Fran Fine had worked for Maxwell Sheffield for almost two years now. She truly loved her job and the children that she cared for. She lived in a mansion had light hours and a butler that waited on her everyday. It was the life of luxury without being rich.
All Fran had to do was make sure that Maxwell Sheffield a producer, was happy and that the children were well cared for. For that she had free reign of the house, a limo and love that was returned to her in more than one way.
It was an average day, a Saturday. Fran was busy getting the youngest child Gracie ready to go to the dentist and Brighton had a baseball game. Maggie had no plans until the evening and had opted to stay at home for the day. Fran left with Gracie and Brighton at about ten.
As she left the home, she saw CC as she was coming in. CC was Maxwell's partner in business and never had anything good to say about anybody but herself and Mr. Sheffield. Fran knew that she was a thorn in Nile's side sometimes, but she thought that he was getting used to it.
That morning Niles was in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast when Cc Babcock walked into the room. She was her usual nasty self and he was his usual nasty self back to her. As she left the kitchen she told him. "Just get us some coffee and never mind the chit chat."
Niles brought in the coffee and was met by his employer Maxwell and CC. CC told him "Just leave the coffee here and we will take care of it. As he went to serve some of his famous home made rolls, CC made a comment about his awful cooking. Max was used to the two of them squabbling like children.
But Max was surprised when Niles snapped back "You take that back. I am sick of your remarks. I could work anywhere, a butler like me is a much wanted commodity."
Maxwell was tired of their bickering and said "Well, if working here is so bad why don't you go and get a job someplace else?"
Niles was in no mood to be the brunt of the two pompous people who were in the room and said "All right this is it. I quit." and with that he walked out of the office.
Max was used to his tirades and thought that Niles would be back in the kitchen stewing. But, he had a lot of work to do and he ignored him.
Niles was angry that when he quit Max didn't even blink an eye. He had worked for the man since they were both children and thought that he was his friend. When he went upstairs he spoke to Mrs. Monroe, a lady that had been trying to get him to come and work for her for years and offered his services. She gladly accepted.
Niles didn't have many things to carry and went out the back door through the kitchen without being noticed. As he looked back he thought of the Sheffield family and how much they had meant to him. But, he was off to another home where the Monroe family had a working nanny and he would not be expected to care for their children as he had the three children of Maxwell Sheffield many times.
The Monroe chauffeur picked Niles up and he headed to his new home, just two blocks from the Sheffield home.
In the meantime Max and CC had been hard at work at a play that was going to be opening very soon. They worked until well past noon and were wondering about lunch. Max sniffed the air and did not smell anything cooking and wondered when Niles was going to bring them in a sandwich or something.
Fran had been busy all morning with the Sheffield youngest. She had a cavity and had it filled. Fran had then gone to the game where Brighton had hit a home run. His team had won and they had celebrated with a trip to the ice cream shop.
Usually when Fran came in she was greeted by Niles, but he was not there. She was surprised and as she took everything away from Gracie and Brighton she headed up the stairs. She knocked on Maggie's door and opened it to Maggie who was just sitting there reading a book. "Hi hon I'm back. Anything new?"
Maggie got up from her bed and smiled "Nothing it's been quiet around here. I've been in my room all morning." with that she smiled and Fran went to Gracie's room to drop off some of her things.
As Fran went to her room she thought that it was strange that she hadn't seen Niles. Once she dropped off her coat, she decided to go to Nile's room. She knocked and got no answer. She called his name and heard nothing. That was when Maggie opened her bedroom door and looked at Fran with questioning eyes. Fran opened the door and found the room empty. She looked in the closet and everywhere. Everything was gone. Maggie and Fran looked at each other in shock. 'What on Earth happened this morning?'
Fran and Maggie went right downstairs to confront Maggie's father Maxwell Sheffield. What could he have done to make Niles quit and leave? Niles was their friend and everyone in the house depended on him so much.
As they came into Max's office they found him and CC hard at work acting as if nothing had happened. Fran walked right up and he said "Yes Miss Fine. How can I help you?"
Fran couldn't believe what he had just said "How can I help you? You can start with what happened this morning?" she nearly yelled at him.
"Believe me Miss Fine I have no idea what you are talking about." he told her. By now CC had looked up at Fran and Maggie and were giving them the 'you are dismissed' look.
That is when Maggie spoke up, but Brighton and Grace had now entered the room. "Why is Niles gone? Did you fire him?" Maggie demanded.
The three children were talking at once and with Fran's shrill voice Max put his hands over his ears. "What on Earth are you talking about? One at a time. Fran?" he grimaced.
Fran put herself together as best she could and said "When we got home from the baseball game today we found Niles's room empty and him gone. What happened?"
All four of them shook their head as Max looked at them as if he didn't believe them. He got up and sure enough there was no Niles in the kitchen. As he opened the door to Niles's room he saw that what the children had said was right Niles was gone baggage and all.