I nodded and pulled back from him. “I’m going to head upstairs to work on my article. Do you want me to start something for lunch?”
“It’s all taken care of,” he said cryptically.
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
He winked at me, then turned his attention back to the customers.
I pressed my fingers to my lips as I walked up the stairs to his apartment. If we were going to make the wedding date believable, people had to know. They were definitely going to know now.
Landon and I fell into a routine over the next week. After Mikayla got on the bus, I went to Landon’s. We ran up to his apartment before his employees showed up, then I worked on my article until I had to go to another meeting or job.
On Sunday, I was finally feeling comfortable about going to book club. Four weeks in a row was new for me, but I found I really enjoyed my time with the ladies of MacKellar Cove. Melody said they weren’t going to have book club the following weekend because of the wedding, and I knew I was going to miss the time with women I’d started to think of as friends.
Then I walked in. A cold sweat washed over me. Reegan was sitting next to Blake.
“Hi!” Reegan said to Melody and I, getting up to hug us both.
“Hi!” Melody and I replied, hugging Reegan.
I flashed Melody a help me look, and she took over.
“We don’t usually see you here. How are you? What have you been up to?” Melody asked, taking the seat next to Reegan and monopolizing the conversation.
“Finley kept asking me to come, but I always felt a little weird socializing with my boss,” Reegan said with a chuckle.
“Which I told her was silly,” Finley said.
Reegan was the nanny for Finley’s son through the summer since George was a year old. It was also how I knew Reegan. Finley and Trent invited all the kids over to hang out for the summer. Mikayla went with Amber a few times over the summer so I didn’t have to pay for her to be in camp every week.
“You finally agreed with her?” Melody asked.
Reegan shook her head. “No, but since George is going to kindergarten next fall, Finley and Trent are planning to take most of the summer off to spend time with him, and then he’s going to be in summer camp so he can be with friends.”
“That makes sense,” Melody said to Finley. “Amber never did summer camp every day, but she always loved when she went. It’s good for them to have a structure.”
Finley nodded. “That’s what we’ve been thinking. But we feel bad ending our agreement with Reegan. George adores her.”
“He’s so good. The feeling is mutual,” Reegan said. “And I’m not worried about the summer. I might travel or teach summer school or find another family who needs a nanny. I’m keeping my options open right now.”
“We still feel bad. Trent said he’d find a job for you if you need something.”
Reegan shook her head. “No. I’d never ask him to do that. I don’t need a summer job. I liked working for you guys, and it was nice to stay busy.”
“We are going to miss you,” Finley said. “You’ll have to come over and see us sometime.”
“I will do that.”
“As long as she’s not off enjoying her life somewhere far from MacKellar Cove,” Willow said. “You said traveling? Where would you go?”
I glanced at Willow and noticed her wink at me.
I looked around the room and noticed everyone was focused on Reegan. As the night continued, they all asked her more and more questions, keeping the focus on her.
Whenever there was a lull in the conversation, someone else jumped in with a new topic.
None of them asked about Landon and me, even though I was sure they’d all heard how much time I was spending there in the last two weeks. Melody asked me about it on the way over, but said she didn’t want me to share anything until we were all together.
No one asked anything. Because they were protecting me. From Reegan?
