Page 95 of Worst Nanny Ever
Eugene bustles back to our table with a fresh name tag on his sweater vest.I’m Eugene, ask me about my spreadsheets!
“What kinds of spreadsheets do you like to make, Eugene?” Liam asks, crossing his arms.
“First tell me why you’re not working.”
Dottie tips her head at Eugene, a sweet, encouraging smile on her face.
He sighs and rewords his reasonable question. “Is there a reason why you’re not working now, Liam?”
She beams at him, nodding in approval.
“I’m creating community by talking to Travis.” Liam gestures to me. “And we’reconnectingbecause my sister works for him. It’s possible we couldcollaborateon a new beer, because Travis has an extensive background in boating.”
I laugh despite myself. “Well, Hannah did warn me that you’re an asshole.”
Liam gives me a small smile. “Funny, she said the same to me about you.”
“I think that’s just wonderful,” Dottie says. “Don’t you, Eugene? Creating connections is what community is all about.”
Eugene looks like he’s about to blow a gasket, but he still nods several times like a bobblehead before saying, “Yes. Of course. It’s wonderful for people to call each other names.” Turning to me, he adds, “I hope you don’t mind, but Hannah asked me to pass that Maritime individual’s post along to my son so he could do some research. Cormac said he’d look into it, but he’s traveling, so it might take a couple of days.”
Another favor Hannah’s done for me without being asked.
I steeple my fingers and nod. “Thank you. I’d appreciate it if you could keep it quiet.”
Liam laughs. “Good luck with that. Those women created a scene. Everyone in town’s going to be talking about it before long.” His expression turns fierce. “They wereclearly meant to. Which brings us back to my earlier point: who would hold a grudge against you?”
At this particular moment, it feels likeeveryoneresents me. But I share Hannah’s theory about Rachel.
Liam shrugs. “Seems a little more personal than that. If she barely knows you and thinks you could bust her, I don’t know why she’d go to the trouble. Who else?”
I rub my forehead. “I don’t know. My ex-girlfriend, maybe. Or…” I pause, my mind sluggish. Then an idea pops into my head, surprising me. “Maybe Rob’s brother Jonah.” I know both Liam and Dottie are aware of the Jonah situation, but for Eugene’s sake, I add, “My buddy’s dating Jonah’s ex-fiancé, so he might feel like he has a score to settle.”
“You young people,” Eugene says, shaking his head, “sleeping around like you’re playing musical beds.”
Liam’s hand tightens around his beer. “Nah, I don’t think it’s him.”
“Why?”
“I told him I’d beat his face in if he went anywhere near my sister again, and he knew I meant it. He nearly pissed himself.”
I believe Jonah would be afraid of Liam—he’d be stupid not to be—but at the same time…
“I wouldn’t put it past him to try. He might not know she’s working for me. Maybe I’ll pay him a visit.”
“Anyone else?”
I glance at Eugene, then add, “The only other person who seems to dislike me is Mrs. Applebaum.”
“Moira Applebaum has more integrity in her little finger than either of you,” Eugene says with feeling.
I shrug, thinking about the sour look on her face after she told me I’d shown her classquite enough fun, and surely it was time for me to move along and entertain someone else.“Wasn’t saying she’d do it, but she definitelydoesn’t like me.”
That’s when it hits me. Hannah wants to play matchmaker for Eugene and Mrs. Applebaum. Helping her with the matchmaking would be a way of showing her I care, wouldn’t it?
“Does Moira like music?” I ask.
Eugene frowns, as if thrown by the abrupt change in topic, but something in him shifts, maybe at the thought of Moira Applebaum listening to music. With a dreamy smile, he says, “Shedidtell me she has a certain fondness for acoustic music. ‘Blue River’ is one of her favorite tunes.”
