Page 14 of Worth Every Risk

This is the second time today I’ve thought Mrs Minter’s keeping something from me. “You’ve started now, so you’d better tell me.”

“My mother was her father’s healer.”

I frown, replaying her statement in my mind. “What does that mean? Is your mother a doctor?”

“No. She’s an energy healer. Mrs Minter’s father was her client. She gave him weekly distance healing sessions before he died. To help him cope with the cancer treatments. Mum and Mrs Minter struck up a bit of a friendship, so when Mum said I was looking for work—”

“Hold on. Did you say ‘distance healing’?” No matter how hard I try, I cannot keep the scepticism from my tone.

“I did. She’s a reiki healer. Also sekhem.”

“I don’t even know what you just said.”

Her mouth tilts up in a lopsided smile. “Are you joking? You aren’t going to lose alpha points if you know what it is.”

“Alpha points?”

She sighs, like I’m the one who’s exasperating. She raises her palms towards me in demonstration, as though she’s beaming rays of light from them. “Energy is everywhere. We can use the power of our intention to send it across space—”

I scoff. “So your mother waved her hands around in Scotland, while Mrs Minter’s father was getting healed in South London. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly,” Aries confirms, seemingly not bothered by the fact I’m struggling to keep a straight face. “And time. We can send it across time too.”

I decide to let this go. There are all sorts of people in the world, believing all sorts of crap. “You are actually a nanny, aren’t you?”

She smiles, like she wants to laugh, but is trying to keep it in check. “I have nannying experience. Yes. And I love kids. I’ve always wanted to work with them. Nothing fulfills me like seeing joy on their little faces and getting to share in that.” She breaks eye contact and inhales deeply, as though she has to prepare herself for whatever she’s about to say next. “But I needed this job for two reasons. First, the money. And second, because my mother wants me to be here.”

“Why?”

There’s a lengthy silence, during which an odd foreboding fills my stomach.

“Because she has terminal cancer and we don’t have the cash to pay for decent care so she can be comfortable at home. If I’m not there, then someone else has to be,” Aries says finally.

That’s intense. I frown, hating myself because the first thing that comes to mind is that healing definitely doesn’t work if thehealer is sick. The second is that Aries delivered the information like she was reading a register. No emotion whatsoever. Maybe it’s because this is her first day and she’s not keen to expose her entire emotional range on one day. God knows she’s already revealed a lot. Or maybe it’s because it’s too painful for her to make the declaration any other way. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

She shrugs. “That’s life. What I’ll earn here this summer is enough to afford to have someone stay with her at home until...” She swallows and doesn’t finish the sentence.

I feel painfully uncomfortable now. Like I ought to be giving her more, offering to pay for her mother’s treatment. Her care. But somehow, I think Aries wouldn’t want that, so instead I say, “You wouldn’t rather be working closer to home?”

“No. She doesn’t want me to waste my life sitting at her bedside. She wants to see me spread my wings. Follow my dreams. She wants to live to see that happen. Besides, you know… my gut instinct and all that. Mum’s too. We both feel like I’m supposed to be here.” Aries looks up at the ceiling and blinks a few times, as though she’s hoping to drain tears back into the ducts before looking back at me. “And”—she manages a smile—“you pay by far the most, Mr Hawkston. It’s worth it to be here.”

I don’t know what to say. Luckily, Aries is quick to fill the hiatus. “Your little girl is a delight. I know it’s only my first day, but I enjoy her company, very much. She has a big heart. Huge. You can be proud of her.”

The comment sends a surge of positive emotion through me and I smile, but the pleasure brings with it discomfort. I don’t even know if I deserve to feel good about my kids.Am I a good father? Have I been present enough?

“Tomorrow,” I say. “I had it scheduled to spend with Lucie, but seeing as you’re new, we can all go together. Natural HistoryMuseum. You’ll want to check the weather; make sure she’s dressed appropriately. How will you do that without a phone?”

Aries doesn’t bother trying to hide her surprise. “I’ll look out the window.” She delivers the line like I’m stupid, and for some reason it makes me want to laugh, but I don’t. “Have her ready by half nine, then we can be at the museum before opening to avoid the queues.”

“Yes, sir.”

She turns and lets herself out of the dining room, and I watch her go. That mane of red hair is so long it almost grazes the apples of her arse cheeks, which are concealed by snug-fitting blue jeans.So round and tempting. I scold myself for letting the thought occur, but when she reaches out to open the door, the t-shirt she’s wearing shifts upwards, revealing a thin strip of what looks to be a thong resting on her hip bone, and I know I’m going to have my work cut out to police my thoughts. She’s temptation wrapped up in a perfect package.

Only when the door closes behind her do I realise that I never offered her a drink.

4

ARIES

---