Although she was touched by Kat’s devotion, Meredith knew the right answer. “You have your old nanny,” she said gently. “She sounds like a sweet woman—”
“I don’t want my old nanny,” Mishka shouted. He balled his fists and turned to his father. “IwantMeri.”
“I want Meri too.” Kat’s tone was matter-of-fact, but her creased brow and folded arms looked serious.
“Don’t let her go, Papa, please,” Mishka pleaded. “We need her.”
Moved by their loyalty, Meredith was tongue-tied. She stood, twisting her napkin and gazing at the two angry children. “I have loved being with you, Mishka and Kat. More than you can imagine and more than I thought possible. But your father is right. It’s time for everyone to go home.” She blinked to hold in tears. “But I’m hoping we can stay in touch—through letters andthings—” Her voice cracked with emotion. “But, really—it’s time—to say good—bye.”
Unable to speak coherently, she tossed down the napkin and hurried from the dining room, sprinting up the stairs. In her suite’s bathroom, she did her best to mop up her tears and washed her face in cold water until she was able to take in some deep breaths.
Calm, calm, calm…
God’s ways were higher than hers. She believed that. So why was she being so juvenile about this? She hadn’t experienced this much emotion when David had abandoned her in Papua New Guinea, yet she’d claimed he’d broken her heart. So what was this? And what was wrong with her?
She was just gathering her thoughts along with the cheesy canvas bag packed with her few thrift-store belongings when she heard a quiet knocking on the door. She hoped it was Mrs. Warner with an arrangement for her ride. Instead she opened the door to see Spencer, wearing a sheepish expression, and Mishka and Kat right behind him, still looking rather feisty.
“Can we talk to you?” Spencer asked.
“Of course.” She waited, hoping she was done with tears by now and that they didn’t show.
“We have arrived at a small compromise,” he began. “If you are amiable to it. Actually, it was Kat’s idea, but Mishka and I agreed.”
“A compromise?” She tipped her head to one side.
“Mrs. Warner said you needed a ride to Vienna. And we are going to Vienna. What if we all go together? We can spend two or three days there. I have the suite at the Ritz with plenty of room. Would that be agreeable to you?”
Meredith felt uncertain. What was the sense of prolonging this agony?
“Please, say yes,” Mishka begged.
“We can have fun,” Kat suggested hopefully.
“You never got to see the good part of Vienna,” Spencer pointed out. “You had such a bad experience when you arrived. You really should give the city a second chance.”
“We can go on the Giant Ferris Wheel,” Mishka said hopefully.
“And see the Lipizzaner horses,” Kat added. “They’re so beautiful.”
“You do make it sound tempting.” Meredith had hoped to spend a little time in Vienna, and it was hard to turn down the Ritz. Not to mention a couple more days with the children. But still…
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Spencer smiled, and the children cheered. “I’ll give everyone until noon to get packed, and then we are off.” He produced two bags, one good-sized and one small. “Mrs. Warner said you may need these.”
Meredith felt slightly dizzy as she thanked him, took the luggage into her room, and closed her door. Had she really agreed to this? Was she going to regret it? It wasn’t too late to back out. She shot up a silent prayer, begging for direction. What was the best route to take? Cut the ties before it hurt more? But her phone was chiming. To her surprise, it was her father.
“Dad?” she exclaimed. “Is this really you?”
“It’s me, Meri. It’s late here. We had to stop in a small town in Oregon to pick up packages at the Post Office, and we’re spending the night in a cheap hotel. I would’ve called sooner, but my phone was dead, and then I took a hot shower and fell asleep. But I wanted to call before we head out in the morning.”
“It’s so good to hear your voice. How are you? Staying well?”
“I feel better than ever. The first week was tough, but we’re pacing ourselves better now. Tom had a foot problem, but I think we got that solved. How are you? I read your text then readit again to the guys. We’re all curious as to how it’s going working for royalty.”
“Oh, Dad, it’s been wonderful and horrible.”
“That deserves some explanation, Meri.”
She launched into the whole story—how she loved these kids, and how their dad came back earlier, and how her job was supposed to end today, and then the prospects of going to Vienna with them. “The kids really want me to go.”
