Chapter 6
"Did the boys get off to school all right?" Bella cleared her throat as she entered the kitchen. I was cleaning up the enormous mess the boys' breakfast had created, as I'd promised Viola. It was Friday, and so far the weekday routine had gone surprisingly well. Oh, there'd been the odd hiccup here and there. Like the day Reece had refused to wear his uniform and deliberately smeared currant jelly on his white shirt. Or the day we were late because Riley had locked himself in the bathroom. I'd had to go to the headmistress's office to explain that one. But all in all, we were slipping into a routine that worked for us.
"Sure. Everything went fine."
"Excellent." She hesitated as if she wanted to say more. She adjusted the lapels of her red power suit, clearly uncomfortable.
I waited for her to spill. Finally she did.
"I want you to take the day off."
I stared at her, still clutching the damp dishrag. "Excuse me?"
"Not today, of course. I have a very important client meeting. But tomorrow."
I frowned. "I thought you preferred I take Sundays off so you could work Saturdays." I'd only worked the previous Sunday because I had just arrived and was getting to know the boys, plus Bella had had an appointment she couldn't get out of.
"True, but I'm starting to believe Meg and John knew what they were about when they made me the boys' guardian. I think it's time I took a more active role with them."
I had my doubts about her ability to handle them. I guessed she'd put on her rose-colored glasses when it came to child rearing. "Okay. If you're sure."
"I am," she said firmly.
"Right. Then I guess I'll plan a little exploring."
"If you need any recommendations, please feel free to ask."
"Thanks," I said. "I will."
Bella nodded. "See you at dinner." Then she turned sharply on her stilettoes and strode from the room.
Well, well, well. This should be interesting.
# # #
Saturday morning I nearly barreled into Evander on the way out the door. He grabbed my shoulders to keep me from winding up on my ass on the front stoop.
"Whoa," he said with a dimpled grin. "Where are you going in such a hurry? Where are the boys?"
"Bella has decided she wants to take a more direct role with the boys. She gave me the day off, and she's taking care of them."
His eyes widened. "No way."
"Yes way."
"This ought to be good." There was a devilish glint in his eyes that told me he shared my doubts about Bella's parenting skills.
"You're telling me. That's why I wanted to get out of there before the crap hit the fan."
"God, I hope they don't burn the house down."
I tugged at his sleeve, leading him away. "Don't worry. I'm sure Bella can dial 999, if that's the case. But I'm sure things will be fine. If she thinks she can do it, let her. Maybe she'll be better at it than we think."
He gave me a disbelieving look.
I laughed. "Okay, maybe not. But she deserves the chance to try, right?"
"If you say so." He still looked doubtful. "What are your plans for today?"
"I thought I'd do a little sightseeing."
"Want a tour guide?"
I wanted to ask him about his girlfriend, but really, what business was it of mine? Just because I was attracted to him didn't mean it was reciprocated. He was just offering to show me around the city. No big deal. "Sure. I'd like that."
"Come on." He took my arm and hustled me toward the tube station. "There's only one way to really see this city properly."
"What's that?"
He winked. "It's a surprise."
# # #
It was like the entire city of London was spread out in front of me. Far below I could see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The River Thames wound its muddy way through the heart of the city, tiny boats and barges bobbing on its surface. It was breathtaking in more ways than one.
"Are you all right?" Evander asked, moving a little closer. "You're looking a little pale."
"I sort of have a bit of a heights problem."
"Why didn't you say so before I dragged you on this thing?" He motioned around the giant, clear pod that was our ride on the London Eye.
"Because you were so excited about it. And you were right. This is the absolute best view of the city." I glanced down a little too sharply and sucked in a breath. Look out, not down, I reminded myself. I started as Evander wrapped his arm around me.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I won't let anything happen to you." Strangely enough, I believed him.
Although the view was amazing, I was relieved when the ride was over, and we were back on terra firma. Evander led me down the wide walkway alongside the Thames, which he called the "South Bank." We wandered past theaters and restaurants, poked our heads into the cute, quirky shops in Gabriel's Wharf, strolled past the Globe Theater, and eventually wound up at a charming pub in the shadow of London Bridge. It was wonderfully traditional, with low beamed ceilings, dark wood worn smooth with age, and lots of nooks and crannies. We got our drinks and tucked in next to a cozy fire.
"I love this," I said, staring around me in awe. "It's exactly what Americans think of when we imagine ourselves in England."
Evander smiled over the rim of his pint. He took a long sip, let out a sigh, and placed his drink back on the table. "This pub is right next door to where the original Globe used to be."
"You mean, the one Shakespeare actually played in?"
"That's the one. He used to come here to get dressed before plays. They all did, the actors. Some say he even wrote
