helping me when I lived in the shack and things were
twice as difficult, did I?" I replied, my tone of voice
harder than I had intended.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest you couldn't
do everything for Pearl yourself," he said in a small
voice.
"You don't have to be sorry, Paul. I'm not
angry. I'm just . . . upset about Mrs. Flemming." "Which is why I should be home," he insisted.
"Paul, do what you have to do and then come home.
I'll be all right. Really," I said.
"Okay. I should be able to leave here before
lunch tomorrow anyway," he said. There was a short pause and then he asked how things went in New
Orleans.
"Fine. Dominique and I made all the
arrangements, but I think I'll postpone it until things
get calmer around here."
"We'll begin a search for a new nanny as soon
as I come home," he said. "There's no need to
postpone your show, Ruby."
"Let's not talk about it now, Paul. Suddenly
that's not as important to me anyway, And I don't
want to go out and get a new nanny just yet. Let's wait
and see what happens with Mrs. Flemming and her
daughter."
"Whatever you want."
"Besides, I think I can be a full-time mother
and an artist at the same time."
"Okay," he said. "I'll be home as soon as I can." "Don't speed, Paul," I warned. "We don't need
another car accident."
"I won't," he promised. "See you soon. 'Bye."