Page 87 of Sleeper: The Palisades Edition

“No. But I always worry about it.”

“What about Margo?”

“I don’t think so. But it happens all the time. To other parents. You can’t keep kids on a leash. Well, I guess you can. But we don’t. I’ll talk to them at bedtime. I’m sure it’s fine.”

I can tell he’s concerned, but he’s trying so hard not to show it.

“Okay. Well, dinner’s almost ready.”

He rubs his forehead. “Okay. Great.”

I’m not going to ask about the new nanny.

I am not going to ask about the new nanny.

“Hey, did you know that Margo and the kids already met with a nanny to replace me? Over spring break?”

I am half-expecting him to be surprised and perhaps a tiny bit outraged by this news. But he sighs. “Yeah. I actually had a Skype meeting with her.”

“You did? When?”

“Few weeks ago.”

“Oh. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I guess I didn’t think it would be of interest to you, and also I sort of forgot because as soon as I got off of Skype with her, I had back-to-back interviews about the movie.” He sighs again, raking his fingers through his hair. He’s tired and he doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. But he continues. “Her name is Margarita.”

Shit. She sounds hot.

“She’s about sixty, I think. Her kids are all grown up. She’s pretty serious. She’s basically the opposite of you.” He kisses me on top of my head. “I’m gonna go sit with the kids.”

“Okay. They already Skyped with Margo today.”

He nods again, looking a little concerned.

“You haven’t heard from her?”

He shakes his head and leaves the room.

And that’s it.

Now all I can do is wait to see if the other shoe is going to drop.

TWENTY-FOUR

SHANE

It has been two days since the garden incident, and I hadn’t heard from Margo, so I’d almost forgotten about it. Willa has been so much quieter than usual. I know it’s still weighing on her mind, and I’d give anything to make her feel better, but I can’t promise that it was inconsequential. Because I know that Summer told Margo about it when they Skyped. And because I know Margo.

I know why Margo is Skyping me right now.

And I know that no matter what my feelings are for Willa, no matter how much my kids adore her, this nanny job was always going to end for her eventually. She is taking the kids to school, and I have about an hour before I have to leave for another day of photo shoots and interviews. I have to take this call.

“Hello, Margo,” I say once the video is connected on my phone. She isn’t in costume, and I can see that she’s in her hotel room. She is frowning me. “What’s up?”

“Well, let me tell you what’s up, Shane, in case youdon’t already know. Willa lost our children when they were at a garden the other day, while she was busy texting with you.”

“Yes. She feels terrible about it. But, as you know, she found them. They’re fine.”