Page 2 of Nanny for the SEALs

Maurice scowled as I held up my phone. “Why are we taking a selfie right now?”

“Just trust me. Andsmile.”

Maurice was dressed in a suit for the game, becauseof coursehe was. He didn’t leave his apartment in anything less than business casual. I was wearing my favorite blue dress with a plunging neckline and tapered waist. Completing the outfit was a gaudy diamond engagement ring on the third finger of my left hand. It was fake, just a prop from Mr. Howard’s acting class, but itlookedreal enough. I positioned my hand on my chest as I took the selfie to ensure the ring was visible.

After taking the photo, I wandered away from the railing above the ushers. The upper level continued along the outer wall of the arena, overlooking the suite level below. It wasn’t very crowded down there. In fact, after walking twenty feet from the area overooking the ushers, I didn’t seeanyonebelow us. Everyone was in their suites watching the game.

It was at least fifty feet down. Too far to jump. But not too far for a small metal object…

I slipped the diamond engagement ring off my finger, held it over the railing, and let go. After a long moment of silence, the ringclinkedon the ground below, disappearing out of sight.

“What are you doing!” Maurice hissed. “If Mr. Howard finds out you lost one of his props…”

“He doesn’t even know I borrowed it,” I replied.

“WHAT!” Maurice blurted out. He shook his head slowly and said, “You have lost your mind. I am talking to a crazy person. The kind who should be restrained with a straight jacket at all times.”

I grabbed his hand. “Trust me. I have a plan. Follow my lead.”

I led him over to the escalator. Maurice fidgeted while we rode it down a level. As we neared the landing to the suite level, Granny and the other usher eyed us. Sizing us up and preparing to wave us along to the next escalator that would carry us down to the bottom level. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, which I always did before getting into character.

You don’t get what you want in life, I thought to myself.You get what you fight for.

“Excuse me!” I said to Granny. “Can you please help us?”

She gestured. “The main concourse is that way. This entrance is only for—”

“We are staying in Suite number seventeen,” I said in a pompous voice. “The food was simplymediocre. No gluten-free or vegan options. Unacceptable, especially fromMacKenzie Scott, of all people! Can you imagine? I would expect such treatment from her ex-husband Jeff, but MacKenzie always had better taste.”

Granny blinked at us in confusion. “Umm…”

I put my arm around Maurice and laid it on thick. “So my wonderful fiancé and I went in search ofacceptablefood options. We looked high and low in this place—it’s like a maze, honestly. I swear my Stuart Weitzman pumps are scuffed from all the walking.”

These were actually ten dollar heels from JC Penny, but I was counting on Granny not knowing the difference.

“Fortunately, myfiancé—” (I made sure to emphasize the word this time) “—found vegan options on the upper level. Spring rolls with locally-sourced cabbage, of course. Simply delicious, and better than we expected in this place.”

Granny’s eyes flicked to my hand. “How is he your fiancé if you aren’t wearing a ring?”

“You are so observant!” I gushed. “That is precisely the problem. I was so upset about the food options that my ring must have slipped off my finger when we left the suite! Can you imagine? Losing an engagement ring a week after receiving it?”

The other usher, the stern-looking one, wasn’t buying any of this. “Can I see your suite passes, please?”

“We left them in the suite,” I said. “We rushed out of there without thinking…”

Maurice put his arm around me and finally joined in. He was slow at improv, but he was a damn good actor.

“It is my fault for not having the ring sized correctly,” he said pouring regret and fear into his voice. “I knew I should have taken it in for resizing as soon as she said yes, butTiffany’swas booked until nextmonth!We simply must find the ring. It is six carats, so it should be quite easy to find.” He held out a palm confidently. “Not that it would be a problem acquiring another one. My father owns a diamond mine in Sierra Leone. But it is the principle of the matter!”

“Honey, do not blame yourself,” I said, stroking his cheek. I turned back to Granny and said, “I think we lost the ring over there. If you would let us check I’m sure we can find it quickly…”

Granny looked at the other usher. For a moment, I didn’t think they were going to let us through. In which case I would need to explain to Mr. Howard how I had lost his ring.

“I’ll go with you,” the other usher said. Not Granny—the butch, stern-looking one. “But if there’s no ring, I’m calling security.”

“If there’s no ring,” I said dramatically, “you’ll have to call the morgue—because I may throw myself from the balcony in distress!”

The usher rolled her eyes as she led us into the suite concourse. Unlike the upper and lower areas, this level was nearly deserted. Everyone was already in their suites.

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