Page 101 of The Billionaire’s Nanny

Grace set her glass down. "What kind?"

"A dead one, Grace."

"Was it clear, or did it have purple on it? Dead ones can still sting you. Did anybody touch it?"

"It had sand on it," Lucy said.

"I read Mom's letter," Grace said.

Lucy glanced at Carrington. Carrington nodded, and Lucy turned back to Grace.

"Yeah?" Lucy said. "How was it?"

"She says I come at things sideways."

"You do."

"Everybody keeps saying that."

"She quizzed me on the fish first," Carrington said.

Deborah laughed and sent Grace to the drawer for the forks.

"The twins' mothers are both off on Friday." Lucy helped herself to another bean. "I thought I'd take you to the aquarium before school."

Grace stopped at the drawer. "Is Aunt Carrie coming?"

"You'd have to ask her."

Grace faced Carrington. "Are you coming?"

Carrington had a site meeting on Friday morning at ten. She’d moved them once already. "Yes.”

Lucy raised her eyebrows. "You have that meeting on Friday."

"This is more important."

One of the twins had stuck a gold star on the back of Lucy's cardigan, up by the shoulder blade. Carrington wiped her hands on the towel, peeled it off, and pressed it onto the back of Lucy's wrist. Lucy looked down at it and laughed. She leaned into Carrington's side, warm and solid.

Deborah left at nine. At the car, she said she'd call Tuesday morning, and Carrington promised that she would pick up.

The water came on in the kitchen. Carrington headed up to say goodnight and meant to be quick about it.

Grace had left her door open a crack, with music coming through it. She sat up against the wall on her bed with the whale book open on her knees, Marguerite's page folded back.

"Deborah says goodnight."

"I heard her go." Grace licked a finger and turned a page. "Do Marguerite."

"No."

"Once."

"I can't do voices. You've heard me."

"I know." Grace swung the book around and pushed it at her, open to the page. "Mom did it too loud. Deborah does it too low."

Carrington came in and sat on the bed by Grace's feet. She knew the line by heart.