The kitchen smelled wonderful. CC closed her eyes and took a breath. Chocolate cake. Nothing else smelled like that. She let the scent wrap around her, almost like a hug.
She heard the rattling of dishes and reluctantly opened her eyes. Niles was at the sink rinsing off a bowl, a spoon, and some measuring cups.
Sometimes when he was baking, if he was in a good mood and had already gotten her several times that day, he would let her lick the spoon. As a child, CC had never been allowed to do this and, even though it was such a simple thing, it always made her happy. Of course, she'd never told Niles. She was too afraid he'd stop doing it.
As the evidence of his baking slid down the sink, a soft, sad expression briefly touched his face. It was gone by the time he put the dishes in the dishwasher, and it was replaced with a fond smile as Nanny Fine entered the room with a colorful purse dangling from her left hand.
"Hey, Niles."
"Hello, Miss Fine. Where are you off to today?"
"I'm having lunch with Val. Want to come?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. It would do you good to get away from the house for awhile."
He shook his head slightly, wiping the counter with his dishcloth. "I can't. There's too much work to do."
Nanny Fine crinkled her nose. "Since when has that ever stopped you?"
"I don't think so. I've got a cake in the oven."
"I can wait."
He sighed. "Miss Fine, I appreciate the offer, but, really, I'm fine."
Nanny Fine brushed by CC and leaned against the table. Quietly, she admitted, "I'm worried about you."
Niles stopped wiping and dropped his dishcloth at her words. "What on earth are you worried about me for?"
"She's going to be okay, you know."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"It's obvious that you are worried about Miss Babcock."
"Why would I worry about Miss Babcock?" he asked scornfully. "That woman is nothing but a plague on humanity."
"And you miss her."
"Miss Fine..."
She came over to the counter and took his hand. "I know you've been going to see her every day."
"Where would you get that idea?"
"Niles, we have five shakers of cinnamon and enough chocolate syrup to last us twenty years."He looked down at their hands, and Nanny Fine squeezed his. "It's okay to care about her. You've known her for years. She's a part of your life—our lives."
"I can't talk about this."
"You don't have to. Just come out to lunch with me and Val."
He still didn't look at her. "All right. If you have time to wait for my cake, I'll go with you."
She smiled and leaned over the counter to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "That's better. I'll just call Val and tell her we'll be a little late."
XXX
CC sat on the green couch watching Maxwell work. She had been waiting for him when he came in that morning and had been observing him for the two hours since. His face was serious and his eyes focused behind his glasses. Things seemed to be going more smoothly than they had right after CC's accident, and Maxwell seemed a bit more organized. Still, the lack of her touch was glaringly apparent. Now that Maxwell wasn't in danger of crashing and burning, it was nice to know she was not easy to replace.
When Maxwell took out their ledger, CC got to her feet. This had always specifically been her job, and she wanted to make sure he was doing it correctly. Since the accident, CC made a point to check on him every couple of days, watching over his shoulder while he did the books.
Maxwell hadn't written more than five numbers when the door burst open and Nanny Fine bounced flamboyantly into the room.
"What is it, Miss Fine?" Maxwell asked before she even had a chance to say anything. His tone sounded more relieved than annoyed, which didn't surprise CC. There was a reason she always did the books.
"Are you busy?"
"Of course, I'm busy."
Her face fell. "Oh."
"What's on your mind? I can spare you a few minutes."
She perked up again and came forward to perch on the edge of his desk. Her dark eyes were shining and every emotion was plain on her face. To Maxwell's credit, he gazed into her face instead of at the shapely legs revealed when she crossed them.
CC left her place to study Nanny Fine. Since her accident, she'd come to realize that she liked the outrageous nanny and even considered her a friend. It was still mostly a surprise to her, especially since the two of them were so different. The main difference, of course, was that Miss Fine had been born poor but everything still came remarkably easy to her, whereas CC had been born tremendously wealthy—even wealthier than Maxwell—but she had to work hard for everything, and nothing she ever did seemed to be good enough. Maybe the secret was to give in and just let some things happen on their own.
"What are you doing after work today?" Nanny Fine asked.
"I'm not sure. Why?"
"Ma has invited us all for dinner."
"I don't know, Miss Fine. The last time she served tongue."
"You don't like tongue?"
"Has it ever been served in this house?"
"Point taken. I promise, no tongue."
"This is awful generous. Is there a reason?"
"Because she wants to have dinner with her grandchildren," Niles commented, coming in with his duster in his hand.
Maxwell raised his eyebrows. "Her grandchildren?"
"If I remember correctly, she says that at the rate Miss Fine is going, your children are as close as she's going to get."
"Niles, were you listening to our conversation?" Nanny Fine asked in amusement.
"Who, me?"
"Well, I suppose it would be all right, Miss Fine, though it is short notice," Maxwell said.
"What do you have a hot date or something?" Nanny Fine still sounded amused.
"No, of course not...Well, I could have, but I don't...Just tell your mother that will be fine."
Niles smirked and started dusting, and Nanny Fine hopped off the desk.
"I'll tell her."
This is what CC missed. Strangely enough, the conversations that had always seemed so silly were the one thing she wanted back the most. They had taken up so much of her days and she had often thought them an irritant, but they were her normal. It ached knowing she couldn't be there, adding her sarcastic opinions to the mix. Either she or Niles would insult the other, and there would be a glare or a smirk, and everything would feel right.
As the nanny flounced back out, Maxwell glanced at Niles. "Will you be coming tonight, Niles?"
Niles didn't look at him as he continued to dust the shelves. "No, sir."
"Why not?"
"I wasn't invited."
"Really?"
Niles was almost always included in Sylvia's invitations. She liked to manipulate him into helping her in the kitchen—and bringing dessert.
"It's all right, sir. I have plans."
"Plans?"
"Yes."
When he didn't elaborate or stop working, Maxwell shrugged and went back to the books.
XXX
Niles's plans turned out to be with CC. He came into her room a little later than usual and there was purpose in his eyes. There were also lilies in his arms.
As soon as he entered, he began humming softly and went over to the table where her flowers and cards were displayed. With quick, sure hands, he started removing the flowers that had wilted or dried. After carefully setting their tags aside, he took a small bag from his pocket and unceremoniously dumped the dead flowers inside. When he was done, over half of the flowers were gone. He refilled their vases, sending the sweet smell of lilies through the room.
Once he was done with the flowers, he took out his hanky and started wiping dust off of everything. He righted both pictures and was especially gentle when he wiped off CC's book.
After he was done, he moved from the long table to the one beside her bed. Even though the hospital staff kept things tidy, it was apparently not enough for Niles. He dusted the stuff on that table as well before tucking the cards from the discarded flowers into her old photo album.
He did this all without saying a word.
When he was finished with the table, he picked up Teddy and once more placed him under CC's arm. The whole brief cleaning spree only lasted about fifteen minutes, but Niles looked satisfied when he was finished.
When he spoke, it wasn't words that CC expected. "I heard from your mother."
"My mother?" CC was so surprised that she sat down quickly on the bed.
"Lovely woman." His sarcasm was plain. "This may just be a case of the apple not falling far from the tree."
CC winced hoping—but not sure—that she wasn't quite the flake her mother was.
"It seems she'll be blowing in sometime the day after tomorrow and is planning to come see you." Something like pity flashed over his face. "I know how much you'd want everything to seem perfect for her visit, so I've straightened a little. You're welcome. You owe me."
"Don't leave me alone with that woman, Niles," CC ordered.
No matter how perfect things were, her mother would find fault with something. Most likely, BB would be delighted to declare that the accident was CC's own fault because she decided to work instead of becoming a woman of leisure.
"Please," she added.
Niles went back to the long table, and CC momentarily forgot her anxiety over her mother's impending visit. He picked up the old book and flipped it open.
CC got another surprise, this one a pleasant one, as he settled into the chair and asked, "Now, where was it Miss Grace left off?"
XXX
On the day her mother threatened to visit, CC didn't know whether to stay at the hospital and wait for her or run away to the theatre. Part of her wanted to see her mother despite their complicated relationship. CC both loved and hated BB Babcock, though she would have much preferred to achieve a state of indifference.
When she was a child, her mother flitted in and out of her life. She talked about CC but never to her and gave her gifts instead of time. It wasn't unusual for CC to cry herself to sleep after seeing her, wondering why her mother couldn't love her.
Sighing, CC cursed herself for a fool, but decided to wait. She spent most of the day fidgeting in her chair, wishing she didn't care what her mother thought.
Niles came late in the afternoon and CC latched onto his visit like a lifeline. She was so grateful for the distraction, she could have kissed him.
He was relatively quiet, forcing her out of the chair and sitting with his hands clasped. Eventually, he admitted that he wanted to meet the woman who had spawned her.
CC dropped down to the floor in front of her bed and folded her legs. She was close enough to touch Niles's knee if she wanted to. His presence was comforting, and she felt her stomach start to settle.
The two of them were sitting there for a little over a half an hour when the door opened. CC raised her head in anticipation and fear.
The person coming in wasn't her mother.
The woman was young, maybe twenty-five, and had shoulder length dark hair. She was pretty in a no-nonsense kind of way, and she was dressed in a bland gray suit.
Niles turned and frowned. "Hello?"
This caused the woman to blush. "I'm looking for CC Babcock."
His expression turned puzzled. "This is Miss Babcock's room."
"May I come in?"
"Of course."
She still looked uncomfortable, but she stepped further in, shutting the door behind her. CC wondered who she was; she didn't look familiar.
"I'm Niles," Niles offered. "How do you know Miss Babcock? Are you a relative?"
"Oh, no. Nothing like that. Ms. Warner asked me to come."
Understanding hit CC like a blow. Warner was her mother's current last name. She had wasted all day waiting for a woman who, as always, would never show.
"Ms...?"
"Her mother. BB Warner. She asked me to inquire about her daughter's well being...and to bring her this."
The young woman reached into her purse and drew out a blue velvet box. Niles got up and held out his hand, so she passed it to him. When he flipped open the lid, CC saw a very expensive diamond necklace. She slowly got to her feet so she could study it.
"A necklace?" Niles asked blankly.
"Yes. And a card."
He accepted this as well and read, "Get better soon, my darling. Love Mother."
The woman dropped her eyes. "The necklace is almost priceless."
"I'm sure it is, Miss...?"
"LeBlanc. Daphne LeBlanc."
"Miss LeBlanc. I'm just not sure how useful a diamond necklace is to a woman in a coma."
Daphne shrugged. "Maybe Ms. Warner wanted her to have something nice to wear when she woke."
"Perhaps."
"Well, I really must be going."
"Certainly."
Daphne's face lost some of its stiffness. "I hope she wakes up soon."
"Thank you." Niles was staring at the necklace and not BB's lackey.
She inclined her head and left. CC found herself laughing at the sheer absurdity of the situation. She had actually expected her mother to come. Her mother had sent an expensive necklace as a gift instead. Niles had witnessed the tragic humiliation that was her life. Hilarious! The laugh became a sob, and she turned away.
She didn't want to see the pity on Niles's face.