Page 150 of Nine Week Nanny

“He’s doing great. He's outside with Hart learning croquet. That boy has Hart wrapped around his little finger." Pride warms her voice. "And he's taught Bette to say 'bienvenido.' I don't know how he did it so fast, but that bird won't stop now."

"Put him on?"

There's rustling, distant calls, then Lennon's breathless voice. "Pope? Did you see the sharks yet? Our tracking at Seabreeze says there is a great white off the coast of Charleston.”

"No sharks yet, buddy. How's croquet?"

"Hart says I'm a natural! I beat her twice, and she wasn't even letting me win. Are you coming home tomorrow?"

Home. The word hits me differently now. "Sunday night. Be good for Val and Hart, okay?"

"I will. Goodnight, Pope."

"Goodnight, Lenny."

The line goes dead. I set my phone down, the warmth from hearing his voice fading too quickly.

My phone buzzes again. I grab it too quickly, hoping?—

But it's just an email notification, not her.

I stare at my phone, fingers hovering over the screen. If I unlock it one more time, I might as well admit I'm pathetic. I'm waiting for a call that isn't coming.

The device buzzes in my palm, startling me. Robert's name flashes across the screen.

"Carrigan."

"Hope I'm not interrupting your Friday evening." Caleb’s voice carries the familiar hum of our office in the background.

"No interruption. What's up?"

"Just wanted to give you the latest on Good Samaritan. Correction, on CHG. The transition is running ahead of schedule. Phase three of the concierge rollout is tracking well."

I move to the window, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. "Staff morale?"

"Steady. Those retention bonuses are doing exactly what we designed them to do. The protests have all but died down."

"And the nurses who walked out?"

"Half already replaced with better talent. The others are sending feelers about returning."

I nod, even though he can't see me. His words are all business, but they ground me somehow. This part of my life, the work part, is back to making sense and working the way it should.

"Projections?" I ask.

"Within six months, we'll be fully concierge. The board's thrilled. Hopefully we will be in the green by this time next year."

A small satisfaction blooms.

"What about the Mt. Pleasant project in Charleston? The rehab facility across the bridge?"

"Underwriting is reviewing our projections now, but everything looks good for acquisition. We're solid, Pope."

"Good work. Keep me updated."

"Will do. Enjoy Charleston."

I end the call and set the phone on the desk. Everything's running smoothly without me there to micromanage. The hospital's transitioning and the new acquisition's on track.