Chapter 7
Mia
JAMESON DIDN’T STAY FOR the tour, but he was more than happy to iron out everyone’s schedules as he called them all back into the room before he left.
Throughout the week, Rosy would relieve me of nannying at four on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as she taught piano and foreign language to Franny before Jameson had dinner with his daughter at six o’clock.
My meals, I insisted, would be brought to my room unless I needed to venture around Paradise Grove for a particular craving. In that case, Archer would escort me.
That morning, Jameson instructed Rosy to take Franny while Archer drove me to pick up materials for the study area we would set up. There, I would find a laptop and tablet ready for me.
He excused himself to work in his office but not before he informed me that after my tour with Hades, I could go over lesson plans with him if I needed to, but it would have to be quick.
“I can email them if you don’t have time to meet,” I offered.
“Probably for the best,” he agreed as if his time were so valuable.
And maybe that’s how they all felt, because we only got through about half of the estate before Hades summarized that we didn’t need to look over the rest that day and I was pawned off on Archer.
I agreed we didn’t have time to meander about, considering I was now worried I’d have to prep an area for learning and order teaching materials all in one day.
Yet, Paradise Grove supposedly had a hub that corporations would ship quickly to if residents couldn’t find what they needed. Same-day shipping on steroids.
I’d heard of this enclave but couldn’t have imagined the beauty and architecture as Archer drove me around and pointed out the tennis courts, gardens, country club, salons, and boutiques available.
I was able to find some teaching materials in a department store I’d never heard of.
For the rest, Archer supposedly put in an order.
Then, we worked to set up the study next to Jameson’s office as a classroom, and by the end of the day, I had to smile.
Plants were basking in the sun by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a calendar on the wall that I’d picked out for Franny to stick different Velcro items on for specials for the day.
I had a learning rug where we’d read and a desk where we could practice writing together.
I even found some lavender to place in a vase by the window. It was perfect—except for my boss.
The first day of teaching should have started smoothly, but I woke to a knock at my door at six in the morning this time. “You’re whimpering in your sleep, Ms. Darling,” Archer informed me.
I rubbed at the sand in my eyes. “I set my alarm for six fifteen in an effort to make sure no one heard me.”
“It’s only me.” He shrugged and I patted his shoulder to let him know I was thankful.
“Psh, the only person I trust around here.”
“Don’t forget Franny,” he pointed out.
“Her too. But I only get to tell you my thoughts on it.”
“I don’t want your thoughts, Ms. Darling.” Archer almost groaned. We’d built a sort of camaraderie over the month and I was happy to see that it was still there.
“Not even about how to keep your plants alive?” I faked a look of horror.
“I don’t have any plants.” He harrumphed.
“I told you to get one weeks ago. I’m disappointed. They’re good for your health.” I glanced over at mine in the room. “Although, I have to make sure these survive first.”
His blank stare told me he wasn’t at all interested in their well-being. Instead, he moved on to his priorities. “I’ll knock if I hear you in the morning so as not to disturb anyone else … and you can water your plants when you wake up.”
I smiled. “There’s the spirit. Don’t let me or Ms. Prim and Mr. Bos down. We need you. Plus, I can’t have my boss hearing me screaming.”
I saw the corner of his mouth lift a little, and I was happy about it.
Normally, Archer was pretty laid-back, but he’d been wound tight since we arrived in Paradise Grove.
He even pointed to my attire. “I can bring breakfast up for you, but you were also invited to eat with the Knights. What would you like?”
“Is there a third option?”
Being sequestered to this room again wasn’t ideal. I sat in it for hours in silence, not sure who was listening or watching. My mind ran away with the possibilities, and I hated it. Hated feeling trapped and like I was in witness protection.
Or prison.
The nice room didn’t change the fact that I would go insane if they tried to keep me in it.
Archer’s face wrinkled in distaste, but I held his gaze, not willing to waver in my request. “No. So, get dressed.” He pointed at my pajamas. “If he sees, Mr. Knight won’t like those.”
I popped a hip and looked him up and down. “What? He complained about my pj’s yesterday, didn’t he?”
Archer chose to plead the fifth.
I scoffed and pointed to the red flowers on my shirt. “Tulips should bring everybody joy.” That got me a chuckle. I smiled back. “Ah, there’s the Archer I know. I thought I might have lost you to the cold clutches of Paradise Grove.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s not that bad.”
“Really?” I walked over to grab attire from my dresser. “So, you just decided to come check on me rather than eating with the Knights downstairs?”
He glanced away. “My job is your safety, Ms. Darling. Plus, no one really enjoys eating with them but Valerie and Hades when Mrs. Knight is here. Breakfast is …” He hesitated on the word.
“Frigid?” I couldn’t help myself.
And then we were both laughing before Archer informed me, “You were invited, like I said.”
“Probably by Franny.”
He shrugged, and therefore I knew she was the one asking for my company.
“If she asks, we tell her meals are for time with her grandma and dad. Got it? I don’t want her feelings hurt.
” I shook my head and waved at my pajamas.
“Instead, I’ll get ready quick so I can help Rosy.
” I hated the thought of her alone in that kitchen dishing out meal after meal for everyone.
“You saw that woman. She likes cooking for everyone and running this house.”
“How about we sneak around to the back entrance of Rosy’s kitchen to help her and munch there until they’re done?”
“Eat here or with the Knights, Mia. Those are our options.”
I frowned. “According to who?”
“Your employer?”
I hummed without so much as an argument and went to the bathroom to change into a green flowy dress that reminded me of my plants in their better days.
I walked over to them and told Archer, “I think they’re dying because I’ve locked them into this stuffy room.
What do you think? The air in this place is somewhat uncomfortable and suspicious.
I’ll need to maybe sage it too. Do you think Jameson would mind if we did that to the halls I’ve seen so far? ”
He groaned. “I’m not doing that with you again.” He had walked the halls of the academy with me after I’d heard a few noises one night.
“It helped last time. Just admit it.” The place had felt so much lighter after we’d done it, but he just shook his head at me like I was a little too off the beaten path for his taste.
I patted his shoulder as I walked past him out of the room.
“Come on. Let’s go eat where we want to, Archer.
Maybe today we’ll see the rest of the estate? ”
“I think we will when Hades and Jameson find the time,” Archer grumbled, resigned to the fact that we wouldn’t be spending the morning in my room.
We walked quietly down another hallway and made it into the kitchen without disturbing the Knights, who were chatting quietly in the dining room.
Rosy shook her head at both Archer and me right when we arrived. She was in that signature black-and-white apron with her red lipstick in place. “Let me guess. You just can’t let me make breakfast for you and you’d rather help.”
“I really can’t.” I shrugged and grabbed a spoon.
“Or you really can’t sit with them, right?” She looked to Archer instead of me, as if he would be honest and I wouldn’t.
“In my defense”—I held up a finger—“Archer said no one ever eats with them. Plus, it’s true, I like making my own food.”
“You realize I get paid very well to wait on this family and manage the house. And that includes their guests.”
“And you do a fantastic job of it. I’m simply used to helping myself. Plus, I’m more of an employee than a guest.”
She nodded like she understood before pointing to a plate that was covered. “Just eat the pancake I made you and wash your plate yourself then. They’re just finishing up eating out there, and I believe Mrs. Knight is on her way out.”
I picked up the cover, and rich yeast laced with cinnamon wafted my way. “This smells amazing.” I almost moaned, realizing that my appetite finally was back.
She set warm maple syrup down next to my plate and handed me a fork before turning to Archer and pointing to his plate. “I don’t normally let people eat in here.”
“Just us from now until the end of time, right?” I said as I moaned into the food, taking my first bite. “What did you put in these pancakes?”
“Secrets, great and small, Ms. Darling.”
“Mia,” I corrected her. And when she frowned, I added, “Please. It’s always awkward when adults call me what children do all day.”
“Makes sense,” she agreed as she buzzed around picking up utensils.
“How early was breakfast for them today?” I asked, trying to gauge how much time I had.
“Franny rises with the sun.” Rosy shrugged and chuckled as she turned to put away some spices. “And I’m convinced we all orbit around her schedule.”
“Is it good to orbit?” Franny frowned as she walked in with Malek prancing by her side. The dog looked completely out of place with his thick black leather collar, but he came to sit in front of me as if expecting something.