“He always gets to go!” Skylar whines.
“Since when?” I counter from a patio chair by their playground while I pet Bucky with one hand, the other checking their grade-school homework.
“Since all the time!”
“I do not!”
Interrupting them I ask, “When are you out here that I’m not? Because if memory serves it’s been raining for two weeks straight.”
A smart girl, Skylar sighs, “Fine,” and acquiesces the next ride to her younger brother. “But you better have fun, Kyle!”
With determination he announces, “Oh I will,” as he grabs the railings and whips his little body down the swirling slope, whooping all the while.
I give her a proud smile even as she crosses her arms like she’s still not happy she had to do that. “It was his fault! He was on the monkey bars while I was sliding! He could’ve come over here, but he didn’t.”
“And when he did,” I counter with firm patience, “You were very nice in giving him a turn. It’s called sharing. Learn it. Know it. Live it. You’ll have a much easier time making friends.”
“I have plenty of friends, Madison!”
She secretly likes my keeping her in line though. I can tell by how often she tests me. They want to trust me to be in charge so they can be kids and feel safe knowing someone who cares about them, and who won’t take their shit, has the reins.
Bucky’s head swings sharply right, and I glance over to see the sliding glass doors opening. “Mr. Schweis! I didn’t know you were coming home early.” I stand up out of instinct, his presence always intimidating.
In a gorgeous suit the man of the house smiles and nods to his children, eyes sharp and calculating.
They wave at him out of duty, “Hi Daddy,” but make no move to run into his arms or anything remotely affectionate. Instead they scramble up the slide, trying to beat each other to the top, a race for who can dominate the other.
“I was driving past the neighborhood. Thought I’d drop in.”
“Did it go well?” I ask to be polite.
Checking his Gucci watch he nods. “It always does.” Sharp eyes flick to the sun and hover for a second, narrowing under the glare. “Nice day for once. Listen, come inside. I want to talk to you.”
“Sure,” I frown.
“Don’t fire her, Daddy!”
Mr. Schweis and I freeze in surprise.
Skylar has real fear in her eyes.
He chuckles, “I’m not firing Madison. Don’t worry. This one’s staying.”
My heart beats fast as I follow him inside their beautiful home, glancing over my shoulder to Skylar who’s watching us. I hated seeing her react like that. I never want them worried they’ll lose me.
It’s the first time I’ve witnessed for certain how their revolving door of nannies has affected her.
I’ve worked hard to get them to open up and trust me. It’s worked so well—just the other day they came running out of the school yard when I picked them up, both of them hugging me, so happy to see my face.
It sure didn’t start out that way.
His dress shoes scratch across marble as he strolls while rubbing his chin in thought. I’m waiting for him to address his daughter’s outburst but instead he says, “You’ve been doing very well here, Madison. I want you to know that Vera and I are happy with your work. The children seem happier lately.”
“They do?” I smile, relaxing. “Well, that’s nice to hear.”
He draws out the word, “Yes,” and as the air stales, he lunges for me, grabs the back of my head and roughly kisses me.
I shove at his chest, gasp, “Stop it! Stop!” breaking free from unwanted lips.
He lets me go, turns on his heel and walks to where his keys lie on a gold-plated accent table by the front door. I stare after him as he disappears.
As the deadbolt clicks into place I wipe my mouth.
Skylar’s voice comes distant and muffled through the glass, like some sort of nightmare, “Maddie! Bucky’s trying to get inside!”
My hand lays flat on my chest as I gather my wits. Walking in a daze to the door, I slide it open. Bucky immediately sniffs me, whining quietly. I squat down, petting his head and looking into his sweet eyes to whisper, “Were you trying to save me, buddy?”
Skylar’s voice floats over, tentative with worry, “He didn’t fire you, did he, Maddie?”
In slow motion my gaze meets hers.
I croak, “No, Sky,” clearing my throat to say more firmly, “…he didn’t fire me.”
“Promise?!”
I glance over to Kyle at the bottom of the slide, staring at me like he’s waiting for his death sentence, too.
“He didn’t fire me. Your father told me I’m doing a great job, that’s all.”
They relax and go back to what they were doing, but this time with no arguments between them. They’re playing on eggshells.
I glance down to Bucky, give him a pet for his attempt to save me from the darker side of man.
CHAPTER 18
M ADISON
“T he asshole did what?!” Denise shouts, lipstick paused in her rearview mirror.
Fiddling with her car door lock, I repeat it. “He kissed me next to his framed wedding photos.”
“When was this?”
“Three days ago.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t want to be around him, but I’m fine. He hasn’t showed up since then. Nothing happened. I didn’t let it. I think he was just testing the waters. Which is funny because that’s what Nicholas said he was doing that night. But of course I wanted to kiss him, so that’s a whole different situation.”
“Nicholas Cocker is not married with two kids, signing your paycheck!” She goes back to applying and mutters, “What a piece of shit this boss of yours is. I want to grab his nuts and twist them until he apologizes.” She drops the tube in her purse and stares at me. “Did you knee him in the nuts?”
“I
