by Anne Eliot
“Mrs. Felix and I will hardly be around while we sort things out, so you will often be working on your own. The guys and Vere, Hunter’s girlfriend, will check on you and serve as backup.”
“I can work as many hours as you want and I don’t mind being alone. But…” I glance at Sage, who’s grinning like an idiot, as well as clutching his chest and doing the mock-hyperventilating thing again. “There is the matter of my little brother, Sage. I can’t leave him to fend for himself all the time. If it’s possible, I’d like to be with him most evenings.”
“No.” Sage whisper chokes out like he’s been holding his breath. “Tell them you want me picked up and dropped off along with you.” He wiggles his brows up and down. “If they’re not down for that idea, then you’ll need concert tickets, autographs, swag, and eventually they let me come over. Say it.”
I shake my head at the kid.
Thankfully Gregory didn’t hear my little brother, because he simply answers me with, “We shall try to keep it to daylight hours, then.”
“Thank you, Sir,” I reply glaring at Sage to shut-up. “Can you please hold for a second while I ask Mrs. Perino a question?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Putting the phone on mute I ask Mrs. Perino, “I’m going to need a babysitter or like a summer camp—one that can allow credit until I get paid. If I can’t find one, I can’t really accept.”
Sage’s expression goes from joyful and excited to murderous. “Hold up. I do not need a babysitter.”
“Well you can’t loiter around the hotel pool all day while I work.”
“I’ve thought of a possible solution.” Mrs. Perino places a hand on Sage’s arm. “Anna and Julia are such busy ones now that they are out of school, which means they often get in trouble while I’m baking. I was going to hire someone to help me this week, and now I don’t have to. If you’re interested in the job, Sage, they would be thrilled to have you, babysitting them. He makes sure they stay out of trouble, and I can keep an eye on all three. We can do a trial tomorrow.” She eyes the phone. “We shall talk about details tomorrow night after we’ve tried it, but at least agree it can work?”
Sage is nodding his head up and down, his eyes commanding me to agree.
“We could try it. Yes. And thank you.” I breathe out a big sigh of relief.
I take the phone off mute. “Okay. We’re all settled here. I’m in.” I glance at Sage’s wide smile. “We’re all in.”
“Wonderful.” Gregory pulls in a fast, panicked sounding breath as a baby’s wail starts up in the background. “Oh gosh…do you hear her? What could it possibly be this time?”
I smile at the sound of resigned-fear in his voice and say, “Find her binky, it may have popped out otherwise she could need a quick change and some rocking. If it’s not sleep time, she could be bored. Sing to her, play with her, show her pictures from books?”
“If only you could start right now.” The cries grow louder. “Adam and Royce have us helping out on shifts. The guys are tired from the concert, so my mother and I are up next. God help us both.”
“Thank you for the phone call and the job. See you tomorrow,” I say.
“Yes. If we all live that long. Looking forward to it, Robin. Bye.”
He ends the call before I can say goodbye.
“Thank you. Angel, Mrs. Perino. Thank you,” I whisper.
Angel’s gaze skates over my face as he stands and takes the phone out of my hand. I can tell by the extra glittering in his eyes he might be more choked up than his mom seems to be again. “I’m going to check the rabbits. Sage, you can come see them if you want.”
Sage jumps up beaming. “Heck yes, I want!”
Mrs. Perino smiles at my little brother’s noisy exit. “While they do the animals, maybe you can help me tuck in the girls. And then, shall I tuck in you and Sage?”
She beams so happily at me that I tell myself her smile is why I don’t reject her idea, only nod. Sage and I don’t need tucking in, I know this, but I think Sage will love being tucked in by this kind, very motherly woman.
And, fine.
So will I.
Chapter 15
Getting into the Guarderobe limo for work the next morning, is just as surreal as it was being in this same limo yesterday. Possibly even more so, because it was sent all the way from the Orb Hotel to the Perino house for the sole purpose of collecting me and only me.
Angel had already left for work when it arrived promptly at 6:30 in the morning. Its arrival was announced by a sharp knock at the front door from the same Mr. Cranky Chauffeur who, though polite, still treated me with utter disdain. Disregarding his curious glances through the rear view mirror, I act busy and check the still-installed car seat, then pick up a lost pink pacifier that’s been wedged into the back of the seat. I turn it over and over in my hands, wondering if poor Gregory and Mrs. Felix spent the night searching for this thing again.
Before I left the Perino’s house, Mrs. Perino had asked the driver to load up some last-minute pastries she’d baked for Gregory as the promised thank-you order. As she followed the chauffeur out to be certain he handled the boxes properly, she’d called over her shoulder ask me to remind Gregory how these are a gift.
I’d nodded in agreement, but I’m not sure if I’m going to be brave enough to be able to do anything but place the boxes in a kitchen somewhere. While Mrs. Perino was bossing the chauffeur around and probably making the salty dude even more cranky, I’d cornered Sage in the kitchen, who was gobbling up the leftover apple pastries Mrs. Perino had saved aside just for him.
I reach over and break off a bit of his pastry before asking, “Are you going to be okay?”
“Duh. Of course. Stop asking me that.” He rolls his eyes and stuffs the rest of the apple-butter concoction into his mouth and then speaks with a full mouth, “I’m still bitter I can’t just hop in that limo with you and meet my favorite band, you know?”
“Yeah. I get you. Have patience, be happy I’ve got a job. One thing at a time, right?”
“Tell them about me at least, would you? Mention how awesome I am and that I’d be happy to come with you each day should they need extra help.”
“I promise as soon as I’m comfortable there, I’m going to do that, and more, but I can’t promise I’m going to mention you today. I don’t want questions asked, you know?”
Dropping my voice, I’d added, “Please remember we can’t share any of our secrets to the Perinos, either. None. Do not talk about Dad, or us, or where we used to live, or what is going on—nothing until my birthday. That’s when me, taking charge of you, should be legal. In a week, I’ll officially be an adult according to the law. That’s when I can approach a lawyer to help me.” I grin. “And I’ll even have money to pay him.”
He’d nodded a couple of times before taking another huge bite of pastry while talking again with a too-full mouth, “Mrs. Perino said if these first days work out she might be able to hire me as a paid babysitter for the whole summer.”
“Did she? That’s so nice,” I’d said trying to keep my voice light.
“Yes.” He’d licked his fingers clean. “You act all tough, like you’re in charge of both of our lives, but you forget that you aren’t all alone in figuring out what we’re going to do here. There’s two of us, and I’m thirteen, Robin. I know what to say, what not to say, and exactly what to do and I’ve got a new job to start today, too. Stop worrying about me. We’re in this together.”
“Fine. Okay. We have to take this slowly. I need to research if the Perino’s can get in trouble for giving us a place to stay. It’s only been one day. And if Mrs. Perino mentions she wants to pay you or whatever again, please don’t accept her money—”
Swallowing his last mouthful, he’d interrupted me. “I know, Robin. I’m not an idiot. And, FYI, this is already our second day. I also really like it here. Love it. Love this whole family from the rabbits to the princess bride kids. I won’t do anything to get anyone in troubl
e. And I get that me, helping Mrs. Perino out, could work as some sort of a payback for the cool things they’re doing for us. I’d feel great about that. It would mean I could be part of the responsibilities. I also feel like we somehow belong here. I mean, meant-to-be here. Don’t you feel that, too?”
I’d decided not to answer that, but Sage had kept on, “What if after today I want to stay a few more days—or longer, like Mrs. Perino keeps offering? I overheard her tell Angel that we might be able to stay in one of the cottages they have out the back.” His eyes were too bright, full of too much hope and longing. “Maybe we could rent here. We might not even need to apartment-hunt or do those credit check application things you were so worried about. What do you think?”
“That’s just it, Sage. I can’t think right now.” I’d deflected, then grabbed one of the pastries for myself and acted all focused on wrapping it up. “I’m queasy from nerves about my job, because in case you didn’t notice, I’m about to go work for Guarderobe. A situation I’m sure you can imagine is stressful. Can we please work on getting our car fixed and getting my job all figured out before we think about where we’re staying or renting for good? You overheard a private conversation between Angel and Mrs. Perino about that cottage. Maybe after today they will think two extra teenagers are too much for their lives, just how Joanie did. Maybe they’ll never offer anything like that to us, so we shouldn’t assume or wish for anything past this day only. Like Dad says. One day, one hour, one minute at a time.”
He’d picked up another pastry like he’d meant to eat more but then had dropped it back onto a napkin with a thud. His voice was tortured when he’d pointed around the kitchen. “It’s only that Mrs. Perino and this place, it’s so great and she’s so nice. She, and this little farm…it’s all exactly like…”
“Like the mom we’d always wished for instead of the one we got? Like the house full of laughter and warmth we’ve always wanted?” I’d sighed, and dropped my voice. “It is exactly what we would dream up if we could choose our own lives, huh?”
Sage’s eyes had gone wide like he was surprised I’d known what he was thinking. “Yeah.” He’d looked away then. “Do you know they’ve even got a goat back there? And a berry patch. All kinds of berries.”
I’d reached over and mussed the front of his hair, trying to get a rise out of him, but he’d only looked desolate, and like he was shrinking from the inside out.
“Sage,” I’d whispered. “Enjoy it. Soak it up, even. I want you to have a fun time here. Lots of it.” I’d placed my hands on his shoulders so he’d have to look up at me. “But don’t get too attached to anyone or anything, in case we have to make a fast exit, that’s all.”
He’d faked the kind of smile that didn’t crinkle the sides of his eyes, and he’d forced his voice to the same ultra-bright-bullshit tone I do when I’m trying to make us both feel better. “Yeah. Okay. Just make sure if we are fast-exiting or whatever we have to do, that you have autographs that say Royce, Adam and Hunter, or at least concert tickets for both of us in your hands before we bolt. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Chapter 16
Mrs. Hildebrandt meets me at the limo and yanks open my door before the chauffer has stopped the car, and before I can find the handle to open it for myself.
“You’re late.” She taps her watch as I exit.
“They sent the limo when they sent the limo, so what could I do?”
“Right. I’m sure it’s fine.” Her pinched frown smoothens out. “I suppose we’re both a little nervous? Are you?”
I nod as she looks me up and down. “Your hair is still wet. Don’t you have a blow dryer? And that outfit.” She scrunches her nose. “This isn’t a camp counselor position. It’s a professional nanny job. Didn’t you have anything better than shorts, flip-flops, and… is that a concert t-shirt from a different band other than Guarderobe? What if they’re insulted?”
I flush as she points at my t-shirt that reads: I Love the Avett Brothers straight across the front, and answer with my head held high, “No one in the music industry would ever be insulted by the Avett Brothers.”
She crinkles her nose in a way that makes me able to tell she has no idea who my favorite band is, and continues to shake her head disapprovingly at all that is, me. “Even though you were hired privately by them, I’m sure they will want to keep up appearances. I suppose you heard that Mrs. Felix owns this entire hotel chain?”
I nod. “Angel explained that.”
“Which is why we all bow down to her so much. Are you going to have a problem with that? With bowing down and being treated like a servant, should they wish to treat you that way?”
“No. I suppose that if I’m the nanny, then I am sort of a servant. Right?”
“Excellent answer.” Mrs. Hildebrandt seems appeased, and smiles for one second before crinkling her brow at me all over again. “I will ask them if they’d like me to send up one of the hotel uniforms for you. Now, whatever you do, do not gush over the members of the band.”
“I’m not a gusher.” I wince a little thinking of me staring at Royce’s six-pack, and then thinking of my elbow connecting to Royce’s face. “And I think they might know that already.”
“Well, good. I’m supposed to give you a long training session about comportment in front of famous people, but we don’t have time, so in short: do not approach the members of the band unless they approach first, do not touch them or any of their personal items without permission, don’t speak out of turn, do what they ask, take no photos, ask for nothing band related, work hard, etcetera, etcetera. Got me?”
Her words are not statements. They’re threats.
“They won’t have any problems with me. I promise. Also, I’m happy I have a second chance to prove myself to you.” I’ve slipped that in, because I need this woman to believe that then hire me after this nanny job is finished.
“So am I.” She hands me a bright red lanyard with a reinforced clear plastic pocket attached to it. “You’re to keep this on at all times. It states you’re staff—not of the hotel—but rather you’re now staffed at a special VIP level for the band. All hotel employees know what that lanyard means, and you will have all access to whatever you need. This red color means you’re part of the actual band family.”
“It does? Why?”
“Because that’s where Mrs. Felix wanted you placed, and because I don’t ask my superiors stupid questions. I also hope you can stop doing it with me, and listen.”
I almost laugh at that, but manage a serious-looking nod and a contrite, “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good. Our security guards as well as the band’s entourage will know to let you pass. All you have to do is flash the lanyard and say your name. Should they have questions they will find you in the computer system using the number on the bottom.”
“Wow.”
“Yes. Wow. Now, put it on.”
Mrs. Hildebrandt waits for me to comply, and then straightens the red strap so it sits flat and facing forward around my neck.
“Please know that people would kill to have this type of access to Guarderobe.” She next hands me an iPhone. “All red lanyard holders have been pre-programmed with Find My Friends. Do not turn off your location services because the family uses these phones to find each other should there be a fan incident or a paparazzi mob where you’d need to run and hide and require a rescue of some sort.”
I blink. “That sounds scary.”
She nods. “It shouldn’t happen to you as they’ve sworn not to let the baby out of the suite again.” She sighs. “Also against my personal advice, Gregory had me pre-program the telephone numbers for Royce, Adam, and Hunter as well as Vere Roth’s number into your phone. Do you know who she is?”
My brows shoot up, and I start making a list of things I can never tell my brother, as I answer her, “Vere is Hunter Kennedy’s girlfriend. They met in a high school in Colorado and have dated ever since.”
“Nice to know you did your
research.” She smiles approvingly.
“My brother gave me the entire low-down. He’s a huge fan.”
Ignoring my comment about Sage, she forges ahead. “Gregory also asked me to add the numbers for Mrs. Perino and Angel. You have permission to text them and check in on your breaks. Don’t abuse it.” She puts a hand on my shoulder and gives it a small shake. “Should the wrong person—like the press or some screaming fan—get the lanyard away from your body, I’m sure you can imagine the terrible ramifications that would have on the band’s privacy. You would also lose your job, of course.”
“I understand. I won’t let it out of my sight. Heck, I will probably sleep with it when I get home, just to be safe.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear you say.” She takes my arm to pull me toward elevators that are almost hidden at the far side of the lobby. “You will go up and down from here as well as enter always from that unmarked side door you came inside using today. I hope you understand my initial reservations when we met. I was following the rules of this hotel. They say no one under eighteen will be hired, and this place is very, very…”
“Strict?” I finish.
“Yes.”
“Angel also mentioned that. He really loves working here, by the way,” I add, hoping my words will help Angel somehow.
“I wish you had told me you and Angel were friends and that you were staying with his family when we first met.”
“If you remember, I left rather quickly.”
She winces at the direct reminder of how badly she treated me. “I hope you can understand I was in too much of a rush. I should have explained myself and the rules,” she says lamely.
“I—I should have tried harder to communicate better.” I smile, hoping she and I will be allies instead of enemies after this. “Angel was really nice to speak up for me.”
“He couldn’t say anything bad about you. He put his personal reputation on the line for you as well, which means a lot after all he’s been through. I know he wouldn’t jeopardize that lightly.” She’s giving me this knowing look. “He’s a good boy and his mother is wonderful, despite their horrific past, right? That poor family.”