“Do you trust me to take care of them?”
“Of course, I trust you completely.”
“Then let me do this for you, Luca. I’ll be okay, especially if we stay busy.”
I don’t know what to say. I love that she offered, and I do completely trust her. I also don’t have anyone else to ask, other than Henry and John, and I know I’d be imposing on them.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Text me your address and I’ll leave my job site right now. I can have my stuff brought over from the Palmer House.”
“Thank you. This really means a lot to me. I promise I’ll get back as soon as I can.”
“Go focus on your dad. We’ll be fine. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay, thanks.”
The next hour is a blur. I get a flight booked, one I’ll barely catch if Abby can get here soon. I tell the kids what’s going on as gently as I can. When I say that grandpa’s sick, Cora bursts into tears.
“Is he gonna die?”
“As soon as I get there and see him, I’ll let you know how he is, okay? I just don’t know much right now.”
“Poor Gramps,” Jack says sadly.
“My friend Abby is coming to take care of you guys.”
“Who’s that?” Cora gives me a skeptical look.
“Well, she…she’s a friend of mine. You guys saw her at the charity game.”
Cora’s mouth drops open. “The one who looked like she was about to puke? And then ran away?”
“Yes, but she’s okay now.”
I’m packing a bag as I talk, walking between my closet and bed and throwing random clothes and toiletries in.
“Italy is so far away!” Cora cries. “What if your plane crashes?”
“Please don’t worry about that. When you wake up tomorrow morning, I’ll be there. I’ll text Abby when I’ve landed.”
The doorbell rings then, and Emerson yells up from downstairs.
“Uncle Luca, there’s a lady here!”
I grab my bag, hoping I’ve packed enough, and the two older kids follow me down the curving open staircase at the front of the house.
“You can open it,” I tell Emerson as I jog down the stairs. “I know who it is.”
I get down to the entryway just as Emerson opens the door and I see Abby. She’s wearing a business suit and glasses, her hair pulled back in a bun.
“Hey, come on in,” I say.
“Your house is gorgeous,” she says, stepping inside and looking around at each of the kids. “Hi guys, I’m Abby.”
“You look like a banker,” Jack says.
Abby smiles at him. “Thanks.”
“Uncle Luca, please don’t go,” Cora says. “I just know your plane’s gonna crash. I don’t want you to die. Please.”
“You’re going on a plane, Uncle Luca?” Emerson runs toward me. “Can I come? Please, can I come?”
“He’s leaving us with a stranger,” Cora says dramatically.
Emerson was asleep when I told the older kids what’s going on. I tried to gently wake her up, but she was out. I guess the sound of the doorbell was enough to do the trick.
“Guys, I need you to be brave.” I bend my knees and squat low so they’re all close to eye level with me. “Grandma and Grandpa need me right now, and when your family needs you, you’ve got to be there. That’s what we do.”
Cora has tears streaming down her cheeks. She begs me not to go with her eyes. It guts me. This poor kid comes by her anxiety honestly. She’s lost more than any kid should.
“So Luca,” Abby says, “you said Cora can help me since she’s the oldest, right? That she’s really good at knowing how stuff works around here?”
Cora looks over at Abby. I’m grateful for the save.
“Cora’s great with all that,” I say.
“There’s so much I’ll need your help with,” Abby says. “I don’t know what you guys like to eat or how to work your stove. I hope you know what the good restaurants are around here.”
Cora sniffles. “I know a few.”
“Thank goodness,” Abby says. “You’ll really be helping me out. I don’t even know where the towels are. Without you, I’d just be standing in the bathroom after I take a shower not knowing what to do.”
Jack pipes up. “I know where the towels are. Come on, I’ll show you.”
“She asked me to, Jack,” Cora says.
“Have you guys had dinner?” Abby asks.
“No, and I’m starving,” Jack says. “I only had two snacks at the pool today.”
“There’s a meal kit delivery in the kitchen,” I say. “Three nights worth of dinners inside. And I have an account at a grocery store for delivery. The information is on a notepad in the butler’s pantry.”
Abby smiles at the kids. “What if Cora picks out a restaurant for us to go to? We can get to know each other better and maybe get some ice cream after?”
Even Cora lights up at the idea. I think it’ll be best if I just sneak out as soon as I can instead of prolonging the goodbye. I hug and kiss each of the kids and then do the same to Abby.