The Velasquezes stared at Jeff, aghast, while the girls, unaware that anything was amiss, played happily with Sophia's pearls and Hector's beard.
"Jeff, you don't mean that," Goldie responded, her face ashen. "We just need to talk, that's what being married is all about, right? There's nothing we can't talk through—"
Jeff stared at her. "Are you out of your mind? It's obvious he's telling the truth—" he waved the report in the air and gestured toward the girls. "It's obvious the girls know these people. How did that happen? Is that where you've been taking them when you went out jogging?" Jeff took a step toward Goldie, and she took a step back, unable not to.
"She felt so bad for us, she only did it out of kindness," Sophia tried to explain. "They were never in any danger, I assure you—"
"I'm sorry, you're going to have to leave," Jeff said, walking to the door and opening it. "I can only cope with one issue at a time, and I need for you to go." He gestured toward the girls' mostly unused playpen, which was filled with stuffed animals.
The Velaszuezes quickly deposited the girls and left. Goldie could see Sophia's face crumping into tears as she turned to mouth the words "I'm so sorry," from the door.
Goldie shook her head to indicate the older woman had nothing to be sorry about.
"You as well, Mr. Edwards," Jeff said stiffly, still holding the door.
Griffen gathered the few things he'd spread out and left, lifting an eyebrow in Goldie's direction as he, too, walked out the door.
"And now you," Jeff repeated, not looking at Goldie as he spoke.
"But—"
"No, on second thought," Jeff said, and Goldie's heart leapt up hopefully. "On second thought, go upstairs and gather your things, I don't want you to have any reason to return."
Swiping at her tears, Goldie ran up the stairs.
*
When she came down the stairs, dragging her pull case behind her, she saw that Jeff had gotten the girls out of the playpen and was on the floor, playing with them.
"I couldn't fit it all in one bag," she said to Jeff. "I'll have to come back for the rest of it."
"Fine," he responded shortly. "I'll let you know when we'll be out and you can return for the rest of your things."
Goldie nodded, fresh tears spilling over.
"Godie cry," Genie noticed, looking concerned. "Ouchie?"
"Godie ouchie?" the other two repeated, rising and going towards her.
"Oh no, no, I'm okay," Goldie tried to reassure them, putting down the pull of the case so she could hug them.
"Goldie's going bye-bye," Jeff told the girls. "Wave bye-bye, girls."
"Godie bye-bye?" Jemma's little face began to darken. "No bye-bye."
"No bye-bye," Genie and Pippa echoed, with Genie throwing in a head shake.
Oh dear lord.
Jeff finally came and pulled the girls off her, leaning in but averting his gaze once again so there was no eye contact.
"Godie no bye-bye," the girls wept, tiny hands unwilling to release her hoodie.
Goldie quickly grabbed her case and went to the door, where she turned once more to address her husband. "I love you, Jeff."
YOU ARE READING
Nanny Undercover
RomanceGoldie Sorenson is going to work as a nanny for Jeffrey Ormonde, a world famous singer who's been left widowed with more than he can handle in the baby department. But Jeff doesn't know that Goldie has an ulterior motive for being there, and that na...
