“Can they stay onstage? Like permanent set pieces?” Jethro asked.
Sienna and I shook our heads. We all looked at the masks for another minute, then I snapped my fingers. “Wheels. You think we can put these things on a dolly?”
Sienna crouched down, inspecting the base of a mask. “Probably. It’s flat enough. Good thinking, Jace.”
Jethro clapped me on the shoulder, then addressed his wife. “Y’all sure about keeping the boys here with you? I can take ’em.”
“We’ll keep them. But do you mind stopping at home to pack some overnight things for them? I just talked to Rae, and she and Jackson offered to keep them at their house tonight for a little ‘auntie and uncle’ sleepover.” Sienna slunk closer to Jethro, going on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, causing the tip of it to flush pink.
I pretended to look in the other direction until I heard Jethro cough and say in a very animated tone, “I’ll head right home.” He nodded to me. “Jace.” Then he winked at Sienna, who blew him a kiss as he walked out the door.
Sienna and I started toward the auditorium when she asked, “So, what’s this I hear about you being a nanny?”
My steps faltered for a beat. That answered the question I’d had since Sunday—if Rae had filled anyone in on my new job. I’d been so distracted these last few days that I was only now skeptical why neither Rae nor Sienna had dropped by Polly’s house under the guise of being neighborly. And while I usually admired their generosity and tolerated their questions, I didn’t want to get into it today.
I underplayed my response. “Just that, I suppose. I’m watching two kids, having some fun, making some money.”
Sienna, not one to be deterred, eyed me with suspicion. “What brought this on? I’ve never known you to accept a babysitting job for anyone but me or Charlotte, and I know you’ve gotten a lot of offers.”
“Why Miss Diaz, are you feelin’ a little jealous?”
Sienna laughed. “Oh, don’t try that tone on me. I have three boys and can smell evasion a mile away.”
Switching tactics, I decided to go with a simplified truth. “There’s no conspiracy. The woman I nanny for is a single mother. She and her two kids live in a house up near the Donner Lodge. Her daddy’s a judge in Knoxville. She doesn’t have much help. And with my parents planning on moving, I needed a place to stay. Simple as that.”
I did not add,unless you count that she’s incredibly beautiful and the more I talk to her, the more I like her, even though it’d take ten lifetimes traveling at light speed for me to be in her same galaxy.
A look of surprise came over Sienna’s face. “Your parents are moving? Since when?”
I opened the auditorium doors, allowing her to pass. The sound of kids running and playing onstage before practice filled the cavernous space. “It’s a new thing.” I shrugged my shoulders as we walked down the aisle, past the rows of seats. “Pop’s arthritis is getting worse and there’s a condo in Florida for sale near my brother.”
Sienna reached out and touched my arm. “I’m so sorry to hear about Nick’s health. You let us know if they need anything. And you know you’re welcome to stay with us anytime. I’m sure Rae and Jackson feel the same.”
“That’s kind of you. And I’m flattered y’all are worried about me, but really, I’m fine.”
“I do worry about you, suddenly moving in with a family no one knows. And it’s not just me. Rae’s worried, too.”
Speaking of the devil, we’d just reached the front of the stage when Rae materialized out of thin air. Standing shoulder to shoulder, Rae and Sienna fixed their gazes upon me.
“You get anything out of him?” Rae asked Sienna out of the corner of her mouth, even though her eyes remained on me.
“Single mom. Two kids. Doesn’t want to talk about it. You didn’t tell me she was a single mom.” Sienna also spoke from the corner of her mouth, clearly talking to Rae, but looking at me the whole time.
I rolled my eyes.
“I thought I told you that?” Rae murmured to Sienna
“You did not,” Sienna answered.
“I swear I did.”
“I think I’d remember if I?—”
I cleared my throat. “Ladies! As entertaining as y’all think this is, what do you say we start rehearsal?”
Rae turned to Sienna. “I remember coming to town, barely knowing anyone. It would have been lonely if I didn’t have you.”
“And with two kids? I can’t imagine all the things she must have on her mind. She must be exhausted. What about bringing her a welcome basket? Jen would probably contribute a cake or two, Cletus is usually all too happy to share his sausage, and Charlotte?—”
