's [

econd of silence fr

ke to you about this

ve early today. I told you I would n

before I coul

xc

y," I said

ly forgot. I thought yo

she replie

appointment to get

t," I

ather is going t

Janet said

ng throug

'm sorry," I

I have two important meetings that start

Middl

day," I said, cutting her off

Middl

e was another second of silenc

my sister and ask her to go wi

et," I said, si

thank you

out this, Mr. Middleton," she

d you here

rying to control my

ry clear that I would need you on call twenty-four-seven. You promised me tha

ather was diagnosed,"

s just... I pay you extre

being paid in France's richest homes. And, I made it

to some sort of understanding

othing veiled about that threat. I gritte

was going through a hard time, and I di

rossed the asshole line a

t later... When I

ed the suppressed

around?"

phone was passed over and then I heard a clear, high-pitched

ddy

hating that I wasn't

in his dinosaur jammies, holding the phone with

s today," Noa

decent babysitter, bu

she spent it all on microwaveable meals and instant noodles b

n?" I

h," he

." He was talking about the flavor pac

anet about not feeding Noa

up for a babysitter that I had no choice but to swallow my words

ou up to no

h replied. Again,

ix, buddy," I

upposed to be

see the Nin

t, instead?" I suggested, hoping to

sick

do you

ad is h

a headache

anything else. Instead, I suppressed m

tuck you in tonight, kiddo...

said agreeabl

d and was always

my blue eyes, and even at th

there were moments when parenting

ight,

and sighed, wondering what I

itting, too. No matter how great the mone

e highly re

realize that all the qualifications in the world didn't inspire

shirt and l

g behind her desk, her he

d up when

t, sir,"

six?" I asked, realizing tha

he files for the Milton coll

next week." Impressed with her work

ng a really good

ntense relief, and then sh

right cheek. When she smiled, she

ou, sir,"

previous assistants have understo

nderstandable,"

ng your ba

I nodded

. I better get

" I nodded and headed out, wondering wh

I realized with a sharp pang th

unsettling about her was my feelings about