Page 3 of The Dragon’s Accidental Manny

As Jack rounded a corner, two girls came out of a room. The older one had her arms folded and she was staring. I suspected she wouldn’t have let me in without an interrogation.

The younger one asked if I played pickleball.

“I haven’t but a lot of my friends do.”

“That’s Isla,” Jack told me.

The older one said her name was Bea, and after more staring, she explained she’d show me around. Hmmm, I was under the impression Ledger would be giving me the pros and cons of working for a wealthy family and looking after their children.

But I’d been tossed in the deep end and Ledger’s charges were doing the interviewing. Sneaky, but I had to give Meara ten points. I looked at the ceilings, on top of the armoire, and ran my gaze over the photos on the wall, searching for hidden cameras. There was a teddy on the floor, so maybe the manny-cam was in there.

Nothing got my attention, but that was the point.

“You’ll like it here.” Jack took my hand. “We’re nice.”

TWO

CAM

Jack's hand was hot as if he’d been eating a muffin fresh from the oven.

But he didn’t appear to be ill, and he was grinning at me. Ledger had to have it under control, unless this was part of the test.

Bea led the way as if she’d given this tour before, which maybe she had. Isla was on one side of me with Jack on the other. I assumed they were taking me to Ledger and were already assigning me mental checks in a pros-and-cons column.

The bungalow was bigger than it looked from the outside. The hallway was wide and the ceilings were higher than I expected from a single-story building. Whoever had designed or renovated this place had understood light, which was more than most people with this kind of money did.

“This is the playroom.” Bea opened a door. “It’s where we spend a lot of time.”

The room had one wall of built-in shelving which was jam-packed with books, and there was a violin case propped against the wall.

“Who plays?” I pointed at the instrument case.

“Me.”

It was Bea who answered, but I was staring out the sliding glass doors that led into an inner courtyard. It was encased on all sides by the bungalow’s wings and open to the sky. Plants that enjoyed heat and humidity dotted the space, and the tinkling of water in one corner came from a small fountain.

There was a table and chairs shaded by an umbrella and a couch nestled in between ferns and jasmine bushes. Bean bags were piled on top of one another in a corner sheltered from the sun and rain. I imagined working in this space when the light began to fade in late afternoon, but that wasn’t happening because this family already had a manny.

“Look at me, Cam.”

Jack was balanced on the back of the playroom sofa, and he pressed a button on his wings, making them flap. With his face creased in a huge grin, he leaped off. I wasn’t quick enough to catch him, and he thunked onto the floor.

He rubbed his head and grinned as I helped him up. “When I get my real ones, I won’t fall.”

“Jack.” I swiveled my head at Bea’s stern voice. She was holding three bracelets, and she put one on her little brother and gave another to Isla before fastening the last one on her own wrist.

“You’re early.” Isla pointed to a clock on the wall. “Our dad will be here soon.”

I made a mental note to have a word with Ledger or whoever was in charge about who they buzzed through the gate. Being sized up by the children was awkward, but it was my understanding that Ledger was the manny, not their father.

“So Ledger’s your dad?”

“No.” Jack shook his head.

Okay, so he was who I thought he was. But where was he? “Ledger’s your manny, right?”

“No.” Isla plonked herself on the couch.