Page 78 of The Nanny is Off Limits

“That’s your opening line?” She shakes her head and I can feel the anger radiating off of her. “No, that’s right. Your opening line was that youdon’t want to be my friend or my nanny.Didn’t realize you were going for my stepmom.” She lifts her chin slightly. “Well, don’t bother, because I don’t need or want one of those.”

“I know you’re angry at me and I am so sorry.”

She forces a laugh. “For what? Lying to me? Let me guess. Dad knows all about the drama between me and Gabe.”

“No, I wouldn’t betray your trust. You asked me not to say anything about that and I didn’t. And…I didn’t lie to you, Margot. I didn’t expect…I haven’t been interested in anyone in six years. I certainly didn’t expect to go into a nannying job thinking that would change.” She doesn’t say anything so I take a step closer to her. “What would make you happy? Tell me.”

She scoffs. “Does it matter?”

“Your feelings mean a lot to your dadand to me,and for what it’s worth, he is hurt by all of this. He hates that you’re so hurt.”

“I have to get to school.” She opens the door before turning back to me. “I know I’m grounded, so I’ll be home after practice,” she says without another word before she’s out the door.

It isn’t long before Isla comes skipping down the stairs dressed for the day and I’m surprised she’s downstairs before Sawyer. “Hi, Isla! Look at you all ready to go.”

“I am!” She climbs up on one of the barstools just as I set some oatmeal in front of her.

“It’s hot.” I point at her and she nods before picking up the spoon. “How did you sleep?”

“Okay.” She shrugs. “But I slept in Margot’s room.”

I look at her curiously at this revelation because it means she must have gone in there late last night. “You did? How come?”

“I woke up and I heard her crying.”

“Oh?” Guilt slithers through me that I contributed to that. “Why was she crying?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. Sometimes she just does.” She shrugs. “Probably because of Mommy. Only at night time though.”

The fact that I didn’t realize that nights were so tough for her makes me feel like shit.Those nights that I was fooling around with her father she could have been crying herself to sleep.

“Does it happen a lot?” I feel a little bit guilty using Isla to try and figure out Margot but I already know that she’s shutting down and it would be good to know what she’s thinking and how she feels before she completely shuts us out.

“Mmmm.” She blows on her oatmeal before taking a small bite. “I don’t know.”

I take the seat next to her and look at her. “Do you cry? About your mommy?”

“Sometimes,” she says before looking at me. “Do you? Isn’t your mommy dead too?”

“Sometimes,” I whisper. I tap the counter before pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Well, you finish eating. I’m going to go check on your brother.”

“Oh oh, Ellie!” Isla calls after me and when I turn around, she’s practically brimming with excitement. “I know what I want to be for Halloween!”

“Oh?!” I tilt my head to the side because this has been an ongoing saga for the past two weeks.

“Tinker Bell!” she cheers. “Do you think SJ will dress up with me as Peter Pan?”

“Absolutely not,” I hear from behind me and SJ walks into the room. “I told you; I have plans. We are being the Avengers and I already have my Spider-Man costume.”

“Fine.” Isla pouts.

“Maybe, your dad will be Peter Pan with you,” I offer.

SJ snorts before sitting next to Isla. “Yeah, right. I’d pay big money to see that.”

“Will you be Wendy?!” Isla’s eyes light up and a huge smile finds her face.

“Sure, honey.” Her energy is infectious and I find myself smiling despite the conversation we had just minutes ago.

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