Page 8 of Up for Heir (Westerly Billionaire 2)
Oh, Mrs. Westerly. Hailey remembered trying to bribe Skye to speak in the beginning. If only it were that easy.
“Je parle Français,” Skye said in a soft voice, so soft that Hailey was sure she had imagined it. She reached out and gripped Michael’s arm to steady herself.
“Très bien,” Mrs. Westerly said as if nothing extraordinary had just happened. Hopeful tears filled Hailey’s eyes. “Now again, but louder. Imagine we are readying ourselves for a day of shopping in Provence, and we had to procure a driver we’ve never met before. He doesn’t know if we speak French, English, Danish. So he asks, ‘Quelle langue parlez-vous?’ What would you say?”
“Je parle Français,” Skye said confidently.
Hailey met Michael’s eyes and fought the prickling of tears. Mrs. Westerly was doing what no one had yet succeeded at.
“Excellent!” Mrs. Westerly exclaimed. “I just had the most amazing idea. What if I teach you French, and you teach your aunt? Imagine how proud she would be of you. Then we could all have a wonderful holiday together. Yes? Perfect.” Her tone turned serious. “I don’t believe Mrs. Tillsbury is coming back. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, but has her departure upset you? If you want me to apologize to her, I will. Personally, I think you could do much better, but tell me if you would like me to say something to her. I will. For you.”
Practically holding her breath so she wouldn’t miss a word, Hailey listened for Skye’s response. Either she didn’t answer or did so quietly that Hailey missed it.
“So you won’t miss her? Good.” Mrs. Westerly continued, “Your aunt will probably be very upset with me when she hears what I’ve done, but I didn’t like the tone your teacher used with you. You are a very smart child who doesn’t need to be spoken down to. Still, I did promise I wouldn’t get involved. Don’t think you can behave as I do until you are at least seventy-five. I was quite well behaved until then. Mostly. I do need your help, though. What could you say that would make your aunt less cross with me?”
“Je parle français?” Skye asked.
Hailey peered into the room and was surprised to see Mrs. Westerly smiling. She didn’t appear stern at all in that moment as Skye looked up at her with adoration.
“What if she doesn’t speak French? There has to be something you could say that would instantly put her in a good mood so we could all enjoy dinner together.”
“I could tell her that I love her.”
Oh, baby, I love you, too. Everything else, every worry Hailey had, every fear that had plagued her over the last year, was insignificant in the face of how good it felt to hear Skye’s voice again. Hailey hugged an arm across her stomach.
“That might just work. And it’s true, which makes it perfect. Is there anything else?”
“I like it here.”
“Do you? Do you really?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s it. That’s what you should say. Tell her that you love her. Tell her you like it here. I’ll break it to her that I’ll be hiring a replacement for Mrs. Tillsbury. By the way, you should help me choose the next teacher, because we know what we want for you. Then, just in case your aunt is still irritated with me, teach her what you’ve learned in French, and she’ll burst into happy tears.”
“I don’t want Auntie Hailey to cry.”
“Of course you don’t, but these would be good tears.”
There was a pause, then Skye said, “No, they wouldn’t. It’s better if I say nothing. Everything I say makes Hailey sad.”
Hailey straightened. Her hand left Michael’s arm and flew to her mouth in horror. How could she think that? What have I done? It’s my fault she’s been silent? Oh my God.
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Westerly said firmly.
“She wasn’t sad before she had to take care of me.”
“Look at me, Skye. And sit up straight when you do. Your aunt loves you. She loved your parents, too. She worries about you and misses them. If she cries at all, that’s the reason. It wasn’t fair for you both to lose people you loved, but it happened. You two need to be strong for each other and that means no more hiding. You’re too smart of a young lady to act like that.”
Oh, Ryan, she almost sounds like you.
Or is that what I’m telling myself because I’m afraid of what will happen if this doesn’t work out?
Skye didn’t have a response for that, and Hailey almost stepped into the room, but Mrs. Westerly began to speak again.
“Do you know that when I was a little girl, children were told to be silent? Not speaking unless one was spoken to was a sign of good manners. Especially for girls. Our opinions didn’t matter. Women fought hard to have a voice. Use yours. Don’t let anyone ever silence you, Skye, especially not yourself. And when you have a little girl one day, you give her the same advice.”
“I’m going to have a little girl?”
“You may.”
“How?”
“How what?”
“How does it happen? How do babies get in bellies?”
“Oh, my, is that the door? Michael, is someone at the door?” Mrs. Westerly called out.
Hailey took that as a cue to step into the library. Skye came running to her. Hailey held out her arms, and Skye ran into them. Silently. Hailey wished she had the therapist on speed dial at that moment. Don’t let me mess this up. “Mrs. Westerly, I saw Mrs. Tillsbury on the way out, and she was very upset. In fact, she won’t be back.”
“Really,” Mrs. Westerly said with a shrug. “It might have been something I said.” She looked pointedly at Skye.
Skye pulled on Hailey’s arm until she looked down. There was a pause so long Hailey wondered if Skye would revert to silence. “I love you.”
Hailey sank to her knees before her niece. How could anything else matter when Skye was speaking again? “I know you do, honey. I love you, too.” Hailey glanced at Mrs. Westerly. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
Mrs. Westerly nodded once.
“I might be able to convince Mrs. Tillsbury to come back,” Hailey said gently. “If you want me to.”
Skye looked back and forth between her aunt and Mrs. Westerly. “I didn’t like her. She didn’t like me. Delinda does.”
Hailey felt as if her heart were going to burst from the joy of hearing Skye’s voice again. “Her name is Mrs. Westerly.” I can’t believe I’m correcting her, but we have to have rules. Don’t we?
“She told me to call her Delinda.”
“She’s my employer, Skye—”
“Michael,” Mrs. Westerly said, interrupting Hailey, “please take Skye to the kitchen for a snack. I’m sure she’s ready for one.”
Michael waved his arm toward the door dramatically. “With pleasure.”
Hailey opened her mouth to protest, but closed it without voicing a word. It was probably better if she had a moment alone with Mrs. Westerly.
Mrs. Westerly called out to Skye as they left, “Skye, do remember to remind Miss Jeanie that the dessert tonight is Jell-O. Perhaps you could help her choose the flavor.”
“Strawberry,” Skye said with a smile. “Strawberry is my favorite.”
Hailey was tempted to rush after her for a hug, but instead she waved and took a deep breath. What was Mrs. Westerly giving Skye that she needed? Treating her as if she were a normal child? Maybe it was time for Hailey to do the same. After Skye left the room, Hailey said, “I heard what you said to her; it was beautiful.”
“You’re welcome,” Mrs. Westerly said, looking pleased with herself.
“Things might have gone very differently. You shouldn’t have—”
Mrs. Westerly sighed. “So I’m to be lectured about what didn’t happen?”
“No, but Skye is my responsibility.” As soon as the words were out of Hailey’s mouth, she regretted them. She crossed the room to sit next to Mrs. Westerly. “I’m sorry. I am grateful.”
Mrs. Westerly nodded. “Well, at least there is that. Tell me, how was the trip to Braintree?”
/> “Braintree. Oh.” Hailey looked down at the package she’d forgotten was still in her hand. She handed it to Mrs. Westerly. “Fine.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary?”
“No, it all went smoothly.”
Mrs. Westerly made a face at the package and placed it on the table beside her. “I don’t like receiving less than promised.”
“The package? Was there supposed to be more than one? Should I go back?”
“Don’t get all worked up. The fault isn’t yours. I’ll call to make sure they’ll have everything ready before I send you again.”
“If you’re sure.”
