“Mermaid princess!” Remi scoops his daughter off the stool into the air.
He’s wearing a short-sleeved tee, and the muscles in his arms line and flex. As if that wasn’t enough, Lillie’s tummy peeps out, and he lowers her to his mouth for a loud, sloppy raspberry.
“Dad-day! Dad-day!” Lillie screams, laughing and squealing so shrill, dogs cry.
A smile splits my cheeks, and damn him. I might have just fallen in love in that moment.
He laughs and lowers his daughter in his arms. Her cheeks are pink and her laughter contagious. “You’d better get out of here before you miss the first bell.”
“No!” In a flash, her little face goes serious, and she wiggles to get out of his arms. “I’ll have to move my monkey!”
I have no idea what that means, but Lillie grabs my hand, pulling me to the door. I snatch my bag off a nearby chair. My keys are in my hand, and I look to see if Eleanor is still planning to ride with us.
“Have a nice day, Lillian, I’ll see you this afternoon.” She turns on her heel and stalks off in the opposite direction.
A smile teases my lips, and it takes all my willpower not to do a little fist pump.At the same time, I know this isn’t over.
Oaklawn Preschool looks more like an expensive boarding school than a school for kids five and under. It’s another new addition to accommodate the wealthier families moving into Oakville from Charleston—much like Eagleton Heights.
Parking in the small lot, I notice the Audis, Mercedes, Acuras, and other fancy cars lined in the circle drive. I’d feel inferior, but I guess I’m the high-priced nanny. That gives me a certain level of clout.
“You’ll have to show me your room.” I look in the rearview mirror at Lillie sitting in her booster in the backseat.
She’s so cute in her mermaid getup. Right before we walked out the door, she grabbed a headband with feathers and a tiara on top.
“Ms. Terry is in the E hall.” She takes my hand like a regular little adult and leads me across the lawn and up the stone steps.
Walking past mothers in starched skirts and blouses, scarves, and Prada bags, I get Eleanor’s insistence on Lillie’s attire. All the little girls are wearing smocked dresses and patent leather shoes. Hell, I’m starting to wonder if they even play at this school.
Lillie’s teacher, by contrast, is delightful. A petite young woman with light blonde hair and a bright smile, Ms. Terry is round and huggable and clearly in love with her class.
“Good morning, Lillie! My, you look fancy! Are you a mermaid?” Lillie nods excitedly, and her teacher continues. “Get your things from your cubby. Today we’re learning red monster number two ordos.”
I’m impressed. Colors, numbers, and Spanish. “Hi, I’m Ruby, Lillie’s new nanny.”
“Nice to meet you!” She shakes my hand, and we spend a few short minutes getting to know each other. I give her my cell number, and she gives me the syllabus for the semester. A syllabus in preschool? Walking away, I search the sheet for where they get dirty.
“Lillie has a new nanny?” That voice doesn’t sound friendly.
Turning, I can’t believe it. “Serena Whitehead? I thought you moved to Charleston.”
“Ruby Banks?” She does not smile. “It’s Serena North now. My husband Dr. Phillip North and I just moved back to Oakville with our daughter Whitney. I see you’re still here. Working as a nanny now? Is that right?”
The way she says it makes me want to crawl under a rock.
Which I will not do.
“Remi needed help, so I agreed to do this for a month.”
“Remi?” Another woman, slightly older steps up to join us. She’s wearing a starched white shirt, a floral, tea-length skirt right out of the 1950s, and a condescending sneer. “What’s this about Remi? Who are you?”
“It appears Remington has hired a new nanny.” Serena says. “Ruby Banks, this is Anita Flagstaff.”
“Hello.” I nod. “Nice to meet you. I have to go.”
“Just a minute.” Anita is still scowling, looking me up and down. “You’re the new nanny? Where’s Eleanor?”
“I’m sorry. Why are you asking?”
