Libby met Granny Fin’s appraising gaze. “That is, if it’s okay with you, Mrs. Cress.”
The woman sized her up with those sparkling gray eyes for a beat, then two.
“What a glorious idea, Libby! It’s a beautiful day,” Madelyn said, chiming in and taking Granny Fin’s arm. “I’m sure after that flight, Sebastian could use some time outdoors. And I can show you the cottage, Finola. We can put the kettle on like we used to do back in Chelsea. We must get you off your feet, dear. Travel by private jet is far better than flying commercial, but it still comes with jet lag.”
Granny Fin nodded. “Agreed. I could use a cuppa, and a spot of exercise will do Sebastian good. Nothing like a bit of fresh air to clear the mind. Now, Sebastian, hug your old granny Fin.”
The boy wrapped his arms around the tiny woman’s waist.
“Libby,” Madelyn said, lowering her voice as she left Finola’s side. The two of them moved toward the door to give Sebastian and his great-grandmother some privacy to say their goodbyes.
The matchmaker slipped an envelope out of her purse. “My people were here last night before you and Erasmus arrived. I understand there was quite a welcoming party.”
“Yep, the whole crew.”
A sly grin spread across the woman’s face. “Before your friends greeted you, my people parked your Buick in the garage and brought your things to your room. I’m sure you’ve seen them.”
She hadn’t seen diddly-squat.
Libby recycled that plastic grin. “That was very kind. Thank you.”
“And I’ll give you these,” the matchmaker continued, reaching into the envelope. “Here are the keys to the vehicle, a Lamborghini Urus. The code to the gate is written on a slip of paper on the dash. And, of course, a credit card for any expenses you incur as Sebastian’s nanny. Your trial period paychecks will be directly deposited. I’m sure you’re acquainted with the process.”
After watching Penny and Char go through the nanny grind, she was certainly aware of how this nanny match worked.
She stared at the key fob and bit back a grin, thinking of Harper’s hilarious Lamborghini envy. Now the beleaguered piano teacher was the one without an Italian-made mid-sized SUV. But that lightheartedness switched to a sinking sensation. Unlike Penny and Charlotte, there wouldn’t be a happily ever after with Erasmus Cress—or with any man, for that matter.
That wasn’t the focus. Her crazy stint as a boxer’s spiritual advisor would cover the cost of med school for Anders and Alec. That’s what mattered. She could put the income she earned as a nanny into a savings account for her brothers. Med school had to come with extra expenses—advanced studies always did. It would give her peace of mind to know that the boys had a pool of cash to draw from.
And what of her dreams of opening her own center—a place where people young and old could connect to their deeper self through yoga and meditation?
Those dreams would slide to the back burner—again.
She thanked Madelyn, then slipped the credit card into the side pocket of the yoga bag when she spied her phone.
“Can we go, Libby?” Sebastian asked.
“There’s one last thing. Mrs. Cress, would you like my cell number?” she asked, holding up her phone.
Granny Fin crossed her arms. “What for? I can tell you right now, I’m not one for that texting nonsense. Callista and Calliope make me right bonkers with that business.”
Yeah, it was pretty evident Granny wasn’t down with nonsense, period.
“I thought you’d like to have my number in case you wanted to check in on Sebastian.”
Granny Fin gave her what must be at least the fourth appraising look. “I see. But you’re the nanny, right?”
Was that a challenge?
She held the woman’s gaze. “Yes.”
“Will you look out for Sebastian? Will he be safe with you, Libby Lamb?”
Libby lifted her chin, feeling more balanced than she had in ages. “Yes, your great-grandson will be safe with me.”
Madelyn surveyed the women. “I’ve got your number, Libby. I’ll share it with my friend once we’ve got two steaming cups of Earl Grey before us. And here, dear,” the matchmaker said as she removed her scarf. “You seem to have a chill. This should help.”
Libby glanced at her white-knuckled hand, still gripping the red fabric at the base of her neck.
The hickeys.
“Yes, right, it gets drafty in these large homes,” she stammered. She accepted the scarf and, with a quick flick of her wrist, hid the evidence of her night with Erasmus Cress.
“Listen to your nanny, Sebastian,” Finola said, her gaze softening as it fell on the boy.
“Goodbye, Sebastian, dear, I’ll see you soon,” Madelyn cooed, threading her arm with Finola’s, then leading the woman toward the back of the sprawling house. The tap of their footsteps grew faint, and then you could hear a pin drop.
“It’s just you and me, Sebastian. Are you ready to head out?”
“May I take my sketch pad?” he asked, gesturing to a backpack in the corner of the room.
“Sure, the park is a great place to draw.”
The child pulled a pencil and a thick pad from the bag, and the two headed out the front door where, lo and behold, a Lamborghini Urus was parked in the drive.
A Lamborghini Urus in the shade somewhere between blue and violet.
What an odd coincidence. That hue seemed to turn up everywhere.
“I like the color of your car,” Sebastian remarked, opening the back door and settling himself inside.
She situated herself in the front and checked the boy in the rearview mirror.
Sebastian sighed and sank into the seat with a far-off look in his eyes.
“Is something on your mind?” she asked. The twins always opened up when they got in the car. Perhaps it was the hum of the engine or existing in that in-between place—away from home but having not yet reached the intended destination.
He strummed his index finger along the wiry spiral holding the sketchpad together. “Does my dad want me here?”
Libby willed her heart not to break.
“Yes, absolutely, Sebastian, but he’s got a lot on his mind,” she answered, internally cursing the man as she started the car. “We’ll get to see more of him when we get to Rickety Rock,” she added, not quite sure why she’d made that prediction, but it lifted Sebastian’s spirit.
“Ms. Malone said we’re going to get a donkey when we get to the mountains, and then we’ll get to run around with it.”
“Pretty exciting, huh?”
“Do you think my dad will let me run with the donkey?” Sebastian asked, staring out the window as they headed down the private drive.
“I’m not sure how it works with children and donkeys, but I bet we can work something out.”
“I researched the donkeys on the car ride from the plane to the house,” he continued, perking up. “I downloaded a whole book on them.”
“Did you?” she queried as they exited Raz’s estate and headed down the treelined street toward the Crystal Acres playground.
“They don’t like rain.”
“I did not know that,” she replied, catching his eye in the rearview mirror.