When We Were Sisters. Emilie Richards

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      “No, it’s just a fact. If you go, even if we hire Mary Poppins, I’ll still be away from my desk more than usual.” I thought about the conversation I’d just had. “And now it’s more crucial than ever for me to perform at top speed.”

      “If I go?”

      “The timing couldn’t be worse for me.”

      The line was silent a moment. “Let me ask, then. Are you saying that if I stay, you’ll take the time at Christmas, and we’ll fly to the Czech Republic to be with your family the way we planned?”

      I’ve had to make a lot of decisions I don’t like lately, and I’m not always happy with the man I’ve become. But one thing I’m not is a blackmailer.

      “I’m not saying that. I can’t go away no matter what. It’s true your leaving would have made going harder, but it’s the trial that makes it impossible.”

      “Glad to hear it. For the record, I wasn’t going to accept the blame and stay home.”

      “Are we done?”

      “Not quite. I’ve been waffling. I got the tentative filming schedule today. No matter how much I don’t want to, I’ll have to miss Pet’s big piano recital. And neither of the housekeepers I’m interviewing is interested in attending Nik’s soccer games.”

      “Welcome to the too-busy-at-work club.”

      “But the difference between us? I would never, under any circumstances, miss an occasion as important as the Christmas trip. This is one of the most memorable moments in the life of your family, and you’re not going to be there to share it.”

      “You know what? You’re blowing the whole thing out of proportion because you never had a real family of your own or memorable moments.” The moment the words emerged, I wished I could crawl under the desk and bang my head. “Look, that sounds a lot worse than I meant it to. I just mean I had lots of memorable moments when I was growing up, and this is just one more.”

      “Oh, I heard you. I was waffling a little, but now, you know what? I’m not. I have your permission to hire the housekeeper I like best?”

      “Do what you want.”

      “I’d suggest eating dinner before you come home because I’m not cooking tonight. I’m going to let the kids sit in on the interviews, and we can make our choice over dinner. See, I actually do have a family, and I’m going to make a memorable moment with them on my own. Without you. You have a nice evening.”

      She hung up and I stared out the window that had been my reward when I made partner the first time. How much bigger would the next one be?

      Would it be worth everything I would have to do to earn it?

9

      Robin

      Of the two women I interviewed for the second time, Elena Martinez was my favorite, and the hands-down favorite of Nik and Pet. I offered her the job, and she accepted.

      Elena is young and attractive, with curly dark hair that bounces over her cheeks and eyes the color of cocoa. She’s also the single mother of a four-year-old son, which might be a complicating factor, but Elena’s own mother lives near her apartment, and Elena says her mother will take Raoul if he’s too sick for day care.

      Her references are excellent, too excellent for a temporary job. It turns out that when this position ends, her plan is to move to California to be near Raoul’s father. She doesn’t want her son growing up without a role model.

      I can certainly relate to that.

      Elena arrived about an hour ago to go over everything one more time and meet Kris. While we waited for him we went over schedules and food preferences. I showed her where to find every cooking and cleaning utensil, as well as my extensive lists of the children’s friends and the professionals we use for everything from steam cleaning carpets to filling cavities. I’ll carry my cell phone, but I want as few questions as possible.

      Tomorrow the airport shuttle picks me up at the crack of dawn. I could have asked Kris to drive me, but starting tomorrow he has new responsibilities. Somebody will have to get the children to school every morning. Most days Elena won’t come in until noon.

      Now Elena and I were strolling through the yard, and she was admiring the last gasp of my roses. “Your garden is so pretty.”

      “The landscaping crew will come and do whatever’s needed. If you look out the window and see men in bright blue shirts mowing and trimming, pay no mind.”

      “That’s good, because I don’t know a thing about plants.”

      “And I know way too much, as you can see.”

      I would miss my garden. Late October was definitely not a peak, but I still had the roses in bloom and clouds of windflowers, along with bright Peruvian lilies and late-blooming daisies.

      “Can we ever have too much to love?” she asked.

      “I used to have garden parties out here with my friends. Little tables with sandwiches and cakes, everyone in skirts and floppy hats. Silly but fun.”

      “No more?”

      “Our children grew—we got too busy.” I thought of Talya, who had always helped me pour tea. “Some of us are gone now.”

      “New friends will take their place.”

      In this case I knew better. As I had predicted, the Weinberg house was already on the market, and no matter who moved in, things in the neighborhood would never be the same. Michael had already closed on a new town house in our school district, and he would probably be moved in by the time I returned. When I had gently questioned his haste, he’d claimed Channa was looking forward to the change, as well, but I wondered. At the conversation’s end he had offered me Talya’s dressing table. I hope he hasn’t banished everything that’s a reminder of the woman he and his daughter have lost. I’ll cherish the table and keep it for Channa, just in case.

      “Do you have any questions?” I asked. “About anything we went over?”

      “Mr. Lenhart knows I must pick up Raoul from day care at six-thirty? They will charge for every minute I’m late.”

      “If something does happen, you’ll bill him for those minutes, right?”

      “I will, but my time with Raoul is precious. I don’t want to miss any of it.”

      “Don’t forget, in an emergency you can call the women I’ve highlighted on my list.”

      She shook her head. “That will be Mr. Lenhart’s job.”

      I realized how far ahead of me she was. “You’re right. If he has an emergency, he can fix it. The list is just in case he doesn’t.”

      She smiled, showing pretty, even teeth, but I thought the smile said, he’d better.

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