Page 80 of Watching Henry

Finally, Florence could see those words for the lie that they were.

“IT'S JUST A grocery store,” Maeve said doubtfully.

“But we want to go,” Henry whined. “Please, mom?”

Maeve looked at Florence and raised an eyebrow. Florence shrugged in response.

She wasn't stupid. Clearly the children were up to something and had some kind of plan of their own. So far though, she couldn't see what it was.

“And Florence has to come too,” Charlie said, pushing his hand into hers.

“But—” Florence began. But Charlie looked up at her with his big eyes and gap-toothed smile and she sighed. “Really? The whole family has to go to the grocery store complete with nanny?”

Charlie nodded.

“We're not buying ice cream,” Maeve warned.

Mrs. Mercier looked up from the stove. “Actually, you could add some to the list.”

Maeve groaned. “Why don't you guys stay here with Florence and play some kind of game or something?”

“No!” Henry said. Then he caught sight of Florence's look and breathed in so hard his nostrils flared. “We'd really like to all come, mom, please,” he said, more quietly.

Maeve finally nodded. “Fine. But whatever the three of you are up to, I can't say that I like it. Florence?”

Florence looked around at the grinning faces and she was suspicious. A month ago she'd have steadfastly refused to let the kids go. Now though, well, apart from anything else, she was curious about what exactly they were planning.

“Fine,” she said.

THEY WERE JUST driving into town when Emily spoke up from the back seat.

“I have to pee!”

“There's a bathroom at the grocery store,” Florence said from the passenger seat.

“I can't wait. I have to go now!”

“We'd better stop,” Florence said to Maeve, knowing Emily's history of accidents.

Maeve pulled into a parking space and Florence pointed out the coffee shop. “Run in there and tell Eleanor that I sent you in,” she said.

“But we all need to go in,” Henry whined.

“Enough of this,” said Florence. “Henry, take your sister in please, right now.” The firm tone of voice came quite naturally and Henry didn't dare disobey.

All three kids climbed out of the car, Henry with a very worried look on his face, and disappeared into the coffee shop.

“I'm thinking about staying here,” Maeve said, when the kids were gone. “Staying up here in the mountains, enrolling the kids in school here, not going back to the city. What do you think?”

Florence nodded. “It might be good for them to have a fresh start. It would certainly be good for them to have a garden to play in and a safe town to walk around.”

“It might not be bad for me either,” said Maeve, smiling. “The thing is, well, if we stay up here, I was wondering if you'd consider staying with us. Joining us full time, that is.”

“Maeve...”

“I know, I know, you and I have our differences. I'm not going to tell you that you'd be my first choice of nanny. But I see how you are with the kids, I see how much they like you. And I think that you and I together are starting to understand each other. You're becoming a bit more flexible. I'm becoming more authoritative.”

Florence smiled a little at this. Maeve was definitely trying, but she was never going to be the strictest of parents.