All That Glitters (Landry 3)

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."