5. Savannah
After Aiden left this morning for practice, Martha called Penny down from her room so that I could get to know the little girl I would be protecting. While Penny and I talked about her likes and dislikes, Martha stepped away to make a phone call. I wish she had gone further because I was able to hear her side of the conversation. When she suggested I’d be perfect for Aiden, I almost laughed out loud. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Aiden and I are like fire and ice.
Martha returned with two cups of coffee, for which I was immensely grateful. I had gotten up early this morning to ensure I wasn’t late. I don’t usually wear a lot of make-up, and styling my hair in a French braid didn’t take much time or effort. I wanted to look the part of a nanny, which is sweet and wholesome—something I am most definitely not. I’m all sass with a tongue that gets me in trouble quite often.
The one thing I have learned, having lived with a controlling mother for years, is that I refuse to let anyone walk all over me or treat me with anything less than the respect I deserve. I will never be anyone’s doormat again.
Martha taps my arm, gently coaxing me back to the present after getting lost in my thoughts. “I apologize for my son’s behavior. If you’re still willing to do the job, I should tell you what it will entail.”
“Don’t worry about it, Martha. I can handle Aiden and whatever he throws at me. I’ve got pretty tough skin. As long as I don’t get fired for standing my ground and putting him in his place if it happens again, then we’re all good.”
She laughs. “Goodness, no! I don’t have any problem with that. My son could use a swift kick in the butt every once in a while. I think you’ll be very good for him.”
“Martha, I’m not here for Aiden. I’m here for Penny.”
“True, but you’ll be living here for the foreseeable future. You’re bound to influence one another, and you have my full permission to keep Aiden in check if he gets out of line. The good news is that I’m the one that takes care of the hiring and firing around here, so you don’t have anything to worry about.” She winks for good measure.
Penny goes over to the shelves and grabs a book, burying her face in the pages. I squint, trying to make out the words on the cover.
“Is Penny reading The Great Gatsby for fun?” I ask in awe.
“No. It’s part of her homework. Paul will be here in an hour for her private tutoring. It’s the only way we know how to challenge her without making her feel out of place,” Martha says sadly.
“There’s a school in New York for gifted children like Penny. Maybe there is something like that here?” I don’t remember a school like that in Savannah, but then again, I was never like Penny and hadn’t needed to go to one.
“There’s not. We’ve checked. When Aiden retires, he may decide to move up North so she can attend. It would be hard to see him go, but knowing it’s the best thing for our little angel would make it easier to accept. There’s still plenty of time to figure it all out. For now, let’s talk about your nanny duties.” The way she emphasized “nanny” means we’ll be discussing my other duties when Penny isn’t around.
I gesture for her to continue.
“We have a cleaning service that comes in twice a week to dust, vacuum, and other assorted housekeeping tasks. Penny just needs to pick up after herself, which may require a bit of prompting on your part. You’ll help her get ready for the day, cook for her, and spend quality time playing or taking her out to places where she can immerse herself. Paul takes care of her education from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon, with a half-hour break for lunch,” she explains.
“Do I need to cook for Paul as well?”
“No. He’s vegan and finds it easier to bring his own lunch. The only person you’re required to feed is Penny, although Aiden has agreed to let me offer extra pay if you’re also willing to cook for him. It’s entirely up to you.”
Shining Knight pays me handsomely, so I don’t feel there’s any need to take the extra incentive. “I don’t have any issues with cooking for everyone. It’s just as easy to prepare meals for more people as it is for Penny and me. All I need to know is how many will be joining us to make sure there is enough to go around. You don’t have to pay me extra when there isn’t any extra work involved.”
My answer seems to please Martha. “Thank you, Anna. I know Aiden will appreciate that. Neither he nor Penny have any food allergies, but Aiden likes the meals to be healthy for obvious reasons.”
“I’m not sure if you were made aware, but I have my bachelor’s degree in Health and Nutritional Science. I was pre-med with a focus in Sports Medicine. I just never had a reason to use it for anyone other than myself until now. I’m all about maintaining proper health and good fitness.”
She nods in approval. “That’s good to know. This is what I meant when I said that you would be good for my boy. He doesn’t think anyone needs to take care of him, but the little things like a proper diet and not having to cook after a long day goes a long way. They say, ‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.’”
I ignore Martha’s quip and ask a question that has been plaguing me. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the previous nanny?”
The doorbell chimes, and Martha looks at her phone. “It’s Paul.” She continues speaking as she answers the door, “Let’s just say that Angela got an offer she couldn’t refuse and was given a substantial severance package. She was more interested in taking care of Aiden and Swank than she was in Penny. So, when the opportunity presented itself to let her go, I jumped on it.”
A few minutes later, I’m introduced to Paul. He is a nice, unassuming guy in his late twenties with black-framed glasses and wavy brown hair. He is polite and well-mannered, saying nothing about the state of Penny’s make-up fiasco. He has a master’s degree in education, and Penny enjoys his teaching style. While the two of them engage in their daily lesson at the kitchen table, Martha and I quietly discuss my protection duties in the living room.
“Now, let’s talk about the real reason why you’re here. I don’t have the first clue as to how I should handle Penny’s protection other than to have someone who is highly trained be close to her side. Aiden has security on the premises but only recently hired bodyguards to protect Penny while she is off the grounds and in public. Please tell me what I need to do to help you effectively do your job,” she says, truly worried about the protection and welfare of her granddaughter.
“There’s quite a lot to discuss, but I’ve noticed several things that already concern me.”
“Like what?” she asks, determined to fix whatever needs fixing.
“First, it was far too easy for me to gain access to the home. All I did was give my name to the man posted at the front gate. He didn’t bother to check my identification to ascertain if I was truly who I said I was. He just glanced at a list and waved me through. If the guard doesn’t have facial recognition, then a person’s identification should be checked and then matched to the list. Can you tell me what the protocol is for when someone shows up unannounced?”
Martha taps out a note into her phone before answering me. “They call up here and request permission before granting entry.”
At least they do that. “Are the security team or bodyguards allowed to use deadly force, if necessary?”
“Yes and no. The security team doesn’t, but the bodyguards do.”
That doesn’t surprise me. “What procedures are in place if someone who is a threat manages to gain access to the property? Even with the best security measures in place, people find a way.” She tells me that security is authorized to use taser guns and apprehend the intruder until the police arrive.
“Mrs. Shaw…”
“Martha, please.”
“Martha,” I gesture to all the windows in the house, “There are a lot of windows that give a perpetrator a full view of your home if they have a good vantage point. Anyone can take a potshot if they see movement. The shades should be drawn to mitigate that potential threat.”
She chuckles lightly. “You don’t have to worry about that. The windows are all bulletproof. It was one of the first things Aiden did when he bought the house. It was an expense that brought him peace of mind and worth every penny—no pun intended.”
I’m glad that’s one thing I can check off my mental list of things that concern me. “I have some equipment that I will need to set up. I can do that after I make Penny lunch and wash her face. As far as security goes, I will be in contact with Shining Knight throughout the duration of this assignment. I’d like your permission ahead of time to bring in the rest of my team should it become necessary.”
“Absolutely, but I would like them to be undercover as well,” she says.
I cock my head and purse my lips, befuddled by her need for secrecy. There is only one way to find out what her motives are behind the request. “Why do you feel it necessary to keep this from Aiden? I assume that he would want to do whatever is best for him and his daughter.”
She sighs. “He would, but Aiden has been getting threats for years. Something about the last few hasn’t set right with me, though. He hired bodyguards to appease me, but it wasn’t enough. I think whoever is behind this is someone who knows him well and isn’t just some crazy fan. I need people who can be close and inconspicuous if I want to get to the bottom of this. Aiden would just think it’s an invasion of his privacy.”
“It kind of is,” I tell her bluntly.
“I’m well aware of that, but I don’t know what else to do. It’s not that Aiden isn’t willing, but he would feel that everything he says or does is being scrutinized. If he doesn’t know about what you really do for a living, then he won’t feel the need to walk on eggshells around you. The same goes for anyone else coming in or out of this house,” she explains, firm in her belief that she’s doing the right thing.
It makes sense. People are more likely to have loose lips if they aren’t aware they’re being watched. “I understand your need to keep my true purpose under wraps, but the bodyguards need to know who I am and what I do. They have to take their cues from me, and if they think I’m just a nanny, it could create potential problems. I don’t want them to second guess a decision at a crucial moment.”
“Fair enough. Do you have any other recommendations? I want to make sure you have everything you need to do your job.”
“One more. At least two of the four bodyguards should dress like the average person. While a man in a power suit with a gun is intimidating and makes someone think twice about approaching, having men blend in with the crowd will allow them to stand back and get a bigger picture of what’s happening. It’s a tactic we use at Shining Knight, and you’d be surprised what we notice when no one knows we’re around.”
“Duly noted. Let me give you a quick tour, and then I’ll take care of lunch and Penny’s beautiful make-up job while you do what you must.”
Martha has me download the app and gives me the access code for the security feeds. The house is well covered with only a few blind spots, which I plan to rectify shortly. I also intend to install several micro cameras throughout the home, capable of recording both visual and audio, which link directly to our servers at headquarters.
I finish up ten minutes before Paul is due to leave, ready to assume my duties as both a nanny and protector.
The next few hours are spent with Penny and Martha, listening to Christian music and making fresh bread. When Penny’s favorite song comes on, she puts it on repeat until I know all of the words and can sing along with her. Martha also takes the time to introduce me to the bodyguards who will be looking after us and passes on my request for them to be incognito.
In casual conversation, Martha mentions that today’s practice for the guys is going to be brutal after barely squeaking out a win against the Trenton Tornados. “Coach Dorn isn’t going to go easy on them. I’ll be surprised if Aiden can stand up straight by the time they’re finished.”
“An ice bath helps the muscles recover quicker. That and a nutritious meal with complex carbs and lots of protein. If he takes care of himself properly, he should be right as rain tomorrow,” I tell her.
“We should make him dinner and an ice bath!” Penny suggests.
“That’s a great idea! What do you think we should cook? What kinds of foods have carbohydrates and protein?” I ask her.
“Meat has protein, and red meat has lots of iron, too! Brown rice, potatoes, and other whole grains are good sources for carb loading. At least, that’s what my dad always says. We should have chicken and rice for dinner! I love rice!”
“I’ll leave you to it. Reggie, Aiden’s father, should be here soon. I know he’s looking forward to meeting you. Will five people for dinner be too much to ask?” Martha queries.
“Not at all. The more, the merrier.” She smiles before heading toward the living room. I hear the television come on and realize the game against Atlanta and Baltimore has just started. Part of me wants to join her, but I have more pressing business to attend to.
I turn toward Penny, who is looking at me expectantly. “Are you ready to learn how to make lemon chicken and cilantro-lime rice?”
She jumps around enthusiastically, finally showing her true age. We set to work, preparing dinner and the bath for Aiden, who should be home soon. When Francesca Battistelli plays through the speakers, yet again, we dance and sing along with her. It isn’t until I hear a deep humming that my attention is diverted.
There, standing at the edge of the kitchen, is Aiden, smiling at his daughter as if in a trance. It takes him a moment to realize that we’ve stopped singing and are staring at him.
“Dad, you’re home! Look, I’m making dinner for you! Anna said that you would have had a hard day of practice if you plan to make the playoffs! Nutrition is key to recovery!” Penny shouts before running into her father’s arms. He swings her around, making her giggle.
“She did, did she?”
“And do you know what else we did?” Penny asks him excitedly.
“What’s that, Sweetheart?”
“We made you an ice bath! Anna said that it would help your muscles feel better. Is that true?”
He nods. “It is. That was very thoughtful of you both. Thank you. Do I have time to soak before dinner?”
I look at the timer on the oven before answering him with a small smile. “Dinner should be ready in 20 minutes. The longest you should soak in an ice bath is ten minutes max, depending on your body’s tolerance to the cold. That should give you plenty of time.”
“Did my mom tell you that?” The hint of arrogance lacing his tone ruffles my feathers.
I may be nothing more than a nanny to him, but that doesn’t mean I’m uneducated. “No. Amazingly enough, I was able to figure that out all on my own.”