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“You know,” he said. “I think that bitch is probably a bad word and Henry doesn't like Florence. She's a bit like a teacher, isn't she?”

Hadley knew better than to respond to this, so she said nothing. Undermining Florence definitely seemed like a fast way to get kicked out of the house.

“But you're not so bad,” Charlie continued. “You seem quite nice actually.”

“Yes,” said Emily, coming to take her hand on the other side. “You're very nice. Even nicer than mommy sometimes.”

And Hadley sighed because she knew that there was no way in hell she could leave these kids. They needed love and hugs and care. However overwhelmed she might feel with their older brother, whatever Florence might have to say on the matter, she had to stick around.

Charlie and Emily led her up to their bedroom and she oversaw teeth brushing and face washing and bedtime stories and hugs goodnight.

Until she could put it off no longer.

It was time to talk to Florence.

Chapter Nine

Florence sat on a chair on the deck in the warm evening air wishing she could relax.

Henry had steadfastly refused to apologize and finally she'd left him alone to think. Perhaps in the morning he'd be more amenable. As much as discipline was important, there was also a time to let children mull over what had happened and let them draw their own conclusions.

Henry, it was clear, was going to need a firm hand.

As, she suspected, was Hadley. Which was why she couldn't yet relax. She pushed her glasses up her nose.

“Are you out there in the dark?” Hadley asked from inside.

“Yes,” Florence said.

“Want some wine?”

God, yes. She wasn't one to rely on alcohol, but after the day she'd had today she could murder a glass of wine. However, she was technically still on duty and besides, drinking wasn't the kind of impression she wanted to make.

“No, thank you.”

Hadley grunted and came out onto the deck holding a wine glass. She collapsed into a chair, stretching her legs out. “So.”

“So,” Florence said.

She hadn't exactly decided how to handle the situation. Better all around if she jumped in with both feet, probably.

“If you wish to leave, I'm perfectly happy to stay,” she said.

Hadley laughed. “Mmm, I thought you might be. I assume you figured out what's happened here?”

Florence shrugged. “Divorced parents who don't communicate, it's not unusual.”

“Divorced parents who both happen to be too busy to spend the summer with their children,” Hadley said. “Is that usual?”

Florence didn't answer. The situation was more usual than Hadley probably realized. There were sadly plenty of parents that didn't enjoy spending time with their children. “I'm under contract to be here,” she said. “I have no intention of leaving, and Mr. Allan has made it perfectly clear that should I leave I will be in breach of contract.”

“Ah,” Hadley said. She crossed her long legs and Florence was forced to wonder just how indecent a pair of shorts could get. Hadley's legs were tanned already, though summer had only just started. “I'm also under contract to be here. And Ms. McLeod has made it pretty clear that she wants me to stay.”

“We're at an impasse then,” Florence said.

Hadley sighed. “Do you have to talk like you're in a book from the nineteen twenties? You can talk like a normal person, the kids are asleep. We're in a shitty situation here, Flo, and I'm not sure what the sensible thing is for us to do.”

“Florence, not Flo. And I choose not to use bad language.”