Confessions of a Teen Nanny 02 - Rich Girls (10 page)

Or maybe we can just order in . . . , Adrienne thought.

Adrienne and Brian were settled on the sofa in the kitchen, the fireplace blazing.They had ordered in Japanese food, which they paired with a bottle of Chardonnay that Adrienne pulled from the extensive wine collection. Now they were deciding what movie to watch on the huge flat- screen TV.

Adrienne moved her toes toward Brian at the other end of the sofa and wiggled them under his thigh for warmth.

"Are you cold?" he asked, taking an Herm�s lap blanket from the arm of the sofa and throwing it over her legs. As

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he reached forward to tuck it in under her, Adrienne sat up, and they found themselves face-to-face.

"It's weird being with you like this," he said softly."It's like everything's back the way it was."

"I-I know what you mean," Adrienne said. She held her breath, willing him to kiss her.

He did.

Brian's lips pressed hard against Adrienne's as he pulled her close. She ran her hands up his back and clung to him, letting herself feel comforted by his kisses, letting them wash away all of the hurt and fear and anger she had been feeling.

I can't believe it, Adrienne thought. This is amazing. He's mine again!

"Adriana!" a voice said as the overhead lights in the kitchen snapped on. "Are you in here?"

"Mr. and Mrs.Warner!" Adrienne exclaimed.

Brian and Adrienne instantly separated as if they were magnets repelling. Somehow Brian was at the window and Adrienne was perched at the table. I think we just broke all the laws of physics, she thought.

Mr. and Mrs. Warner walked into the kitchen. Mr. Warner immediately went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a scotch.

"What are you doing home?" Adrienne asked.

"No snow," Mr. Warner said. "We got to the airport,

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and our pilot told us it was like July in Saint Moritz. I called the resort and offered to buy them a snow machine, but they wouldn't do it." He downed his drink and poured another. He turned and faced them."But the real question is, what the hell are you two doing here?"

Mrs. Warner gave Adrienne a small smile, then touched her husband's arm. "Oh darling, I thought I told you that I had asked Adriana to check on things while we were gone."

"Ah." Mr. Warner began rummaging through the huge refrigerator.

"Hey!" Cameron said, walking into the kitchen. "Bri! You got my message! Great! I knew you'd be here."

Brian looked confused, then went blank. "Uh, yeah, sure," he mumbled. He stared at his sneakers.

"Cool! Let's go out." She grabbed Brian's hand.

As Cameron dragged Brian past Adrienne, he said, "So, uhm, see you around, Adrienne."

Adrienne's mouth dropped open and tears stung her eyes. How can he diss me like this after the time we just spent together? Adrienne shook her head. Cameron has him com- pletely whipped.

"I am so happy you are here, Adrienne," Mrs. Warner said, completely ignoring the stricken look on Adrienne's face. "Mr. Warner and I are just here to drop off the chil- dren.We're leaving for Palm Beach, just the two of us."

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"Can't wait," Mr. Warner said, dumping a pile of meats, cheeses, and p�t� onto the counter.

"I know, darling, I know," she said, smiling. "So, Adriana, we really need you to step up to the plate. We'll make it worth your time."

Luckily, Emma came in, giving Adrienne another moment to compose herself.

"Salutations, greetings, acknowledgments, hello, Adrienne," Emma said, dropping her bag on the floor.

"So, as I was saying, would you be a dear and stay here with Emma? Tania will be returning as well to handle the nights.Wonderful. All right, darling, let's go!"

Mr.Warner picked up his platter of snacks and tucked the bottle of scotch under his arm. Mrs. Warner followed him, regaling him with all the friends they'll be THRILLED to see once they got to Palm Beach.

A moment later, Adrienne and Emma were left alone in the quiet kitchen.

"Looks like it's just you and me," Emma said.

"It always is," Adrienne replied.

133

out of the closet

A rriving late at Dr. M-C's house in Aspen, Liz didn't really notice much about it except that it was large, dark, and somewhere in the woods just outside of Aspen. Fighting a slight headache from the thin mountain air, Liz helped the sleepy kids (two real, one imaginary) into their bedrooms, called her mother to let her know she had arrived safely, and then followed Dr. M-C down the hall to the room where she was to sleep.

"This is it," Dr. M-C announced, opening the door to the tiny bedroom."It used to be a broom closet," she added, gesturing toward the brooms hanging on the back of the door."Your bath is down the hall. See you in the morning."

Liz said good night, changed out of her clothes, fell into the bed, and was sound asleep in no time.

The next morning, the light passing across her face woke her, and Liz sat up and looked around. "This is the

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fanciest broom closet I've ever seen," she murmured.

The room was tiny, but the walls were paneled in a rough-hewn cedar wood and smelled wonderful. Slender windows looked out onto a snow-covered garden next to the garage, and the light streamed in through a glass door that opened onto a tiny terrace.

Liz hopped out of bed and rose to investigate, pulling her comforter around her shoulders. She opened the door, and a burst of cold air blew through the room. Liz stepped outside, her bare feet tingling on the snowy wood deck.

I have never been anywhere so beautiful, Liz thought, looking out over the valleys and mountains that spread out at her feet like a carpet.The land fell away from the wooden terraces of Dr. M-C's amazing house, giving Liz the impression that she was flying over the snowy landscape.

The pristine sight banished all of Liz's resentment over being stuck in coach so that Grumpus could fly first class.

Liz began to shiver, so she stepped back into the house, rubbing her shoulders against the crisp, thin air. She closed the door to the terrace and bundled back up in her cozy bed. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was early; the time difference from New York meant that she was up two hours earlier than normal.

I wonder what time I'm expected to start taking care of the kids? Liz thought. She had never gone on vacation with Dr.

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M-C before. Am I working 24/7 while I'm here?

After a long, hot shower, Liz changed into a pretty pale blue turtleneck sweater and a pair of jeans, and debated wearing the pale blue Ugg boots she had bought for the trip. Were Uggs over? Would she look like an idiot? A poser? A draft blew through the room, and Liz decided she would wear them--it was too cold not to.

Liz walked down the long hall and stepped through a pair of glass doors into an incredible room. It was huge, divided into three large sections by timber-framed white plaster walls. Windows stretched floor to ceiling, and a series of flying staircases led to the bedrooms upstairs.The room had an unfinished, rural feel, with hand-hewn beams and wide plank floors. Everywhere she looked, light streamed in through the paned windows, washing over the comfortable leather furniture and enormous patterned car- pets. Liz stared at the cathedral ceilings and admired a long balcony that hung over the living room, giving the third floor the same view as the second.

In the middle of the room, a large pit contained a roaring fire, the flue hanging over it like a hat.

"Ain't much in the way of crackling," said a voice just outside her view. "But it throws off enough heat."

Startled, Liz walked farther into the room.A pleasant- looking older woman with short white hair stood wiping a glass clean with a cloth in her hand.

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"Billie Baird," the woman said with a smile. "Are you Miss Braun?"

"Yes," Liz said. "But please call me Liz."

"And you call me Billie," the woman said."A package came for you. I put it on the table."

"Great, thanks."

Billie vanished through a swinging door into what Liz guessed was the kitchen. Liz looked around and spotted a box sitting on a low, Italian-tiled coffee table.

It's so much homier here than back at Dr. M-C's Fifth Avenue apartment, Liz thought as she crossed the room. Clearly someone else did the decorating!

Liz knelt down beside the table and opened the slim, velvet-covered box. Her dark eyes widened as she pulled out a thick platinum charm bracelet. She gasped when she saw the small diamond snowflake charm dangling from the chain.

"`Welcome to Aspen. --Parker'" she read aloud from the card. She held up the bracelet and let the light dance off its shining surfaces. Maybe the whole thing with Isabelle is a big fat nothing, Liz thought.

"Elizabeth!" Dr. M-C appeared at the top of the stairs flanked by Heather and David. "We have a schedule to keep!"

"We do?" Liz said, slipping the bracelet back into the box. "We just got here."

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"Precisely.Time's wasting. I have to get to work. I have the children's itinerary right here." She held up a clipboard. "Their ski lesson starts in just a few minutes."

"Have you guys skied before?" Liz asked.

Heather nodded."I fell down a lot," she said. She didn't look too thrilled to be making another attempt.

"Grumpus doesn't need lessons," David said. "He's an expert!"

"Oh, David, that's wonderful," Dr. M-C gushed. "He can help Heather with her form."

Heather rolled her eyes.

"Grumpus knows you don't like him," David said. "He doesn't like you, either."

"I don't care," Heather declared.

David giggled. "Grumpus just stuck his tongue out at you!"

"David," Liz said in a warning tone. He made a face, but stopped teasing Heather.

"We want to see some improvement by the time we leave," Dr. M-C. said. "That's why I've hired someone training for the Olympic team to be your instructor. He'll be here soon.We can't keep Lars waiting!"

"Well, then, let's get you into your ski clothes and grab your equipment," Liz said, heading for the wide stairs.

She joined them at the landing. Dr. M-C handed Liz the clipboard, then vanished back into her room. As Liz

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followed the kids down the hall, she scanned the itinerary.

Her mouth dropped open. Wow. Dr. M-C has scheduled these kids within an inch of their lives! Ski lessons. Skating. More ski lessons. Several events at the opera house. And I'll also have those note sessions with Dr. M-C, Liz realized. When am I ever going to get a chance to see Parker?

"Do I have to go?" Heather whined when Liz stepped into her room.

"Don't you like to ski?" Liz asked.

"It's cold and it's wet and the ski boots are too heavy," Heather complained.

"Well, maybe with some lessons with Lars you'll start having more fun," Liz said.

"Maybe . . ." Heather didn't sound very convinced.

"Give it a try," Liz said. "If you really, really hate it, maybe we can come up with another activity that your mom will approve of."

Heather sighed, but she turned and began pulling ski clothes from her dresser.

One down, one to go, Liz thought, going to David's room. Make that two more, she reminded herself. Grumpus will undoubtedly be joining us on the slopes.

"David, how are you doing?" Liz asked, going into his room.

"Grumpus needs help," David said.

"I think you need some help, too," Liz said. She knelt

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down and rebuttoned and rezipped everything David was wearing.

"Now get Grumpus ready," David insisted."He needs his skis!"

"Well, get them for him," Liz said. It was bad enough catering to the whims of little kids and a crazed psycholo- gist. She wasn't going to wait on an imaginary child, too! At least not when Dr. M-C wasn't around.

David reluctantly mimed handing skis to Grumpus, and Liz went into her room to get herself ready.

Liz had skied all of once before, on a Pheasant- Berkeley school trip. She had done well for a beginner, but had never ventured beyond the easiest of trails. Hmm. Maybe I can get Lars to give me a few tips, too.

She stepped into the hall. "Everybody ready?" she called.

"Liz," Heather whined, appearing in the doorway of her room. "I'm hot."

Liz stifled a laugh. In her snowsuit and multiple layers, Heather looked more like the Michelin tire man than a child.

"We'll be outdoors in a minute, and then you'll be fine," Liz said.

David stepped into the hall and frowned."I have to go to the bathroom," he said.

Liz sighed. Back to square one.

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Finally they were ready. By the time they got down- stairs, Lars, a tall, blond, college-age guy, was standing just outside the sliding doors of the living room. He wasn't par- ticularly handsome, but he had a sweet, wholesome face. Dr. M-C was going over her goals for the children with him.

"Oh, there you are," Dr. M-C said, a trace of irritation in her voice. "We were beginning to wonder what hap- pened to you."

"Grumpus needed some special attention," Liz said. If David can use Grumpus to his advantage, Liz figured, so can I.

"Grumpus, yes, of course." Dr. M-C smiled broadly. "Do you have your notebook?"

Liz nodded. She had stashed the notebook in her fanny pack, along with a few contraband snacks to use as bribes if the kids started acting up.

"Good," Dr. M-C said."Now I want you to keep very careful notes on everything Grumpus does. We'll review your observations at the end of every day."

Oh, joy, Liz thought.

"Liz, where are your skis?" Dr. M-C demanded. "We don't want to waste any more of Lars's time."

"I don't own skis," Liz said."I thought we'd have time to rent them."

"I'll bring a pair for you tomorrow," Lars promised in a light Nordic accent."For today, you will be there to help with the children.That will be most important."

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"Thanks," Liz said. She could tell he had jumped in to prevent a problem with Dr. M-C. Obviously, the good doctor had already proven to Lars what a demanding nut- job she was.

"My pleasure," Lars said. He smiled, revealing dimples.

Together, Liz and Lars managed to get Heather and David into their skis and out the door. Dr. M-C owned a house right on Buttermilk, the slope famous in Aspen for being kind to beginners.All they had to do was ski out the sliding doors and they were already on the mountain. No need for lift tickets, lift lines, or, Liz realized, pesky tourists on a budget.

"Snow!" David cried. He used his ski poles to kick up snow. "Look, it's snowing!"

"Not funny," Heather said.

"You should slide the skis, Heather," Lars instructed. "You don't need to pick them up as if you were walking."

Heather tried to do as Lars said, but her front leg slid so far in front of her that she was trapped in a split.

"Help!" she shrieked. "My legs are going to rip off!"

Liz shook her head and helped Heather back up to a normal stance. She glanced at Lars and saw that he was try- ing to get David to stop making snow angels and not get smacked by the little boy's skis.

"David, get up," Liz ordered, holding Heather upright by clutching her under the armpits.

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"Oh, okay." David reluctantly got back up to his feet, as Lars shot Liz a thankful look.

10:13 Grumpus won 27 gold medals for skiing and snow- boarding and never once did he have to wear a hat, so David wants to know why HE has to wear one.

10:15 Grumpus thinks it's hilarious when David falls down. So David falls down a lot "just to make Grumpus laugh."

10:22 Grumpus objects to Heather having a turn with Lars.

Liz was bored out of her mind.The kids were behav- ing better now that Lars had really begun the lesson. So Liz started taking notes for Dr. M-C to keep from noticing how cold she was.

It's because I'm just standing here, Liz realized, stamping her feet. I'd be a lot warmer if I were actually skiing!

10:47 Grumpus has been strangely silent--perhaps he has skied away?

10:50-11:05 Ignore previous note. Grumpus has been mak- ing nonstop demands for the last fifteen minutes.

"Maybe it's time for a break," Liz suggested. She could

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tell the kids were reaching their limit. Heather was shiver- ing, and David had plopped down in the snow and didn't seem interested in getting up.

"Grumpus wants hot chocolate," David announced.

"If Grumpus gets hot chocolate, I do too!" Heather shouted.

"Is there a place nearby where we can we get them something hot to drink?" Liz asked Lars.

"Sure!" Lars said."There's a lodge at the bottom of the hill. I can drive you all down."

"Great," Liz said."Why don't we call it quits and grab some?"

"Sounds good to me," Lars said.

"Liz!" a voice called behind her.

Liz's heart fluttered at the sound of Parker's voice. She turned as he skied up to her in a spray of snow. He looked devastatingly hot in his ski gear, his silver Ray-Bans, and perfect form.

"Hi," Liz said, grateful that the first time Parker saw her in Aspen she wasn't bumbling around like a newbie on a pair of rented skis. "I got your gift. It's beautiful. I meant to call to thank you, but--"

"Liz, it's time for hot chocolate!" Heather com- plained. "I'm freezing."

"One sec," Liz said, focusing on Parker.

"Grumpus thinks you aren't paying enough attention,"

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David scolded. He stumbled forward a few feet on his skis, Lars gliding alongside him.

Liz glanced sheepishly at Parker. "I think Grumpus may be right.You are much too distracting."

"I'm glad to hear it." Parker grinned mischievously. "So when can we get together?"

"I'm not really sure," Liz admitted. "Dr. M-C has all these plans . . ."

"Well, give me a call once you know," Parker said. "I'm heading up to the Highlands now."