“You’re right about that.” She was really impressed now. This eight-year-old actually understood the world time clock?
“Where did you live?”
She explained about being a teacher in Papua New Guinea and felt slightly relieved he didn’t know where the island was located, but he quickly located a world atlas and, with her help, figured it out.
“What animals live there?” he asked with genuine interest.
“Not all that many. Although they do have a lot of different beautiful birds. And crocodiles.”
“Crocodiles?” His eyes widened. “Did you ever see any?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” It was getting dusky outside. She had better check and make sure Kat had come back in. “But it’s getting late. What time do you and Kat usually go to bed?”
He shrugged.
“I’m sure you know. You must have a bedtime.”
“We’re supposed to be in our rooms by eight-thirty in the summer. With our teeth brushed and pajamas on.”
“Looks like we’re running late.” She moved over to the window. “Kat took off into the woods. Do you suppose she’s back yet?”
“Who knows.” He stood. “I’ll go get ready for bed. Will you tuck me in?”
“Yes, of course.” She smiled. “But I need to make sure your sister is back.”
He paused by the door. “She may be hiding.”
“Really?”
“I don’t know.” He started to go, calling over his shoulder. “Maybe.”
“Well, you look for her upstairs, Mishka. Just holler down if she’s up there, okay?”
He grinned. “Okay.”
“And I’ll look in the playroom and down here.” As she walked through the downstairs, looking here and there, she heard Mishka’s voice yelling that his sister was not upstairs. Great. Meredith groaned. Her first day here and she’d already lost track of a child. Really?
She went back to the kitchen, which was spotlessly cleaned and vacant of the Warners, who had probably turned in by now. She considered knocking on their closed door but hated to disturb the older couple—almost as much as she hated to appear like an inept nanny. Although she probably was. Convinced that Kat was not anywhere in the house, Meredith went outside, retracing the grounds tour Kat had taken her on. But everything looked different in this dusky light, and she started to feel nervous. Not for her own sake, but for Kat’s. Where was that girl? What if wild animals roamed the woods? Didn’t they still have wolves in Europe? Mishka would probably know.
She walked toward the wooded hillside, calling out Kat’s name, even whistling her loud finger-whistle in hopes of getting the stubborn girl’s attention. Kat was probably just trying to teach her that she didn’t want to be psychoanalyzed and was old enough to take care of herself. Except that she clearly did.
At the edge of the woods, Meredith felt uneasy. The trees were dense, and it was close to dark. It would probably be easy to get lost in there, especially for someone unfamiliar with the land. Like her. No, it was time to call on the Warners for help. If they decided she was incompetent, so be it.
She continued to call and whistle for the girl, hoping perhaps the Warners would hear her and come out to see what was wrong, but when she got to the house it was quiet. Perhaps Mishka would know of a secret hiding place where Meredith might find his sister. Besides, she needed to tuck him in. She ran up the stairs, hoping he had been true to his word. To her relief, he was already in bed withAesop’s Fablesopen before him.
“I’m sure that book is interesting.” She carefully removed it from him, setting it on the bedside table. “But it’s late.”
“I know.”
“And I may need your help. I cannot find your sister. Any idea where she may be? Does she do this often?” She tried not to look as worried as she felt.
“She’s in her room,” he said nonchalantly.
“Really?” A wave of relief and frustration washed over her.
“I heard her come up the stairs a few minutes ago.”
“Okay.” She bent over to tuck him in. “Do you say prayers before bed?”
