The Summer of Sunshine and Margot(44)

“I have a new ant farm,” Connor said proudly, slipping his hand into hers.

“Do you? That is fascinating. I’ve always wanted an ant farm. Did it come in the mail?”

“Uh-huh. The farm came first, then the ants. We had to put them in the refrigerator for ten minutes to make them quiet, then we poured them into the farm. Sunshine helped me.”

“Did she? That’s excellent. Hmm, the refrigerator. I wonder if I could put Alec there when he’s bad.”

“You can’t,” Connor told her, his expression serious. “A closed refrigerator can be dangerous for kids.”

“You’re right and I’m sorry I said that. Now let’s go into the garden.”

Alec glanced back at Margot, who was watching the exchange with great interest.

“She’s good with kids,” he said in a low voice.

“I see that. She’s very likable and talks to them in a way that makes them feel heard.” She pointed to the doorway. “Go take your garden tour. Sunshine and I will wait for Wesley. I’m sure he’ll be here any second, then we’ll join you.”

“You’re not going to check on the kitchen?” he asked, his voice teasing. Edna had arranged for a chef and a server for the evening.

“I don’t have to,” she said primly. “I know your housekeeper has taken care of every detail.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t double-checking.”

Amusement brightened her eyes. “You have to know when to trust people, Alec. It makes life easier.”

“So I’ve heard.”

Sunshine watched with interest. He had the feeling she was mentally taking notes and would later report all to her sister. What that report might be, he had no idea.

He glanced toward the garden where Connor and Bianca were skipping through the grass. “Into the Valley of Death rode the six hundred,” he said, quoting Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

“Or the one,” Margot murmured. “Fear not, I will join you shortly and all will be well.”

If only that were true, he thought, walking toward the storm that was his mother.

  “Hey, you,” Margot said, hugging her sister. “You look great.”

“I look nice. You look fabulous. So, Alec. He’s hunky.”

A true factoid, but not one Margot was going to acknowledge. “I work for his mother.”

“All that means is you don’t work for him.” Sunshine grinned. “He seems like a very nice Dietrich distraction.”

I wish. “What about you?” she asked, hoping to distract her sister. “You never said Declan was all that.”

“It doesn’t matter what he is or isn’t. He’s Connor’s dad and my boss.”

“So off-limits?” Margot asked, just as the doorbell rang.

“In every way.” Sunshine sighed. “And the Baxter curse lives on.”

  An hour later, Alec had to admit he’d been wrong. Bianca was on her best behavior. She was charming everyone, carrying most of the conversation and keeping the table amused with anecdotes from her acting days. Connor was mesmerized by every word, even when he didn’t understand what she was talking about. Wesley couldn’t keep his eyes off his fiancée, Sunshine seemed equally intrigued by Bianca, and Margot was keeping track of everything while, no doubt, taking mental notes. Only Declan seemed neutral about Bianca’s performance, instead surreptitiously watching his new nanny when he thought no one was looking.

With the salad course behind them, there was only the soup course, the entrée and dessert to get through. Alec glanced at his watch and wished they were already eating white and dark chocolate mousse in a pastry shell, according to the elegant menu that had been provided.

Bianca leaned toward Connor. “I have a secret.”

His eyes widened behind his glasses. “What is it?”

“The soup is going to be chilled.”

“Cold soup?” He sounded delighted. “Really?”

“Cross my heart. It’s delicious, I promise, but still... Cold!”

They both giggled at the outrageousness of the concept, then Bianca stood. “Why don’t I go get it right now so you can try it?”

Connor nodded vigorously.

Margot looked at Bianca. “I’m sure the course will be here in a moment.”

“Oh, I don’t mind.”

Alec knew Margot was trying to figure out if Bianca was simply interacting with a child or if she was looking for a distraction because she felt uncomfortable. As he had no idea, he doubted Margot understood the motivation, either. With his mother, it was often hard to tell.

Wesley watched her disappear into the kitchen. “She is a delight.”

“Very charming,” Sunshine said. “And funny. Margot, you must love every second you’re here.”

“I do,” she said, catching Alec’s gaze and smiling. He smiled back.

Bianca returned, a large soup tureen in her hands.

The second he saw her, Alec knew the moment wasn’t going to go well. He didn’t usually have premonitions, but this one was unshakable. With each step she took, his sense of dread grew more powerful until he knew he had to do something to stop whatever it was from happening.

But he was too late. Even as he rose, Bianca’s narrow heel caught and she stumbled. While she didn’t drop the tureen, it tipped and the thick, creamy green soup sloshed onto the hardwood floor.