LISA
"Mommy, I want to see the lammies."
"Honey, not today, okay? I promise we'll stop by Grandpa's farm again on the weekend." I run my hand through Lily's dark hair and plant a kiss on her cheek.
"But why can't we go now?" Lily asks.
"Because I have to work. Jackie is coming. You love Jackie, don't you?"
Lily shrugs and puts on her sulking face, jutting out her lower lip. "Yes, but Jackie won't take me to see the lammies and I want to see the lammies."
I hold my breath for three counts and smile at her. I love Lily more than life itself, but she's entered this stubborn phase, where each question is answered with another question and she has obsessions that last for months on end. The latest one involves Grandpa's lambs that I took her to see yesterday. Lily sat in his field in a white dress, looking like a little angel while the lambs hopped around her. She absolutely adored them, and so she wants to go back again and again and again. It's all she can talk about. "We'll go see them on Saturday. Just three more sleeps."
"Why do I have to sleep? I don't like to sleep."
When the doorbell rings, I let out a sigh of relief and let Jackie in. "Hey, Jackie. Brace yourself, she's on a roll today."
"What's new?" Jackie chuckles and picks up Lily to cuddle her. "Nothing I can't handle. I'll take her to the playground. What time will you be back?"
"I might be a little later than normal today; we'll have to clean up after last night's storm. Do you mind?
Jackie shakes her head and shoots me a smile. "Not at all. I'm all yours."
"I can't thank you enough. I've been doing so much overtime lately that I was going to take the afternoon off to meet up with my new accountant, but it looks like I'll be busy clearing leaves all day. Is five okay?"
"No problem. How is it going with the accountant?"
"Okay, I think. Nearly done, and I'm seeing a wholesaler to put in my first order next week."
"How exciting!" Jackie puts Lily on her hip and looks at her. "Mommy's going to start a booming business, did you know that? She's going to be the party queen of the Hamptons. Do you know what a party queen is?" We both laugh when Lily shakes her head with a goofy grin. "Mommy is going to make lots of people very happy with fun stuff for the pool."
"Pool?" Lily repeats and looks up at me. "You work in a pool." I don't think she's actually been in one before, we always go to the beach. Unlike most people in the Hamptons, we don't have a pool or even a yard and have to make do with the balcony. My father and Jackie don't have a pool either and neither does my friend Jihyo. All my clients do, but they live in a different world. Not a happier or better one per se, just a different one, and I truly hope that growing up on a wealthy peninsula won't affect Lily in the sense that she feels she's been deprived, because she's a lucky kid who is showered with love and attention.
"That's right. It's a hole in the ground filled with water," I say, then add: "But it's a bit boring. There's no sand so the beach is much more fun."
"Oh." Lily grabs a piece of honey-soaked pancake and stuffs it into her mouth, seemingly happy with my explanation. She does love the beach and luckily, we live nearby.
I steal a piece of pancake from her, grab my purse and squeeze her shoulder. "I have to go, honey. Will you be good?"
"Of course, she's always good," Jackie says, ruffling a hand through Lily's hair. "So, how about the playground? Does that sound like a plan?"
As I blow Jackie a kiss and head for the front door, Lily's yells: "I want to see the lammies!"
Driving off in my Pool Masters van, I'm surprised to feel a subtle tingle of nerves when my company app tells me who my first customer is. I'd forgotten Miss Kim was on the schedule today and it's a pleasant surprise because I liked her. She was kind and polite. And hot, I think to myself, then quickly shake off the thought as I'm not supposed to have the hots for my clients.
It's very green this time of year and the rising sun casts a beautiful light over the road ahead of me. The route from Sag Harbor to Southampton consists of long, straight roads that are lined by pristine lawns, tennis courts, manicured hedges, mature specimen trees and hydrangeas. The houses here are typical of the Hamptons, with their white trims, wooden shingles, weatherboards, pitched roofs and dormer windows that make for picturesque homes. Cyclists slow down the traffic but no one's in a rush here. Few are going to work, apart from real estate brokers who are so easy to identify it amuses me. One stops next to me in front of a traffic light. Tall and handsome, check. Convertible, check. Navy suit, check. Big watch, check. Designer shades, check. When the lights turn to green he speeds off, only to abruptly stop at the next set of lights again.
New York has way more charm than the Hamptons in my opinion, but it's our home and it's a safe place for Lily to grow up. We like living in Sag Harbor and we love the ocean. Being so close to the beach is priceless when growing up; I vividly remember long happy days playing in the sand and swimming in the ocean with my sister, who would have loved the quiet strip of beach in front of Miss Kim's house if she were still alive today. As always, a stab of sadness hits me when I think of her, but I've become very good at pushing it away, only allowing the pain to flow freely when I'm alone with my memories.
I pass Duck Walk Vineyard and take the road toward Little Plains Beach. Driving down Little Plains Road, I catch a glimpse of the clear, shallow water behind the beach. Compared to other houses along this road, Miss Kim's house is relatively modest. It doesn't have tennis courts or an endless driveway but that doesn't mean it's small. With direct access to the beach and views over the Atlantic, I'm sure it's worth at least twelve million, if not more. The narrow strip of private dunes gives the property a sense of serene seclusion, and so do the tall trees and natural hedges to both sides of the wrought iron gates.
When I walk around the house into the backyard, Miss Kim is standing on the patio like she's been waiting for me. And damn, does she look drop dead gorgeous. I've always thought attraction is something that grows over time, but the lingering tug is potent and very real. It's been a while since I've felt physically attracted to someone; I'm so used to having willing bodies around me due to my escort job that I've forgotten what it feels like. Stop it, Lisa. Don't even think about it.