Page 32 of The Nanny Contract

I rushed back to see that she’d sprayed most of the immediate area near the entry to the garden. The first impression one receives upon entering the garden. The most important part.

“Veronica,” I said as I neared, “are you sure that’s the right choice for this area?”

She placed the bottle on the ground and wiped her hands on her skirt, looking wildly inappropriate for garden work.

That was when I finally realized she was wearing high heels. Somehow that had escaped me before.

Come to think of it, Veronica always looked out of place at Westbrook Meadows. She much preferred to be at her high-rise condo downtown. Probably so she could look down on everyone else from her ivory tower.

No doubt she was only lingering around the estate so much lately to see if she could scavenge a piece of the pie from Betsy. Sucking up, pretending to help around the house. It was all a charade meant to further her own agenda.

Veronica had gone beyond normalcy and good taste. She was venturing on cartoonishly evil, hoping to do anything she could to claim a stake in Mother’s money.

“Need to go wash my hands,” she said with a wink.

“Veronica, why did you come here today?” I asked. “And what on earth is in that bottle you just placed on the ground?”

“Just stopped by to help!” she called out, her tone dripping with insincerity.

Suddenly, Casey appeared out of nowhere as if to rescue me. He made up an excuse about needing help with another section of the garden, and as he escorted me away, I watched Veronica leave.

I kept an eye on her until I could be completely sure that she was gone. I didn’t trust her to leave on her own. In fact, if I had things my way, I’d install cameras all around the property and bar her from ever entering Westbrook Meadows again.

My resentment of Veronica was slowly growing. She had gone beyond a normal nuisance. Now she was actively sabotaging us.

As Casey walked me to the back of the garden, I felt my senses calming with his hand on my back.

It wasn’t lost on me at all that Casey had helped me.

In fact, it excited me.

Later that day, as Casey and I surveyed the garden, I noticed that something was off.

Leaves had started to curl, and I quickly realized it was something in the soil. I knew right away what the problem was and to whom the blame belonged.

We found Veronica’s dispenser only to discover that the label had been ripped off.

As if on cue, we noticed Veronica approaching.

“Veronica,” I said as she grew near, “we have a specific plan we’re executing here. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave the chemical choices to us.”

Her eyes sparkled as she tried to feign innocence. “My only goal was to support you, Logan. How was I to know your plants were so delicate?”

Her words were always so sharp, intending to sting and cause harm.

Veronica shook her head, sucking air through her teeth. “This won’t look good to Betsy, especially with her upcoming decisions about the will. So much at stake.”

For the first time in my life, I felt something close to… hatred for a family member.

It was entirely new and incredibly uncomfortable.

Before I could respond, Veronica turned and sauntered away.

Me and Casey spent the next three hours digging up and replanting the small areas affected by Veronica’s sabotage.

Finally, we sat on two large, discarded boxes, surrounded by scattered leaves and torn-out bushes. Casey and I observed the scene of a garden that was finally taking shape.

Henry had helped for an hour before going in to finish homework.

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