After we looked at the cars, I took Tony into the main house and then to Irene's office.

I knocked on Irene's office door. The three of us went in. "Hi, Irene. This is Tony Montez. He is one of my students. He is looking for work. Are there any openings on Father's staff?"

Tony shook Irene's hand, "Please to meet you, miss."

Irene looked at him and said, "Well, we could use another groundskeeper. Do you have your CV with you?"

Tony looked at her, "Sorry, miss. I have never actually had a job before. It is just a matter of time before my mum marries her current bloke. He does not like me too much. I just need a job to save up some money for when he chucks me out of the flat."

Irene looked at me, "You how do you Americans say, vouch for him, Lee?"
I was supposed to be Canadian and she used my real name. Irene was bad about remembering that in front of other people.

I tried to cover that, "Yes, that is both an American and Canadian expression. I do vouch for Tony. He is acing my class. I'll take responsibility for him. I also said he could have dinner with us. Is that alright?"

I barely knew this kid, but I just had a good feeling about him.

Irene nodded yes, "I will let Jonathon know. He will not care at all that he has a new groundskeeper. You go to school, yes? What are you studying?"

Tony spoke, "Computer science, miss."

Irene nodded, "Well you can work on the weekends? Come back on Saturday at seven am. I will have our head groundskeeper William Davis know you are coming."

Tony grinned, "Thank you, miss."

Irene looked at me, "I will let Jonathon know we have an unexpected guest for dinner. That I hired him. Just warn him about Jonathon, ok, Lee? Take him to the guest house until dinner."

Irene had messed up again; she accidentally called me Lee in front of Tony a second time. Tony didn't say anything at the time but I could tell he noticed.

I took Matty and Tony to the guest house, where Matty and Tony started playing Nintendo until dinner. Tony was really good with Matty. Although Tony is a little younger than Jamie, I could tell it felt familiar for Matty to play games with an older boy, even if he didn't remember his brothers.

We went to dinner in the main house. My grandfather was very quiet because he was not feeling well that day. He acknowledged Tony and was cordial. Tony was very polite and quiet during dinner. I had warned him that my grandfather was not always the nicest person. After dinner, Matty & I drove Tony home to his flat in East London.

Tony showed up for work on time on Saturday morning but after his first day. Groundskeeper Davis wanted to fire him. Tony had grown up in the city. He was a skinny kid who knew more about gaming and computers than he did about yardwork. I mean that is where he differs from both Phillip and Jamie.

Jamie may have been a little nerdy too, but he grew up with Phillip as his brother. Jamie has some athletic skills. He probably would have been just as big a star player as Phillip if he cared more. I mean remember when Jamie quit the basketball team after Phillip graduated, Amanda? Coach Hayes kept calling the house begging Jamie to come back on the team. Jamie was the second-best player on that team but he really did not care about it. He just wanted to focus on his photography. Groundskeeper Davis would have loved either of our older boys working for him because they both also have helped Dotty with our yard their whole lives.

When Irene came to see me that afternoon. She wanted to know if I wanted to be the one that fired Tony. I really didn't. I asked her if there was anything else he could do. I knew the kid needed the money. That is when she smiled at me.

"Why not have him work for you? He could be your assistant."

I stared at her. "I don't really need an assistant."

She looked at me, "Lee, it might be a good idea. I ran a background check on Tony. He has never been in any sort of trouble. He has a rough life though. Lots of calls for domestic abuse over the years for both him and his mother. His father is in prison for drug dealing. His mother has been arrested for solicitation and possession. Tony spent some time in foster care when he was a boy. His mother has been in and out of rehabs. I am all for him working for us. Giving him a chance but if Groundskeeper Davis does not want him. Chef is too particular in the kitchen to have an assistant. Madame Winters is also too particular with the cleaning staff. Jonathon and I just let her pick out her own people when she needs more staff. Sven and Jonathon only pick people with a military background for security. It is your personal assistant or nothing."

I nodded. "Yeah, alright. I'll talk to Tony. Is he still working in the yard?"

Irene nodded no. "No, Groundskeeper Davis sent him home."

I sighed, "I'll go to his flat. Talk to him. It's a rough part of town. Can I borrow your Toyota? I don't want to drive the Aston Martin to that section of London again."

Irene nodded, "My keys are in my purse in my office. You probably should just leave Matty with me. Tony's neighborhood is a high crime area."

I followed her to the office, she gave me the keys, and I left Matty in the office with Irene.

I drove to Tony's flat in East London. I went to the apartment buzzer switchboard but someone came out of the building and I just went in. I walked up a couple of flights of stairs and went to Tony's apartment which was 3B. I knocked on the door. A large balding overweight man who smelled like sweat, cigarettes, and alcohol answered.

"What do you want? Are you the twat from downstairs that keeps banging on the ceiling?" He said gruffly.

I looked at him, "No, I'm here to see Tony. He is one of my students."

He gave me an annoyed look and pointed to a door connected to the living room, "The little prat is in his room."

I saw Tony's mom Rosa lying on the couch. She did not look like the pretty older Portuguese woman she looks like now. Back then she looked like a junkie. She was way too thin. Her eyes were unfocused, and she was just staring up at the ceiling. My heart broke for Tony. I walked over to his room. He was lying on his bed. He was holding an ice pack on his eye.

Tony looked like he had been crying. "Hey, kid. Are you alright? What happened to your face? Did you get hurt today doing yard work?"

Tony sighed, "Hey mate, no. I just was total rubbish at it. Are you here to officially fire me? I understand. I really do appreciate everything. I am a lost cause. I know it."

I smiled at him warmly, "You are far from a lost cause. But yes, you are fired as a groundskeeper. But I spoke with Irene, you can still work at the estate. Just not for my grandfather. You would be doing odd jobs for me. Kind of like being my personal assistant. Stuff like running errands for Matty & I. Maybe helping me type up my lesson plans. I hate typing. My wife used to do that for me. I don't know exactly what else yet, but no yardwork or heavy lifting is required. Are you interested?"

Tony smiled, "Yeah, mate. That would be brilliant. Thank you."

I decided to ask him about his eye, "What happened to your face?"

I could see Tony trying to come up with a story, "I tripped. It is no big deal."

I did not buy that, "Look, kid. Just tell me the truth. Did you trip into Prince Charming out there's fist?"

Tony looked scared, "No mate, I just have had a real shit day. I walked into a door jamb because I wasn't paying attention. Just drop it, ok."

I knew he was lying, it was obvious that his mother's boyfriend had smacked him, "You're coming with me. Pack a bag."

Tony looked at me. "No mate. My mum, she needs me. I can't leave her alone with him. She can't take care of herself. Look just go. I have it under control. You have been nothing but nice to me. I am sorry for dragging you into this mess."

I looked at him sympathetically, "Don't be sorry, kid. I want to help you. We will just take your mom with us. If you are going to work for me. You are under my protection. Which means nobody messes with you ever again. Alright? Pack a bag. We'll take your mother back to the estate. Get her some help."

Tony looked at me with fear in his eyes, "No mate. Mitch out there. He has connections to organized crime. They might come after you. I don't want you to get hurt for trying to help me. Just go. I can handle Mitch. I am grateful to you for everything. I really am. I am so sorry I got you involved in all this."

I ignored him and was starting to get angry, "Believe me I can handle Mitch. Pack a bag. Mitch will not be bothering you or your mother, anymore."

I went to the other room, and I beat the living crap out of Mitch. He was drunk and did not expect it. Mitch was just lying on the ground groaning in pain. I did not hurt him too badly but I wanted to. I just really could not afford to get arrested. Then I walked over to Rosa and picked her up off the couch and carried her downstairs. Tony followed behind with a backpack. I loaded Rosa into the backseat and drove back to the Hamilton estate.

Notes:

Next Chapter: Lee brings Tony & his mom home to the estate. They get Tony's mom into rehab. Will Tony discover Lee's secret? (I mean yes because Tony has been helping Lee & Matty since Prodigal Son I chapter 1)