Page 26 of Big Trouble

WREN: So he was still hard and just got you off.

WREN: He has feelings for you.

ME: That’s a big leap.

WREN: Maybe, but you said he made pancakes for you this morning?

ME: He made pancakes. I ate some of them. That doesn’t mean he made them for me.

WREN: You’re being deliberately difficult.

ME: I’m just confused.

ME: And scared.

ME: It’s going to break my heart to do it, but I’m going to have to quit and leave them.

WREN: Do me a favor before you do that?

ME: What?

WREN: Talk to him. Tell him how you feel and see if he has anything to say about that.

ME: Okay, I will.

ME: How’s Keller? I miss my buddy.

WREN: He’s doing great. He and Banjo are the very best of friends.

ME: Is the dog sleeping in Keller’s bed?

WREN: This is still my son we’re talking about. He loves his dog, but he’s still himself.

ME: Give him a hug and kiss for me and tell him Aunt Winnie misses him desperately.

WREN: I will.

WREN: Hey, when you and Mr. Football figure it all out, y’all need to come out to Texas and see us. I suspect Keller and Clementine would be two peas in a pod.

ME: No doubt they would.

But I don’t make another promise. I’ll tell Brody how I feel because he deserves to know why I need to quit.

chapter

thirteen

Official Rules for Wind from the East Nanny Service

Rule #11: Nannies shall be fairly compensated for their work.

Brody’s take away: The woman always comes first.

Brody

Finally alone in the house, I go up to Winnie’s room. I tap my knuckles lightly on the door and it opens. So she clearly hadn’t shut it all the way. I step inside only to see her sitting on her bed, head hung down and sobs quietly racking through her body.

I rush to her side. “Killer? Are you okay? Did someone die?”