Chapter Seven

To Margo's exquisite luck, there was word in the house that Lucy was coming over. After everything that had happened, Margo thought to tell Lucy before Gru. This was a time for some girl advice, something Gru just couldn't provide.

"So, you want me to tell you what I would do?" Lucy needed such confirmation on this bizarre scenario. When Margo nodded, Lucy told her to tell Gru, but that Antonio would have to enter the adoption agencies eventually. The girl's disappointment rained all over her face. Legally, Antonio only needed someplace for a year. It was more like temporary adoption, since everything would go to him anyway at the age of 18.

When Lucy heard this, her tune changed a little.

"Talk to Gru, see what he says..." Lucy was pondering. Margo nodded, returning to the guest bedroom, hoping Lucy wasn't sleeping over tonight. Margo didn't have it in her to talk to Gru though, and she really didn't want to. Gru would send Antonio away for sure, especially after the party incident, and she knew he just wouldn't understand.

Thus, Margo's decision was to wait just a little while longer. Antonio told her that his birthday was in nine months. Quite a ways away, but enough time to cause trauma to him socially and to meet other girls.

The two spent another night in the gust room, and while Antonio showered, Margo took his clothes to lauder them before Gru came home with Lucy. Agnes caught her taking the jacket out of the wash, her last piece.

"Gru just pulled in," she said sweetly. "Better hurry." Great. Now even Agnes knew! They all knew, well everyone except Gru. Edith probably told Agnes to keep her mouth shut, but Margo took the chance and ran with the jacket.

Antonio had most of his clothes on, all that she was able to put through the dryer anyway. He had clean underwear, jeans and T-shirt, so that would have to do. She couldn't put the jacket in the dryer anyways. Margo's face lit up when she realized the washer hadn't been turned off, and as she opened the door to the room, she whispered to Edith.

"I didn't turn it off!"

"I'll get it."

Edith just reached the washer when Gru came around the corner and Lucy was getting ready to spend the night. Their date had seemed to take a turn onto the wild side and it was evident Lucy wasn't feel up to par.

"Edith, what is dis?"

"I bumped it playing Ninja," she lied, turning the dial. "Just came to shut it off." Gru didn't seem too concerned, but Edith wasn't sure he completely bought that story. Either way, it was there to stick, and she had no choice but to stand by it.

Margo could hear Lucy coming her way for the guest room, so she pushed Antonio off the bed.

"He'll be here any minute. Bathroom!" she whispered, so that was where Antonio went while Margo tended to Lucy. She really didn't look so good.

"I think...I should take...the couch," Lucy mumbled as Gru walked in. Margo told him what she'd just said, and based on a simple evaluation of her condition, Gru approved of this. However, when Margo asked what had happened, Gru refused to tell her and instead dance around the subject.

Dr. Nefario was wide awake and procuring something for Lucy to drink. Margo had led Lucy into the living room while Gru checked on the doctor. A text came into her phone.

Lu is sooo drunk!

Her eyes widened. Margo had never seen anyone drunk before, but apparently he knew more about this than she did. She sent a quick text telling him to stay in the bathroom with his jacket hanging up until she came back. Antonio also requested food at this time, which Margo reluctantly gave into. Nefario came up with his remedy and Margo snuck off with a bag of Doritoes and a bottle of water. There was no time to make anything substantial.

"We have to figure something out," she said. "I can't keep doing this. He'll find out eventually." He accepted the bag of chips and the water. The door was shut and locked again, but this couldn't keep forever.

"Maybe I could get a job?" he suggested.

"And manage school?" Margo asked, her head turning to the side.

"Weekend work," he said. "I could probably find something, anything."

"Either way, you're going to need more clothes," Margo said. "You have to go home eventually." Antonio thought for a few moments.

"Ok, I'll go back for a few things, but only if you come with me. We'll have to sneak in, but that's the easy part. It's getting back out that is hard," he told her. "I can stay here for a while, you can sneak me food or I can buy those quick meals. I'll work on the weekends so Gru doesn't suspect I'm here."

"Gru will know. He cleans the house...unless we put your stuff in my luggage cases We store those in here and Gru wouldn't go through that. We'll use Edith's for your backpack and school stuff."

"Okay. Then, how do I live here, but not live here?" Antonio asked.

"Don't use Axe spray. That's an instant giveaway. You have to spray that off the premises. I sometimes shower in here anyway, since Edith takes the other bathroom more often. Since we get up the earliest, I don't like to disturb people. Gru is usually up though too..."

"He doesn't come in while you shower though, does he?"

"No of course not."

"Then that's all right. I'll get ready first, then you'll get ready to cover my tracks." Margo nodded. So far, she couldn't believe she was doing this, but the plan seemed pretty legit.

Margo laid on the bed. "Then, if you work, how are you supposed to come in and out? Only I have a key and we can't copy it."

He sat on the bed, thinking some more. Margo sat up.

"The minions! Of course. We'll have them take care of this room for the cleaning! Duh. Gru doesn't clean the house unless the staff are on break. That should be over for a long time now. I forgot. We just have to keep the minions under hush now..."

"The way you say that...hard?"

Margo nodded. "I think if we tell Kevin and Tom, it should be fine. They can usually keep things down when I ask them to. Ok, that's covered. You shouldn't need a weekend job, but if you want one, go ahead."

"I think it'd be good for the weekends. You can't be here all the time with me."

"True."

"I've got it. That food place around the corner. It's close enough so I'll walk and if I need to get away from the house for any reason, I can go there. They're hiring I think," he said. Margo smiled.

"Ok, that's in place. If you get that job, it's all well then. You can work weekends, have a getaway, we'll keep the minions hushed and they clean the room. Gru will never know because Kevin and Tom will surely be there most of the time. He only pays attention when Lucy stays over, but she took the couch. We'll get up, you'll get ready first, and I'll cover your tracks, and I'll sneak you food. I'm sure Kevin and Tom will too," Margo laid out the plan.

"Sounds good to me."