Chapter 13

Samantha recovered her wits as soon as she was able and extended a hand to Gracie.

"It's a true surprise and pleasure to meet you Mrs Maddern", she spoke politely, eyeing EJ with gleaning suspicion.

"Well, my dearie, I could say the same for meeting you," Nanny replied sweetly, but with her own underpinnings of wariness. This was the woman who had broken her baby boys heart, after all. She, then, swatted her hand in the air. "Nevertheless, it seems we've all been brought together for a reason, as is always the case, eh?"

"Um, yes, I suppose." Sami faltered. Her head was still cataloging the events of the last ten minutes, trying to sort them into some time line, some coherent terms that she could understand.

Laurens bright head popped in the doorway at just that moment. She was relieved to see neither bloodshed nor destruction and then she spied the two new faces, and Gina's rattled look.

"Hey guys," she smiled brightly, "lunch is winding down and we're looking to reconvene in about twenty minutes. Is that good for everyone?"

"Ah yes Lauren, that will be fine. I think we were about to have a breakthrough in our earlier misunderstanding." replied EJ rather smugly.

As she sashayed into the room, Lauren piped up, unable to stand the not knowing. "So, Mr Wells, are we to have a new junior member to the board, or are you simply attempting to expand our hiring practices to include the vertically challenged?" She shot a pointed, yet amused, look at the small boy now sitting at the head of the table scribbling furiously on a legal pad.

EJ chuckled good naturedly. "I'm afraid my son has taken it upon himself to make a rather early entrance this afternoon."

Lauren squatted down next to the boy wild hair bouncing and quirked a brow. "I'm Lauren. And what is your name?" She smiled.

"I'm Gavin Wells, Miss Lauren, pleased to meet you", he rang out, amused by the silly look on the woman's face.

"And how old are you Master Gavin? 10?12?", she teased.

Beaming, Gavin pushed out his chest, "Actually I'm five, Miss Lauren, but I am very tall for my age."

EJ shook his head. Was his son flirting? Wonders would never cease. "Lauren, I'd also like you to meet Gracie Maddern, otherwise known as Nanny" , he motioned towards Grace, who was still covertly sizing up Samantha.

Lauren breezed over, and shook the womans hand. "You wouldn't be THE nanny, would you?"

"Indeed she would, Miss Bauer. Mrs Maddern and I have a long family history. She, is in fact, the originator of Nanny Tea." EJ laughed. "Gracie, Lauren here, is the lead attorney and a board member for Nanny Tea.

Nanny took in this new woman's ease with EJ and Gavin and thought that perhaps this whole trip would be for good reason.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Bauer."

"Likewise, I'm sure." She turned to her confused friend. "Now, it's all making sense. Perhaps we could all grab a seat, and take care of the details quickly before the rest of the group come back in. What do you say, Gina?"

Sami was only able to nod mutely and sit. The others began to take their seats, as Gracie piped up. "Well perhaps, I should take Gavin and get settled then. We wouldn't want to be in the way of you business folks."

Samantha found her voice, and took that moment to step in. "No, actually Grace, this concerns you as well. Gavin will be fine, and this won't take long." Her voice was quiet and slightly repentant as she looked up to see a thankful look from EJ, and relief flooding Laurens face.

Gracie, on the other hand look mystified. "What do you mean this concerns me?"

Again, Samantha's face turned to EJ's contrite smile. "Well actually Samantha, I hadn't yet had a chance to talk to Gracie about it." He looked down, embarrassed.

Sami shook her head and mused, "Well Mrs Maddern, it seems no good deed goes unpunished, and it seems, your restraint over the years, allowing EJ to live through his no doubt precocious childhood, is about to reap some rewards."

She turned to Gracie and smiled winningly, "You, Gracie, are about to become a wealthy woman."