"Fran, what's going on? Where are your parents?" Val asked, as Fran ushered her in to the apartment.
"C'mere, Val, I gotta talk to you. I'm kinda freaking out here." Fran brought Val over to the couch and they sat down.
"What is it? Why aren't we meeting in the city? Is everything okay?" Val had a worried expression on her face.
"I didn't want to meet at the house because- well, I didn't want anybody overhearing anything. I don't want them to know just yet. Ma and daddy will be back later, but I don't want them knowing yet, either." Fran paused and grabbed Val's arm.
"Well what is it? You're freaking me out, Fran! Is it about your vacation? Don't tell me you aren't going! What happened?"
"No, it's not that, Val, it's- well, this morning… after the kids left for school, I wanted to go back to that shop to find a nice dress for the trip. They have the Spring stuff out now and I didn't want to miss anything."
"Well, did you find something?"
"Yes, but that's not the important part. I mean, it's important, but that's not why I wanted to see you. The lady there- the owner- Val, she offered me a job! A real job, not like a salesgirl or something. I'd be more like a manager. She wants me to train the girls there. I guess I made an impression on her the last time I was there. You know what she said? She said in the half hour I was there I helped sell like over a thousand bucks worth of stuff! Just because I was talking to some of the customers and helping them. She wants me to train the salesgirls how to do that. I can't believe it, Val! I don't know what to do!"
"Oh my god, Fran! That's amazing! Are you gonna take it? But what about the kids? And Mr. Sheffield? Did you tell them?"
"No way! Not yet. But I'm gonna have to. Val, I'd be making a salary! She said maybe like forty thou or something a year! I don't know what to do! What am I supposed to do? I don't wanna leave the kids. I don't even want to think about doing that. But if I leave the nanny job to do this, I can't live there anymore. That's like part of my pay- I get room and board. Oh, Val, this should be awesome news, but it's just making me sick to my stomach and I don't know what to do! Tell me what I should do!" Fran got up from the couch and started pacing the floor.
"Holy cow, Fran! That's incredible! Forty thousand dollars a year? How can you turn that down? When do you have to give the lady an answer?"
"I told her we were going on vacation, and I'd need to talk to them about it, so she said I can give her an answer after we get back. But I don't know what to do, Val! If I took the job, and had to move out… I'd probably have to move back here until I saved up some money."
"Well, maybe we could find a place somewhere, and be roommates?" Val gave Fran her pouty, but hopeful, eyes, and Fran came back over to her and sat down, and reached for her arm again.
"Maybe. But Val, how can I leave those kids? They're gonna be so upset with me! And Mr. Sheffield…" Her expression sank and she slumped back on the couch.
"But Fran, you knew this was gonna happen someday. Gracie's the only one you really need to look after, and she doesn't need you to do much for her. And when are you gonna get another chance to make that much money?"
"I know, I know. But you get why I'm upset, right? I know I might never get an opportunity like this again, but I said the same thing when Mr. Sheffield hired me. I can't leave all that. Can I?" She turned and looked at Val. Val slumped back against the couch, too.
"I don't know what to tell you, Fran. Maybe if you sleep on it- maybe then you'll know what you want to do. Forty thousand a year, though! I can't even do the math to figure out how much your paychecks would be. Can you?"
"Yeah, I did already. But if I had to pay rent on an apartment, that would be a big chunk out of it. I couldn't live in Manhattan, that's for sure. But maybe some place out here. If we split a two bedroom, that wouldn't be so bad, I don't think. And I'd have enough money to pay my credit cards off, eventually. And you know what? She wants to do a sort of profit sharing thing with her employees, too. She said if we can boost sales a lot, then it'll be a really nice bonus. And she said that day I helped make those sales- she said if I was working there and had done that all day, they would have had thousands of dollars in profit. Imagine that- multiply that by seven days a week, and then every week of every month… that's gotta be a ton of money!" Fran looked over at Val, who seemed to be trying to actually do the math unsuccessfully in her head. "Val, don't hurt yourself. It's a lot of money."
"Oh, yeah. I guess it would be. Gosh, Fran, just imagine- you'd actually have money. Your own money!"
"Yeah."
"But, then you wouldn't have all the things you have now. Seeing the kids, Niles cooking for you, living on Park Avenue… and not seeing Mr. Sheffield. Not going to fancy theater events. Not wearing fancy gowns… And you know what else- you'd have to cook your own meals. And go grocery shopping. And commute."
Fran crossed her arms and stuck out her bottom lip. "But it's such a good job. And if I could help her make a lot of money there… I'm sure my salary would go up, and maybe I could help her with other things, too, like finding the clothes to sell there. She buys from all over."
"You'd be good at that."
"Yeah. Maybe. But I'd miss them so much! Oh, Val! I don't know what to do!"
"Aw, Fran! I'm sorry! I don't know what you should do, either! But you'll figure it out, I know you will! You gotta talk to Mr. Sheffield."
"I can't Val, not yet. He's gonna be so upset with me! I just know it. And the kids aren't gonna want another nanny. But they need somebody there to help them. Not just Niles. Oh, god, Val! I can't leave them!" Fran was getting more upset.
"Hey, you haven't made a decision yet, Fran! Calm down. It's gonna be okay. It will! You'll see. Maybe later you can write everything down, you know- all the pros and cons. You'll figure it out." Val hugged her and tried to settle her down, but Fran's stomach was still in knots, and would continue to be in knots for quite a while.

Fran couldn't get her troubles off her mind the next several days. Not when she packed her suitcases for their Spring Break trip to the South of France, not when she helped the kids get their bags packed, and not even when they headed for the airport that Friday evening for the overnight flight to Paris. She used the girls as a buffer between her and Max, not wanting to risk any kind of conversation with him that may turn into a conversation about the decision she was facing. She was relieved to find that they were seated in two rows of three on the plane, and she made sure she and the girls took their own row, Fran in the center seat with Gracie on one side and Maggie on the other. On more than one occasion, Max caught her eyes and tried to give her a smile, but it hurt her too much to see him like that, so she quickly looked away, and went back to tending to the girls. She tried to sleep on the plane, but couldn't. And any time she thought Max was trying to see if she might get up from her seat and take a walk with him around the plane, she pretended she was sound asleep, or otherwise engaged in an important conversation with one or both of the girls.
Max was feeling dejected, and he couldn't figure out why Fran seemed to be ignoring him and pushing him away. Had he done something to upset her? He couldn't remember doing anything. Everyone had been so excited to go on this trip, especially Fran. That was, until a couple of days ago, when suddenly Fran seemed to disappear. He knew she was busy packing, and helping the children, and thought maybe she was just so focused on not forgetting anything that she couldn't be bothered with hanging out with him, or with Niles. It seemed like Niles might be feeling a bit pushed aside as well. He and Niles had considerably more conversations with each other than they normally had in the last couple of days, and several times he caught Niles glancing over at Fran like he was trying to figure her out, too. Maybe, once they were more settled after they arrived at the house he had rented, maybe then they could have some time to talk and he could make sure she was okay.
They arrived in Paris on saturday morning and left their bags at the hotel so they could go out to eat and do a little shopping. Max tried unsuccessfully to insert himself between Fran and the girls, and even Brighton had better luck getting her attention than he did. When they were at a bookstore and the girls and Fran were going through the fashion magazines, Max cornered Niles by the culinary magazines.
"Niles, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, sir."
"Is she mad at me? Ms. Fine, I mean? Did I do something I don't remember doing? Because she's been giving me the cold shoulder for days, and she doesn't seem as happy as she was before when she found out we were going on this trip. I just can't figure it out."
"Well, I can't say if you did something or not, she hasn't said anything to me. But yes, I've noticed a change in her demeanor the last few days. At first I just thought it was from getting ready for the trip, but that doesn't seem to be it. She hasn't said much to me, either, if that makes you feel any better." They both looked over at Fran, then at each other.
"Well, if she's ignoring you, too, then I suppose it's not from something I did. But still, I don't like thinking she's in a bad mood, or that something is upsetting her. I wish she would talk to us."
"Yes, I wish she would, too. Maybe once we get to the house, and she's able to relax, maybe get some sleep. I'm sure she'll be fine soon enough."
"I hope you're right." Max looked over at her again and saw the sadness in her eyes, even as she tried to force a smile for Gracie when Gracie wanted to show her a magazine. Max sighed, and wandered around aimlessly amongst the shelves of books until the children were ready to pay for their finds.

When everyone was settled in their hotel rooms, they were all too tired to go to a restaurant for dinner, so Max ordered room service for them all. Fran shared a room with the girls, Max and Brighton had their own, and Niles was across the hall in his own room. Max came over to the girls' room to let them know the plan for the next morning. He knocked on the door and Maggie opened it, and he tried to step in to see what they were up to. There were magazines spread over both beds and Fran and Gracie were curled up together looking through the pictures in the magazines they held.
"Uh, the food should be here within the half hour, so if you have any problems with it, let me know. And oh, Maggie? If you get the door when they show up, give them this for a tip," he handed Maggie several bills folded over.
"Okay, daddy, I will."
"And, um, we need to be leaving our rooms by eight in the morning, alright? I figured we could get breakfast at the airport instead of trying to eat downstairs, that way we won't be so rushed. So plan your morning accordingly, make sure you set the alarm, and that you all have time to shower if you need to. Gracie, you can even do that tonight, alright? So the others have a bit more time if they need it."
"Oh, yeah, I can do that. After we eat. I'm starving!" Gracie said, looking up from her magazine. Max tried to catch Fran's eyes, but she seemed a bit off, and was flipping through her magazine quickly.
"Okay, well, then, have a good meal, let me know if you have any problems, alright? And remember, eight o'clock, okay? Have your bags ready to go downstairs. I'll have a bellman here to help with all the bags."
"Okay, daddy, we'll get things ready tonight. And we'll be up early enough to be ready by then. Don't worry. Oh- how long is that flight tomorrow?" Maggie asked.
"I believe it's about forty-five minutes. Then we'll get our rental van and drive the rest of the way. It might be another forty-five minute drive, depending on traffic. But tomorrow's Sunday, so it shouldn't be bad. Okay, then, I'll leave you girls to it. Ms. Fine? You have everything you need?" He tried one last time to get her attention.
"Yeah, we're all good here. Just food and some sleep."
"Well, alright. I guess I'll be next door if you need anything. And remember, Niles is right across the hall. Have a good night, if I don't see you until morning." Gracie got up off the bed and ran to her father.
"Night, daddy! You get some sleep, too! And thank you for the stuff today!" Gracie hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"You're welcome, darling. Remember, get a shower after you eat, then don't stay up late. We've got to get our clocks on local time, okay? Good night." He let go of her and she ran back to Fran. Maggie gave him a quick hug and held the doorknob to shut the door behind him.
"Night, daddy, we'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, sweetheart, and lock this behind me, and again after the food arrives, alright? And don't open the door without checking to see who it is first, okay?"
"Yes, yes! We'll be safe! Promise!" Maggie said, trying to shoo him out the door. Max took one last look back, and Fran still wouldn't look at him. He stepped out the door and let Maggie shut it behind him. He waited to hear the clack of the extra lock, then turned and headed back to his room.
When he entered the room, Niles was sitting at the table looking through the car magazines that Brighton had picked out, and Brighton was sprawled over the bed he had claimed and was watching French TV, between rubbing his eyes from lack of sleep. Niles looked up at Max, noticing his sad demeanor.
"Well, I let them know to be ready to go by eight, and to get one of us if they need any help for any reason. Oh, Niles, do you remember how long the flight is tomorrow? Was it about forty-five minutes?"
"Uh, I believe so. Not long at all. Then the drive. Speaking of which- which one of us will be doing the driving tomorrow?" He asked.
"I don't mind doing it, if you can handle the navigating. That would be helpful. There should already be some food at the house when we get there, but when we go into the town to pick up the keys, we should keep an eye out for any markets or grocery stores in case we need more."
"Oh, yes, that's a good idea. And if we do need more, I can run out and get it, so you all can get settled and rest if you still need to."
"Is it really right by the beach?" Brighton asked.
"Yes, overlooking the beach and the ocean. I believe there's a path or walkway straight to it from the house."
"Awesome!" He grinned. Max tried a smile, but Niles thought it looked a bit broken. He caught Max's glance as Brighton went back to focus on the television, and gestured in a way to let Max know he was asking how things went with Fran. Max shrugged his shoulders, then kicked off his shoes and sat down on his bed and waited for their dinner to arrive.

Max tossed and turned most of the night. It wasn't just the jet lag, it was his concern for Fran that kept him awake. As Brighton was out cold on his bed, Max got up and went to the window to look out over the City of Lights. It was so much different than New York City, but it was also very similar, especially at night. He looked down at the sidewalks below, watching the people and the cars moving back and forth. He looked out across the tops of the buildings to see if he could recognize anything. He got lost in his thoughts as he stared at the dots of light. He imagined the room on the other side of the wall, where the girls were probably all asleep. He was sure Gracie must be curled up with Fran, and he realized that he felt a bit jealous about that. He wished Fran was with him now, looking out across the city. He really needed some time with her, alone. Some quiet time, so they could talk, or just be next to each other, soaking in the night air, or maybe listening to the ocean as the waves washed in and out. Something was definitely going on with her, and it was making her sad, or worried, or scared. Maybe it was something she didn't want to bring up in front of everyone, and that was why she brushed him aside. Maybe she didn't want him to ask her any questions in front of the children. That must be it. And the children always seemed to be right there every time he was able to talk to her at all. Maybe he would watch for an opportunity when the children weren't in earshot and see if he could get anything out of her, if she would open up to him. He couldn't let this tension go on for the entire vacation.

Fran stood at the window in her robe, watching the people down on the street below. She wondered who they were, where had they been, and where they were going. It was still Saturday night, so she imagined a lot of them were intoxicated, and she did see a few stumbling around as they clung to each other. She saw a number of couples holding each other as they walked, or holding hands. It made her think of Max, which just reminded her of how she needed to tell him what was going on with her. She could tell he was picking up on something, and she felt bad for pushing him away so much. But she wasn't ready to tell him just yet. There was too much going on with all the travel and chaos. She didn't know how to even begin telling him about the job offer, and she still wasn't sure what decision she would make. But he deserved to know, and the sooner the better. She wiped a tear from her cheek and looked back over at the girls, Maggie was on the far bed, sleeping on her stomach, turned away from Fran. Her hair was all mussed up on her head, and she clutched a spare pillow in front of her. Gracie shared a bed with Fran, and she was sleeping on her back with her arms stuffed under her pillow. Fran could just hear her soft breathing as she slept. Fran's heart ached. She quietly closed the curtain and crawled back in the covers next to Gracie. As she lay there, she looked up at the wall, and thought about who was on the other side. She wondered if Max was sleeping. She was certain Brighton must be. She almost wished they were back home, even just for that moment, so she could go to Max and talk to him about everything. She knew she had to do it soon, the stress of avoiding him was making her feel horrible, and seeing it in his eyes- the hurt in his eyes when she ignored him- she felt awful that she was the cause of that. It wasn't fair to him. But no matter what, she was sure that when she did finally talk to him, he might hurt even more then. She knew she would. She looked back at the outline of Gracie's profile in the dark, then curled up close to her and closed her eyes, and waited to see if sleep would come.