle said goodbye to Bea and Amelie. Then, he carried the stroller down the steps.

  “I thought we’d take a tour of the gardens.” His face was impassive, but she knew that, despite his stern demeanor earlier, he was more than a little hurt by her words, and that made her feel bad. She wasn’t sure why. After all, she was the one who had been spanked the night before, not him.

  They walked in silence for a while before Michelle decided it was time to try and form some sort of bond with him that didn’t include her being taken over his knee.

  “It’s nice out today.” She laughed at her own words. “Sorry, I’m nervous and trying to make conversation.”

  “It is nice,” he replied. “And don’t worry, I’m not going to take you over my knee in the garden. Not today, anyway.”

  “Thanks. That makes me feel so much better.”

  They exchanged grins, then stopped at the edge of the garden. “The vineyard is huge.”

  “The crop is doing well this year. I believe Luc is very talented, and a great addition to the winery. When I go back to Paris, it will be nice to know it’s left in his capable hands.”

  Warmth spread through Michelle’s belly. “That’s good to hear. Have you told him?”

  “Not yet. I’d like to wait until the finances are in better shape. Which brings us around to your work. It looks like you’ve done quite a bit today.”

  “I have a lot sorted, yes, but I haven’t really gone through anything, or seen what was what yet. After tomorrow, all the things will be put in piles, and I can start putting stuff through the computer translator.”

  He leaned over and took Alex out of his stroller, pushing the carriage aside as they started to walk again. The baby, who had not been thrilled to be in his uncle’s arms earlier, seemed content to be held this time. He grasped Alliot’s shirt in his hand and stared at his surroundings in wonder.

  They turned to the left, and Michelle stopped to examine some flowers, lightly running her fingers over the tight blue buddings. “These are beautiful. What are they?”

  “My mother called them Jackman’s Blues. I’m not sure what their real name is.”

  “Not much of a gardener, huh?”

  “No. Neither was my brother. We hire someone to work the garden, Mr. Thaxton.”

  “Of course.” Michelle cleared her throat. “As long as we’re trying to bond, I mean after last night and all, can I ask you something?”

  “Is it personal?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then yes, you may, to help with the bond and all.”

  She drew in a deep breath. “Why do you say, ‘my brother,’ instead of calling him Antoine?”

  “That’s why you think me cold?” The look he gave her was impassive.

  “Part of it, yes.”

  Alliot sat down on a bench, setting Alex down in front of him. The baby stared at the grass, then started to pull on it.

  “Antoine and I were never close. Our parents were distant with us, and with each other. I suppose I’m the same way. Before my brother died, I hadn’t seen him in over a year.”

  “You’re kidding? What about when the baby was born?”

  “I sent a gift.”

  “Oh well, I suppose that’s all right.” Michelle tried to put levity in her voice. “I’m sure Alex appreciated it.”

  As if sensing they were talking about him, the baby got onto his hands and knees and started to rock, his eyes fixed on the flowers right across from him.

  “Shouldn’t he be crawling by now?” Alliot turned a confused glance on Michelle.

  “You’re asking me? I have no clue. Maybe he’s working on it, you know. I’ll ask Bea tomorrow.”

  Alliot stood and picked up the baby, who screamed to be put back down. Alliot started to walk, and Michelle fell into step next to him.

  “I’d like us to be friends, Michelle. What can I do to facilitate that?”

  “Well, you can stop using words like facilitate that make me feel like I’m in a courtroom. Plus, you can promise not to spank me again.”

  “Yes on the former, and no, on the latter. That spanking spurred you into action, so it did what it was supposed to do. Admit it.”

  “The fear of another one did that.”

  “It’s the same difference. The fear of another spanking will keep you motivated, and keep you working quickly.”

  “Whatever you want to think, Alliot. But I think I’m more likely to work better when I don’t have the threat of a spanking over my head. Plus, going back to your earlier question, I’m more likely to like you when I don’t think you’re going to spank me.”

  He stopped and turned to her. “Do you think? I don’t.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because, I think you’ve already made up your mind about me. I’m sure Bea told you I was cold, and indifferent. I wonder, though, how they all would react if a brother they hardly had any contact with died, and left them with a huge mess, and a baby to raise.”

  “You resent Alex?”

  “I did at first, but not anymore. He grows on you, as you’ve seen. I admit to being angry with my b
rother sometimes, although his dying wasn’t his fault. I’m sure he didn’t plan it.”

  “Yes, I can see that, about Alex, I mean.” She tickled the baby’s chin. “I can’t tell you about Antoine, though. I’m sorry for what you’re going thorough.”

  He nodded curtly, and she sighed. “I tell you what. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll put aside any feelings I already have about you being cold and indifferent, if you promise not to take Mrs. Thaxton’s side in arguments anymore. Deal?”

  “That one, I can do.” His grin was genuine. “As a matter of fact, maybe I should talk to her.”

  “No, don’t do that. Just let me handle it. But don’t get involved anymore. Promise?”

  “I promise. Now, I think this one is getting tired.” He cuddled Alex close to him.

  “Here, I’ll take him and put him down Then, I’ll meet you in the office.” She took Alex to his room, surprised that taking care of him had become so easy so quickly. It didn’t take long to change him, then rock him to sleep.

  When he was down, she took the monitor and went up to the office, only to find Alliot still standing in the doorway.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Waiting for you.” He stepped aside and she took his place in the doorway. Papers were everywhere, littered across every surface and all over the floor. All her carefully stacked piles were now nothing more than rubble.

  She gasped, her mouth falling open.

  “What? There’s no window, and no wind.”

  “No, this was done by a person.” He stepped inside, and then looked back at her.

  “How can you be so calm? All my work, gone. For what? What were they looking for?”

  “That’s a good question.”

  She rushed past him. “We should call the police.”

  “And tell them what, Michelle? That someone knocked over our papers? No, we need to work even harder now, together, until we make sense of the mess, and see what is what.”

  Michelle turned to Alliot, who wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

  “This doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “Has anyone touched these papers before?”

  “Well,” Alliot replied, “When I saw the mess of papers after Antoine’s death, I just assumed it was him, that he’d been a poor bookkeeper. Now, seeing this, I wonder if someone searched through them earlier, looking for something.”

  Realization dawned and Michelle lifted her gaze to Alliot’s. “That would mean…”

  “Yes, it would.”

  “Alex.” She pushed away from him and ran for the stairs.

  “Michelle, wait. We have the monitor, and there’s no one in there. They don’t want the baby. They want whatever is in this room that they can’t seem to find. I think the two of us need to spend the night, all night if necessary, searching until we find what they were looking for.”

  Chapter Five

  Before they started work, Michelle convinced Alliot to bring Alex into the room with them. She placed the still sleeping baby in his playpen, and then turned her gaze to her boss.

  “I’m not sure where to start.”

  “That makes two of us.” His voice was soft and he took a step closer. “We need to work quietly, since Alex is in the room. We’ll work for a few hours tonight, then start again in the morning.”

  “I can see if Bea would take Alex tomorrow. Having him here distracts me. If someone would go through the papers like this, maybe they would do something to Alex, too.”

  “It’s a possibility, and I’d rather keep him close.” He stared down at the sleeping baby. “Bringing him down here was a good idea. And, I trust Bea to take good care of him.”

  It was the first kink in Alliot’s armor she’d seen since she’d arrived. It was obvious to her that he cared for the child, even if he was basically thrust upon him. Of course, she’d been reluctant to take part in the child’s care, too, and now she cared about him just as much.

  “We should attack piles together,” she said. “It might go faster that way.”

  “You’re right,” Alliot replied. “Let’s start over here.”

  They moved to a mess near the far wall, and sat down on the floor. They picked up papers and sorted through them, their only words being to say which pile would be which. Alliot decided he wanted all the bills in one stack, all the other letters in another. From there, he said they would go through them tomorrow.

  “And, having me here will keep you from having to put them through the translator on the computer.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Yes.” He picked up a handful of papers and handed it to her. “Shall we get to work?”

  Several hours later, Michelle thought the mess seemed to look the same. She stretched her arms above her head and cleared her throat.

  “Alliot? Perhaps we should stop for the night.”

  He glanced at his watch and nodded. “It might not be a bad idea. Still, I hate not having any clue why someone would do this.”

  Michelle’s thoughts strayed to Mrs. Thaxton. She bit her lower lip, and then glanced at the playpen.

  “What?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You have an idea? Tell me.”

  “No, I have no idea. It’s just … I’m just tired.”

  “No, I can tell by the look on your face that you’re lying to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  She stood, carefully stepping over the newly constructed piles before moving toward Alex.

  “Michelle. Tell me.”

  She shook her head as she stared at the baby. Then, she leaned over and picked him up. “I’m going to bed.”

  “No, you’re going to tell me what you’re thinking.”

  She turned to him, keeping her voice low as she spoke. “Or what? You’re going to spank me again?”

  “If need be.”

  Instead of answering, she took the baby and headed for the door, surprised when he didn’t tell her to stop. Once down the stairs, she went to Alex’s room and put him in his crib, surprised he hadn’t woken the whole time. When she went to her own room, it was to find Alliot perched on her bed, a scowl on his face.

  “Don’t ever walk away from me.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “If you have something to say, I want to hear what it is.”

  “That’s just it, I don’t have anything to say.”

  “Nonsense. Something is bothering you, and the longer you make me wait, the more angry I’m going to become.”

  She thought about telling him that she was just worried about Alex, or about the intruder who had scattered the papers, but she knew he would never believe her. Finally, she sighed loudly.

  “How do I know you won’t spank me for voicing my opinion.”

  “Because that’s complete and utter nonsense. I will, however, spank you again if you continue to make me wait. That I can guarantee you.”

  “I was thinking about Mrs. Thaxton. Everyone here has been pleasant, if you discount the spanking I received, except her. She doesn’t want me here, and I have to wonder why. I also have to wonder if she’s been this way with the au pairs who have worked here, and if so, why she is running them off, too.”

  He didn’t say anything, but a puzzle look came over his face. He focused on her, and then licked his lips.

  “She’s been very rude to me,” she continued. “Plus, she was the only one in the house while we were outside.”

  “The doors were wide open. Anyone could have come in from the vineyard and helped themselves to the rooms.”

  “Does everyone know what we’re doing up here? I mean, going through Antoine’s papers?”

  “No.” The answer was curt. “Only the people in the house, which would be the Thaxtons, and Bea and Luc.”

  “And who would know how to find the office quickly? We were only outside for about an hour, maybe less.”

  When he swallowed hard, she knew her words had hit home.

  “Maybe she’s been taking the money, or her and her husband togeth
er have taken it. Have you considered that?”

  “No, I haven’t. But they don’t have access to the accounts.” There was no conviction behind his words.

  Michelle snorted. “Things can be forged. If anything, my former employer taught me that. I’m not saying they did it, but it’s worth looking into. What do you know about them?”