Family time and Investigations!

Gracie sees her father first. "Daddy! Daddy! Here we are!"

She waves excited and jumps up and down. Maggie and Brighton's expressions brighten up as well. Only Fran is irritated. What is Maxwell doing here? On the one hand, she is happy to see him, but it will be difficult to pretend normalcy in front of the children. Maxwell is surrounded by his children who are all tugging at him at the same time and asking him questions. Finally he explains.

"I didn't feel like working today. When Niles told me where you are I spontaneously decided to follow you. I hope my appearance won't cause any inconvenience, Miss Fine?!" He winks at her.

"Of course not Mr. Sheffield. You know I'm always like it for you spending time with the children."

So the five of them stroll through the park. There is a lot to see. At different stations clowns, acrobats and other artists show their tricks. Then there are some merry-go-rounds, booths with games and lots of food. At one booth Gracie calls out.

"Look at the great stuffed animals."

They step closer, at this booth there are cans to throw. Maxwell lets Gracie talk him into trying it and Brighton wants to try it too. After a few misses, Maxwell knocks over the whole tower with one ball. He wins a big teddy bear, which he hands to lucky Gracie. Brighton knocks over seven cans and gets a little dinosaur.

At the next booth, Maxwell shoots a marzipan heart for Maggie and a rose for Fran.

"For the best nanny in the world!"

Fran understands the secret message behind his words. She terribly wants to hug and kiss him, but she can't do that in the presence of the children. So she contents herself with eagerly thanking him.

Meanwhile, at the Sheffield mansion. Niles decides the empty house is a good opportunity for some investigations. He wants to start in Fran's room. But he is in for a bad surprise. Fran had locked her door. This was new and he doesn't like it at all. Niles doesn't understand the world anymore. Fran clearly has something to hide. He is dying to get into het room, but the spare keys are in Mr. Sheffield's care and he doesn't know where. If he forces the door open, Fran would find it out.

So then he has to concentrate his attention on secret number two. He goes to the office. At first glance, everything looks the same. On the desk lie contracts, manuscripts and other papers. Niles checks the memo book. But there is nothing suspicious to find. There are only business appointments. Niles knows about those. He rummages through the basket. He finds crumpled paper and some scraps. Whit huge effort he puts the scraps together. Movie tickets! Mr. Sheffield hadn't been to the movies in ages. He decipheres the date. The tickets were from last Wednesday. Last Wednesday Mr. Sheffield was supposedly at a business dinner with an old friend. Had he been to the movies with him, too? Or was there a woman behind the date?

Niles doesn't dare to believe it. Since the death of Sara, Maxwell had never been seriously interested in a woman. Did he seriously fall in love again? That would explain a lot. His frequent going out, his good mood, and his behavior in the last time. Niles is sure he is on the right track.

At the same time at the park, the children discover a chain carousel. Fran and Maxwell don't want to go on the ride. They stand close together and wave at the three of them. When the carousel is in full swing, Fran whispers to Maxwell.

"Why did you really come here?" Discrete he reaches for her hand.

"I want to spend time with the children and especially with you. I miss you every second you are not with me." Fran smiles at him. She would like to fall around his neck.

"You look pretty in that turtleneck!"

"And you know how to make compliments and charm a girl."

That's when the kids come back. Together they spend some more time at the circus. Take rides with the carousels and they eat lots of sweets. A little while later, Maggie and Brighton are jumping on a trampoline. Fran, Maxwell and Gracie sit on a bench. Gracie got a little tired. She sits on Fran's lap and dozes off a little bit. Gracie enjoythe day. When they are all together like this, they seem like a real family. At theses moments she wishes it could always be like this.

Shortly after, they head home. Back at the mansion, Gracie already was fast asleep in her father's arms. Fran lies her down in her bed. Maggie wants to take a bath and Brighton also retires to his room.