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  "I asked Mrs. Baker to help me clean the suite and change the sheets and everything for you. I went out and bought some new ones." She smiled at me as she set the box on the floor and the suitcase next to it.

  "Geesh, Rand, this place is huge." I spun in a circle as I took the room in.

  "Well, welcome home." She laughed. "I know you expected just a bedroom, but you get the living room, this bedroom with a balcony," she moved to a set of French doors and pushed them open "as well as a large bathroom." She nodded toward a door behind me.

  I hesitantly made my way to the door, turned the knob slowly, and pushed it open.

  "The light switch is on the left just inside the door." Rand yelled to me. My hand quickly found the switch and the room illuminated with bright light.

  My mouth dropped when I saw the size of the large jet tub; the beautiful glass shower the kind with the shower head directly above you, hanging from the ceiling; and then there was the large vanity area and the sink.

  "Holy crap Miranda, you've been living it up for the past three years," I laughed and heard her giggle behind me.

  "I know, right!" She giggled out. "I think the one thing I hate to leave the most, besides Victoria of course, is that shower." She sighed. "Maybe Benji will install one for me."

  "I'm sure if you promise to let him watch you shower, you can have whatever you want." I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

  She shrugged. "Probably. He's a perv."

  We laughed our way back downstairs for the rest of my things. Putting my clothes away we talked about Victoria's schedule, the Bishop family, and her and Benji.

  "So…how are you?" Rand turned to look at me curiously. "I mean you've been with Victoria since she was three, right?"

  She nodded.

  "It will be hard, but I've already found another family that needs help with a little girl on a part time, non-live-in basis." She sighed.

  "Hey you can always call us and we can visit with you." I smiled.

  "Oh, I doubt it." Miranda rolled her eyes.

  "Huh? Why?" I stopped what I was doing and looked at her.

  "Sophia, Victoria's schedule is intense, especially for a six year old." I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Follow me." She walked from the closet and headed out toward the living room.

  "Have a seat." She motioned to the couch. "I was going to wait, but might as well get started." She sighed and sat next to me with a binder in her hands. "I put this together to help you out."

  I took the binder into my lap. It was heavy and thick.

  "What is all of this?"

  "Consider it a reference guide for you." She pulled it open to the first page. "This is Victoria's weekly schedule."

  I looked it over.

  "Are you serious? That little girl has this kind of schedule?" I asked without taking my widened eyes from the daunting list.

  "Contact numbers for each activity and directions for horseback riding and Ballet, everything else is here in the house." Miranda pointed out each place on the next page.

  "This is a lot for a six year old. When does she get to be a kid?" I looked to Rand.

  She shrugged. "This is how it is for the upper class kids. Just wait till you see all the 'stuff'." She rolled her eyes. "It's crazy."

  "I'll say. Geesh." I laughed out. "So, Saturday, what exactly does he considered educational and physical activities?"

  "Well, last weekend we went to the museum and to the zoo. I try to make things fun, but I also know Dr. Bishop wants her to be kept on a strict regimen."

  "Why?" I looked at her. "Why is he so strict with her, she's only six?"

  She shrugged.

  "I can't honestly say for sure, but it has something to do with her mother. I told you Victoria's mother left them unexpectedly and that’s when I was hired on remember?"

  "Yeah, but what does that have to do with –"

  "I can only assume it's to keep her busy. Victoria doesn't really remember her and Dr. Bishop doesn't speak of her, at all." Then she eyed me sternly. "And trust me; you don't want to ask about her."

  I nodded and shrugged. It wasn't my place to pry into the antichrist’s personal life.

  We moved on to doctor information and school location, teacher names and phone numbers, and an address book of school friends, etc. Miranda had made small notes in regards to other nannies and who they worked for.

  Next was the section regarding the Bishop family; Dr. Bishop had a brother and sister; Max and Allison. Both were married with children and, of course, nannies. All of the immediate family lives in Seattle, including the parents; Dr. Connor and Ilene Bishop. It was a lot to take in and even more to remember, I was sure the binder would be used frequently.

  Three hours later we finished and Benji called with an offer to take us to dinner, so Miranda and I piled into her car and headed out to meet with him. Benji had brought a co-worker with him.

  "Sophia, it's good to see you!" Benji pulled me into a large hug.

  "It's good to see you too." I smiled and hugged him back.

  "This is my friend Lucas Gray, we work together. Lucas this is Miranda's friend I was telling you about, Sophia Ashwood." He motioned back and forth in introduction.

  I put my hand out, as did Lucas. It was a normal handshake, but his seemed a limp, especially compared to Dr. Bishop's vice-like grip. Shaking the thoughts of him, I redirected myself back into the present.

  "It's nice to meet you."

  "I figured it would be good for you to meet some other people in Seattle, besides just Miranda and me." Benji smiled warmly and then the hostess seated us at a table.

  The night was filled with good, easy going conversation, and Lucas was actually pretty nice. We exchanged numbers to keep in touch before I had to pry Miranda from Benji's face so we could head back to the house. She informed me earlier about how Allison would get if no one was there to take care of Victoria when she brought her back on Sundays.

  Once Victoria was showered and tucked into bed. The food and wine made it easy to fall asleep after my own shower. Miranda and I shared the large four post bed until the alarm screamed at five in the morning. Groaning in unison, we rolled out of bed. Once we were dressed it was time to start the routine with Victoria.

  Victoria's room was just two doors down from mine, but first Miranda went downstairs and got Victoria's things together for school and lunch. Then before starting breakfast she headed back upstairs to get Victoria ready.

  "Come on Victoria, it's time to get up." Miranda nudged her slightly. She moaned and covered her head. I had to stifle laughter.

  "Come on girl, you want to make a good first impression on Sophia, don't you?"

  Victoria's head popped up from under her pillow, her curls full of frizz. She sat up in the middle of her bed and looked at me.

  "Hi" she smiled, but there was something lingering behind that smile.

  "Good morning," I sat on the bed next to her. Miranda pulled out a school uniform and placed it on her bed.

  "You need to go get cleaned up and into your uniform, missy." Rand smiled at her and helped her off the bed.

  Victoria hurried into her bathroom. I could hear the water and the sound of teeth being brushed. I looked around her room and took in the wall of dolls on shelves, large white desk with a large white book case next to it, as well as the large entertainment system. Miranda wasn’t joking when she said there was a lot of 'stuff'. Victoria emerged from the bathroom with a hairbrush and a spray bottle. Miranda cringed.

  "Here comes the hard part," she groaned in a hushed voice. Miranda reached for the brush and bottle as Victoria turned around.

  After spraying her head thoroughly, Miranda brushed through her hair and Victoria's face crinkled in pain. I saw tears form in her eyes.

  "I'm so sorry, Victoria," Miranda said with a sad look on her face.

  "Oh heck," I stood up and grabbed the brush. I brushed through the tops of her hair where it wasn't so bad and finger combed the rest of her hair easily. "You got any
rubber bands or ties?" I asked without looking at Miranda and started braiding.

  "Here," I could hear the relief in Miranda's voice.

  Once we were finished, Victoria got her pajamas off and started to slip on her uniform.

  "Good job, it doesn't look like she has one knot in her head." Miranda laughed.

  "My mother had issues with my crazy thick hair when I was younger. We'll condition her hair with detangle lotion tonight and then brush it all out." I shrugged.

  "What about tomorrow morning?" Miranda smirked.

  "We'll braid her hair before bed and then tomorrow it will be easier to brush when we take the braids out." I winked at her. "Another mom trick," I smiled and put the brush on Victoria's dresser.

  Once Victoria was dressed, we made our way downstairs where Miranda fixed breakfast before we climbed into the car for the drive to school.

  "This is a Lexus," I choked.

  "The SUV." Miranda nodded with a slight shrug.

  "This is the car he provides?"

  "Mm Hmm." She answered and pulled out of the driveway.

  "I'm terrified I'll wreck it." I sighed. Miranda just laughed.

  It wasn't a long drive to St. John's Prep School and soon we pulled up to the curb. It was very reminiscent of scary B horror flick. The same black SUVs all lined up, with children in the same clothes stepping out onto the curb in unison. I shuddered for a moment at the creepy picture my imagination was forming. Shaking it off, I climbed out of the car.

  There were young women helping young kids out of the cars and into the school, which I assumed were all nannies. I shook my head at the thought of all of these children being raised by non-blood related persons, instead of their biological parents. However, there was one woman there who was pregnant and for a moment I considered she could still be a nanny, but as we got closer I realized by the size of the ring on her finger there was no way in hell she was anyone's nanny.

  "Good morning, Victoria." The dark skinned woman looked down at Victoria with a large smile.

  "Good morning, Mrs. Wright." She smiled, gave a small wave, disappearing into the stone building.

  "Hello, Miranda." The woman turned to me and smiled.

  "Oh, crap, Mrs. Wright this is Sophia. She will be taking over with Victoria when I leave at the end of the week." Rand turned to me. "Sophia, this is Mrs. Wright, her and her husband are very close friends with the Bishops."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you." I held out my hand.

  She took it and shook it. "Welcome. If you need any help, you just let me know. Albert and Victoria are in the same grade; though my oldest Rachel is a year ahead." She smiled warmly and I nodded.

  "Thank you."

  "Sure, now I should get going. I'm starving." She laughed and rubbed her stomach.

  "It's nice to see one mother here." I stated and climbed back into the car.

  "Yeah, Mrs. Wright is a very friendly and attentive mother." Miranda smiled. "You’ll get familiar with their nanny Ella."

  We headed back to the house and Miranda ran me through things I needed to do during the day; though I would have a few hours in the afternoon to myself. Writing would definitely be possible with this free time.

  The rest of the week went about in the same fashion, with minor changes. Miranda showed me around the house; bedrooms, spare rooms, Dr. Bishop’s office, kitchen, laundry room, library, and so forth. I took time to get familiar in the kitchen and the rest of the house.

  Miranda introduced me to Mrs. Baker, the housekeeper. She didn't live in the house, but arrived every morning and left just before dinner most days.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you." I put my hand out after our introduction.

  "And a pleasure to meet you as well, if you need anything, you just let me know." She smiled warmly at me and then turned to Rand. "I’m going to miss you, sweetheart." She pulled Rand into a large hug.

  "I promise to call you and try to visit as much as I can." Rand bargained.

  "You better." Mrs. Baker patted her back and released her.

  We left Mrs. Baker downstairs and spent a couple of hours going over items in the binder. Then we left to pick up Victoria together for the last time. I had one question, which had been eating away at me during the week.

  "Rand, why haven't we seen Dr. Bishop at all this week? Wouldn't he want to check in on –"

  "When I said he won't be much of a bother, I meant it. There really isn’t any interaction on his part. He works insane hours, travels, and your form of communication is the slot I showed you on his study door or cell phone." She sighed. "It's sad, I know, but just think, you’ll be able to handle things without his interruptions."

  "You knew it would bother me the way he ignores her." She cringed away from me. "Why did you put the request in at the service for me to replace you?"

  Shock spread on her face once I admitted my knowledge of her 'personal' request. She pulled over to the side of the road and turned to me.

  "Sophia, you are the most loving, care free, yet responsible person I’ve ever met. I think Victoria needs someone like you in her life." She dropped her head and knotted her fingers together in her lap.

  "Miranda…"

  "Sophia, she needs to live like a child once in awhile, but I'm just…I'm not the one who can do it now." She brought her eyes up to my face. "Remember Violet?" I nodded and smiled. "She was so quiet and withdrawn when you first starting caring for her at the beginning of the summer, but by the end she was so full of life." She released a longing sigh. "I was so jealous of the effect you had on her and wished I could do that for Victoria, but –"

  "Miranda Murphy! You are damn good with her and at being a care giver and you shouldn't doubt –"

  "I don't doubt it." She smiled warmly. "I just wish I could sometimes bring Victoria out of the shell she lives in."

  Not sure what else to say, I opened my mouth, but closed it. Miranda put the car back into gear, returning to the stream of traffic which seemed to be headed in the same direction.

  That evening, after Victoria's Spanish lesson, we said goodbye to Miranda. Victoria's tears continued and I stayed in bed with her until she’d finally cried herself to sleep. After tucking her in, I picked up her clothes, dropping them in her hamper on the way out of her room.

  "Miss Ashwood?" His cold voice startled me.

  Turning slowly, Dr. Bishop stood just at the top of the stairs.

  "Yes sir?"

  "I take it Ms. Murphy has gotten you up to speed on everything?" He raised his eyebrow.

  I nodded. "Yes, sir, she has."

  "Good." He paused and looked at his watch. "Is she well?"

  I furrowed my brow in confusion.

  "Victoria," he explained "It's quite late, is she feeling well?"

  "Oh, um…yes sir she's fine, just upset at Rand…Ms. Murphy's departure this evening." I smiled, but as his eyes bore into mine the smile faltered. A chill began to form in the space between us.

  "I see." His eyes didn't leave my face.

  I was starting to fidget and fidgeting wasn't something I’d done since I was a kid. Needing to get away from the discomfort, I blurted, "Is there anything else?"

  He looked at me stunned for a moment and then his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

  "No, good night." He stiffened and headed toward his bedroom.

  Once I was in my room, I released a loud nervous breath.

  "Jesus, he's intense" I groaned, contemplating painting some lamb’s blood over my door.

  Chapter Three

  Victoria's schedule was extreme. I woke at five and Victoria at six, just to prepare for the day. Of course my first week with Victoria alone was a challenge. I tried to keep to the routine Miranda had set up, but I wasn't Miranda. There were certain things I did differently and Victoria definitely let me know she wasn’t pleased.

  "I don't get dressed in the bathroom." She argued when I walked in with her clothes for school. "Miranda always lays them on the bed." She marched out and
stood next to her bed with her arms crossed over her chest. I followed her and laid her items onto her bed.

  "I know Miranda did things a certain way and you are used to that, but things will be a little different. Okay?"

  All I got was a shrug as she pulled her clothes on over her head.

  "Alright, well meet me in the kitchen while I go get –" She spun around with wide eyes.

  "Miranda always walked me down to the kitchen." Her words were a little harsh demanding.

  Now, I wanted to be sensitive to her situation, knowing she was acting out because of Miranda being gone. However, I wasn't about to become a doormat for a six year old girl either.

  "If you would like for me to walk down with you, then you could ask me nicely. If not, then I’m going to go start getting breakfast started so you aren't late for school." I gave a couple of minutes to respond, but all I got was her back.

  I was in the kitchen for about five minutes when she trudged in, clearly still unhappy with me. Biting back my smile at her acting out, I slid a bowl of cereal in front of her and a banana.

  "Miranda always made me a warm breakfast." There was a hint of whine in her voice, but mostly it was more of a 'Miranda is better than you are' tone.

  Leaning my forearms down to the cool marble countertop, I stared at her until she finally met my gaze.

  "Well, if someone hadn't argued with my time saving ideas this morning then we would have time for a nice warm breakfast, but…" I let my sentence die and turned to load the dishwasher. When I turned back around she was still staring at the bowl. "You're going to be awfully hungry."

  With a huff and a drop of her shoulders she leaned over her bowl and picked up the spoon. The moment the bite went into her mouth her face crinkled up.

  "It's all soggy," she whined.

  "You shouldn't have been so stubborn." I turned back to the dishwasher and turned it on.

  That was the last we spoke until I dropped her off at her school. When I offered her my hand to help her from the backseat of the car she snubbed me and 'accidentally' stepped on my toe when she landed. Without looking back she scurried off toward the school.