She could feel the rigidity of his body and knew he was fighting back fear. “I’m so proud of you. You’re being very brave. At this rate, we’ll have you swimming before long. But not before you’re ready. Don’t worry. You get to set the pace.”
“Uh-huh.”
She reached for the pool noodle she’d set on the deck. “Want to hold onto this? Just to feel safer?”
“Okay.”
She handed him the noodle, staying nearby and floating on her back. “You’re going to be surprised at how fun it is to swim. Floating is like being in space because you become almost weightless.”
His brow creased. “I don’t think I can do that.”
“Not yet, but someday.” She made a mental note to herself to check the sports closet to see if there were any life vests that might help alleviate his trepidation. After a few minutes she saw he’d begun to shiver, and she knew they’d done enough for one day. Plus, she wanted to leave while he was still feeling comfortable to make tomorrow easier. “Okay.” She reached for his hand. “I’m ready to go inside now. How about you?”
Clutching tightly to her hand, he climbed up the steps, and she followed him out. Wrapping the big towel around him, she praised him again for his courage. “You’re a brave boy, Mishka. I really am proud of you.”
“And Kat didn’t make fun of me.”
“That’s right. She kept her promise.” As they went inside, Meredith wondered how long Kat would keep her word, but she would remind her every day of the consequences if she didn’t. In the meantime, she needed to think of a simple reward to thank Kat, which highlighted how little she really knew about the girl. Sure, she loved sports. But what else? What really made her tick? And what, besides her little brother, made her so angry?
Meredith had cared for the children just over a week when she began to wonder about their father. Mrs. Warner told the children, as she served breakfast, that he’d called the evening before and apologized for being gone longer than he’d said he would be. “Your father is delayed by unexpected business inRotslavia. He’s not sure how much longer it will take.” Mrs. Warner gave Meredith a sideways glance that seemed to suggest there was more to the story, so following breakfast, Meredith insisted on clearing the table herself and sent the children off to make their beds. Although she doubted that Kat would comply.
“I think Mrs. Warner works too hard,” Meredith said as she stacked their plates. “We should help her out once in a while.” When Kat started to whine about housekeeping, Meredith asked if she still planned on a tennis match later. Fortunately, Kat seemed to get the hint. The one thing Meredith knew Kat needed, perhaps more than anything, was a friend. Despite the age difference, and the uphill battle, Meredith seemed the lonely girl’s best bet at the moment.
After the kids departed, she carried a loaded tray into the kitchen. “I know you don’t like help,” she quickly explained, “but I wanted to talk to you. I’m a little concerned that the children’s father has been absent for so long. Is that normal?”
“Not typically. Not for the summer holiday, anyway. Sometimes during the school year, since Kat goes to boarding school and Mishka is occupied with his day school, Master Spencer may take an occasional business trip. But not usually when the children are on holiday.”
“Do you think he’ll be here before long? I really feel the children need him.”
“He sounded uncertain.” She glanced at the door as she wiped her hands on a towel. “I don’t want the children to hear this, but there’s some unrest at home.”
“Unrest?”
“Yes.” She lowered her voice. “Political troubles. As you may know, the principality has neighboring countries that aren’t terribly friendly. Some believe Rotslavia should be under their jurisdiction.”
Meredith recalled the location of Rotslavia in the atlas Mishka had shown her. “Oh, yes, I’m not surprised. I read that it was considered part of Russia once, but wasn’t that a couple hundred years ago?”
Mrs. Warner shrugged as she hung a gleaming copper pot on the rack above the big stove. “I don’t know much about historical dates, but I’m not sure such things matter to bullying countries. Anyway, Master Spencer didn’t go into specifics. He just said there’s been some concerns and that he needs to stick around and see about some things.”
“Do you think it’s dangerous?” Meredith bit her lip. What if something happened to him or the country? What would Kat and Mishka do?
“I couldn’t say, miss. And truly, I’m not supposed to say too much. But I will say this. Rotslavia, although a member of NATO, scarcely has military defense.”
“I see.” Meredith frowned. “Do you think the country is unsafe right now?”
“Oh, no, no…I don’t think so.” She hung up a tea towel. “But there is instability in a lot of places. Times are always changing.”
“Right.” Meredith felt protective of Mishka and Kat. As irrational as it seemed, she didn’t like the idea of them residing in a tiny unprotected and unstable country tucked so near larger bullying nations.
“Anyway, I just thought you should know.”
“I do appreciate the heads up. And trust me, I won’t mention this to the children. No point worrying them.”
Mrs. Warner smiled. “Mr. Warner told me he saw you working with Mishka in the pool yesterday. He was quite impressed. He thinks the boy is getting close to being able to swim.”
“Well, that’s a ways off. But at least I have him holding his breath and floating face down. As long as I’m holding onto him. He won’t allow me to let go yet.”
“Just the same, that’s good progress.”
