Page 57 of Highball and Chain

“Don’t you dare try to carry those upstairs. I’ll get them later.”

The woman arched an eyebrow. “Telling me how to do my job?”

“No. I’m giving you a vacation. Take a break while my parents are out of town. You deserve it.” I hugged her for the first time since I’d been in high school. When I was a child, Hildie was my one source of affection, but her frail body felt foreign to me.

When did she get so old?

She tensed for a half-second before tightening her grip on me. “Thank you, Enzo. But I wasn’t going to carry them myself. I was going to have Rupert take care of them.”

“How many people does my mother have working here?”

“Four, but I’m the only live-in.” She patted my arm. “Go show your guest around. I’ll make the two of you some lunch.”

“You’re not going to take my advice and take it easy for a few days?” I knew she wouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist teasing her like I had when I was young.

“And die of boredom sipping lemonade by the pool?” Hildie smirked. “Besides, it’d take me a week to get the kitchen back in order after you were done with it.”

Shanna covered her mouth, likely to hide her smile.

“You may have a point.” I motioned to the hall. “We’ll be in the den.”

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