Paradise for a Sinner (3 page)

The limo driver lurked beside the passenger door of his black vehicle. “I guess that’s all the luggage.” He made no move to leave.

Adam glanced back at the mansion with its tall, white pillars a la Scarlet O’Hara. None of the other adults still stood in the open doorway. Apparently, his babysitting days were not over. He took out his wallet and plastered two twenties in the driver’s hand. “That do it?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Aren’t you Adam Malala? I know this is Joe Dean Billodeaux’s place. They use our service sometimes, but this is my first trip here. These your children or his?” He held out his receipt book hopefully, and Adam gave him an autograph.

“No and no. Guests.” As if his own children if he ever had any would be so light-skinned.

“Oh, must be one of the crips Joe works with, but that other one is a piece of work, let me tell you.” The driver made that statement as if little kids had no ears.

That irritated Adam no end, especially on Teddy’s behalf. “You’d better get going,” he said in a way that caused opposing players to beware and made the man step lively to the other side of the car.

“I need someone to open the gate again.”

“I got it. You two don’t go anywhere until I get back, okay?”

Both children nodded as they watched Titi lapping water as if it were dog ambrosia. Adam headed straight for the kitchen as the limo sailed down the long drive. He forgot about the dog, the huge one. Macho bowled him over and skittered for the open front door. How humiliating for a Pro Bowl cornerback. Adam dashed across a devastated kitchen: milk jug spilled on the floor, cookie packet empty, sandwich plates, one broken, knocked down and licked clean. He hit the button, swiveled, and turned on the speed as he raced back to avert another disaster.

Macho beat him to the entry and plummeted down the steps right to the water dish. Titi squeaked. Macho barked once sharply. He sniffed under the intruder’s feathery tail, then moved to the other end of the little fur ball and touched his big, wet nose to the little black button that protruded from the mound of fluffy hair. Adam stooped to pick up a landscaping stone from the flowerbed. Seeing that monster eat the bit of fluff would not be good for the children. Before he could chuck his rock at Macho, the top dog nudged the other aside and finished off the water in several slurps of the bowl. Evidently, peanut butter and cookies made him thirsty and spilled milk did not do the trick. Finishing his drink, Macho trotted off to raise a leg against the trunk of one of the massive live oaks that dotted Joe’s property. The toy dog followed and sniffed, obviously impressed by the aroma and output. Both lay down in the shade.

Anastasia went to sit by her puppy and spread her skirt out on the layer of brown fallen oak leaves as neatly as if she were on a picnic in Tuscany. Teddy gamely pushed his wheelchair through the duff and took up a place next to Macho. The dog placed his huge head in the boy’s lap and offered his ears for scratching.

Adam sank down on the porch step and rested his elbows on his knees. He wondered how long he would have to wait to have that heart-to-heart talk with the man the team called Daddy Joe. He could not go back to Samoa without some sound advice about women. On that topic, Joe Dean Billodeaux was the acknowledged expert.

Chapter Three

In Joe’s vast den, actually now the family room since the children came along, Clive Brinsley perched on the very edge of one of Joe’s leather recliners. Joe relaxed into a matching chair while Nell seated herself on the long sofa.

“Now, Mr. Brinsley, what is the problem?” Joe began.

“Simply Brinsley, sir. A butler is addressed by his last name only. I bring grievous news.” He turned to Nell. “I am so sorry to report that your sister and her husband perished in an automobile wreck two weeks ago. While the prince and Mrs. Polasky were not given to planning ahead, they did leave a will naming you as guardian of their only child. Rather than pay a solicitor, they asked me to be their executor. I’ve brought Anastasia here at my own expense.”

Nell, stunned and thrust suddenly into the disbelieving stage of grief, said, “How could that be? No one called us. Do my parents know, my brother and his family?”

“No one. A matter of misplaced pride, I believe. The madam specified if she should die in Italy, she wanted a cremation and her ashes scattered privately in the Adriatic Sea from the terrace of the palazzo. Only afterward was her family to be informed. You see, the creditors were at the door ready to strip the place down to the mosaic floors.”

Nell rubbed her forehead as if shoving the facts inside her brain. “Do you think they committed suicide?”

“Not your sister. She had too much spirit for that, but the prince, perhaps. He was given to mercurial moods, charming one moment, morose the next.”

“Yes,” Nell agreed. “I doubt Emily would leave this earth willingly. She’d go out kicking and complaining. When my parents visited after she gave birth to Anastasia, they had doubts about the prince and his temperament.”

“That’s not all,” Joe said. “I paid to have this Prince Stefan investigated to ease their minds. The report found his royal lines to be completely faked. He made his living gambling and escorting rich women. By the time the child came along, too late to do anything much about it unless Emily divorced him by her own choice.”

Brinsley nodded sadly. “I suspected as much. The madam often jested that she met the prince in Monaco when she’d gotten down to her last million. He used her funds to restore her fortune in the casinos—and his. Until recently, he played adeptly at cards.”

“My fortune, you mean. We paid the damn—Nell’s sister that money for a donation of eggs to make our family. She took the cash and ran for Europe. Never came home. We got her wedding announcement, another one for the baby’s birth, and an annual Christmas card. She didn’t stick around to see Nell through any of the difficult births, had no interest in meeting the children. That’s how much she cared about family.” Joe socked a fist into his palm.

“Please, Joe. Emily is gone now. She did save my life with a bone marrow transplant when I was a teenager. Remember that. We wouldn’t have most of our children without her donation either.” Nell went over to his chair, pried open his fist and placed her hand inside.

“Yeah, right.”

Brinsley continued. “I can tell you on the day of the accident, they went to visit a vineyard and imbibed a great deal. Witnesses said they argued about their circumstances. On the return home, the Maserati went over a cliff and burst into flames. Cremation was the only option regardless. I allowed Anastasia to help me scatter the ashes as we all need closure. Not long after, the
banca
seized the house, and the rest of the creditors, the furnishings. One vile specimen attempted to take Titi from the child. He thought he could get money for the dog, but I would not allow that. Other than the pup, we left Italy with only our personal belongings. I paid for our fare from my savings.”

“I see what you’re getting at, Brinsley. How much do we owe you? Add in some extra for your trouble.” Joe rose to get his checkbook.

“Not necessary, sir. Anyone who would abandon a child in need would be a very low creature indeed. My expenses should have come out of the estate, but the estate vanished in a matter of days. Being butler to the Polasky family was not an ideal situation, but I have always stood by my employers. Having saved prudently over the years, I had the means to help, and did so. However, I would ask one favor. I would like to stay on with your family for a short time until Anastasia has settled. The dog and I are all she had left of her former life besides her personal possessions.”

“She’s got a heap of those along with a bad attitude. I’m not so sure she’ll be staying here after those remarks she made. Maybe your parents will take her, Nell, or your brother.”

Nell stroked Joe’s arm. “My parents are too old to raise another child, and my brother has three boys. Besides, she is a half-sister to both the twins and the triplets.”

“Maybe your sister-in-law would like to have a daughter. This kid doesn’t look anything like Emily, but she for certain has the same sorry nature. She won’t fit in here.”

“I could have said the same of Xochi when she arrived, but she has thrived.”

Brinsley looked from one to the other and finally inserted his plea. “Anastasia greatly resembles the prince who was a handsome man, but a child will reflect the parent she is with most often. Her mother did not permit her to play with the village children. She had only an Italian girl and a private tutor to see to her. They left as soon as the first paycheck bounced. No loyalty at all. Now if the child had a professional English governess things might have been different, but instead, she was her mother’s confidant. Mrs. Polasky became an embittered woman, well aware of her mistakes and refusing to admit them. I have been working with Anastasia to improve her behavior, but it will take time and patience to undo the damage, I fear. If you are not up to the challenge, I could seek the Polasky side of the family, but I am afraid they don’t exist, and certainly not as Polish royalty.”

“We figured as much. I guess she must stay. Be glad to have you remain a while, too,” Joe conceded. Nell hugged his shoulders, and he knew he’d done the right thing deep down no matter how difficult it would be. He and Nell had faced hard issues before and could handle them together.

He clapped his hands together. “Okay, so let’s get that load of luggage moved upstairs. Where do you want to put the children, Nell?”

“Let Anastasia pick her room. Teddy can go along and decide where he wants to sleep, too.”

“I can handle the luggage, sir,” Brinsley offered.

“The hell you can. It will take you, me, and Adam to move that mountain. Good thing we put in an elevator, huh, Nell? You coming along?”

“No, I have to break the news to my family. Close the door when you go out, please.”

“Should I stay?” Joe noticed the tears forming in the corners of her brown eyes.

“No. Taking care of the children will be the biggest help right now.”

“If you say so.”

He left his wife in the closed room and went out the front to tackle the baggage with Brinsley. He saw Adam’s broad, hunched shoulders first, then the rather charming tableau of the two children and the dogs under the oak tree. Maybe this could work.

“Ah, Joe, you got a minute now?” Adam asked.

“As soon as we move Anastasia’s things into her room, bro. Grab a few bags.”

Picking up two of the pink suitcases and shoving a hatbox under one muscular arm, the big Samoan complied. Brinsley extended the handle from his black, wheeled luggage and piled two smaller cases on top.

“Princess, bring along Titi’s carrier, please,” the butler directed his charge.

Anastasia snapped the leash on to the dog’s rhinestone collar and took up the small crate now sitting on the ground. Teddy wheeled up after rocking a little to free his chair from the oak duff.

“I can help. Put a little one on my lap.”

Joe placed him on the porch first before setting smallest case on the boy’s lap. He tipped the wheelchair up the steps into the house and went back for what remained of the baggage. Like a caravan of overloaded camels, the men followed the high plumed tail curled over Titi’s back and the equally head-held-high form of Anastasia. Macho attempted to join the march. Joe kicked the door shut in his snout.

“Make a right at the end of hall to the elevator,” he called from the rear.

“Golly, you got an elevator. I never lived in a two-story house before or one with an elevator neither. Can I push the button to make it work?” Teddy did the honors.

“I guess we knew you were on the way,” Joe said as he motioned the children inside and got aboard himself. “We’ll have to make two trips.” Leaving Adam and Brinsley behind, they ascended to the second floor.

“We have four bedrooms with shared baths between them. Pick your place.”

Anastasia wrinkled her nose. “I do not share a bath.”

“Well, you do now.”

The girl opened one door after another. “None of them is pink. Pink is my color.”

“The twins have the pink room and aren’t likely to move out for you. Choose something else,” Joe ordered with his dislike of the child creeping into his voice. He choked it back and turned to Teddy. “Which one do you want? Now you get first choice because the princess here can’t make up her mind.”

“Hey, ladies first!” Anastasia objected.

“You snooze, you lose. Go on, Teddy.”

Teddy peered into the first room by the elevator. “This ’un’s fine. It’s green. I like green. I never had such a big room before. Thanks, Dad.”

“About that business. I don’t think your mom and me ever…I mean she had you at fifteen, and I’d never do… Forget it for now.” Joe let the two pink suitcases fall to the floor. “Where’s your luggage. Let’s get you moved in.”

“My duffel bag is in the kitchen. I hope Macho didn’t eat my meds ’cause I really need them.”

“Only if they smell like food.”

The elevator slid open and disgorged Brinsley, Adam, and the rest of the luggage. Anastasia stamped her foot and addressed the butler. “Uncle Joe says his twins have the pink room. Teddy took the green one, but it’s by the elevator and I didn’t want it anyhow. The worst rooms in a hotel are always by the elevator.
And
I have to share a bathroom.”

Brinsley appeared to reflect for a moment. “However, this is a very nice house and will not be quite as noisy as a hotel. Let’s see what we have left: a very lovely lavender, pale gray, cream and white with gold accents. Why this last is fit for royalty and away from the lift. White and gold furniture in the French style, a beautiful lamp with crystal drops, a padded headboard, superb! What do you think, Anastasia?”

“Then it should be mine. Where will you stay, Brinsley?”

“In the servants’ quarters, I imagine. If you will point the way, I will dispose of my baggage and return to assist the princess in her unpacking.” He addressed Joe and awaited directions.

“We don’t exactly have servants’ quarters. Take the gray room. Our housekeeper and ranch manager have one of the cottages, but that’s a lot of room for one person. I think you should stay by Anastasia for now.”