Leo started his week, knowing it would be a busy one. Just after two on Monday, Chelsea buzzed him to tell him Percy was calling. His gut clenched with fear.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing has changed. It's my nightmare too. I was with her."

"Sorry, it wasn't your fault." On dark days, he didn't believe it. "Why did you call the office line?" His personal phone sat on his desk.

"It's a business call. I heard you were shopping for a studio for my niece's favorite series. You didn't come to me."

"It's will need a big budget."

"We can do that. We're officially interested."

Leo smiled. "Fine. Matthew Clark wants to be involved with the screenplay. He wants his story on the screen."

"I'll talk to my people about a meeting."

"Call Chelsea." Leo doubted Percy would pull it off.

Leo hung up and debated updating Matthew but not until he knew if Percy would come through.

At home, Isla was busy cleaning for his parents' visit. He told her they didn't care, but she said she did. She had been quiet since her date. Quieter, she was always quiet. He kept wondering what had happened but didn't know how to ask. It wasn't his job to protect her, but he had been doing just that since he gave her a job.

Remembering her question it took all he had to answer without giving away his true opinion. It was easier living with her when her figure was hidden. Seeing her curves in skinny jeans often caused him to curse Lilli. Did she know what she was doing? The shirt she wore for her date gathered at her waist and emphasized the breasts he hadn't realized were under the bulky sweaters. He knew she had them, but hadn't expected them to be so nice. Zach lusted after Lilli for years. Leo was in a worse predicament, because he wasn't about to mess with the best nanny he ever had.

Leo left work early on Thursday to get his parents from the airport. They were standing on the sidewalk waiting for him.

He jumped out and hugged his mother. "Hi. Sorry I'm late." Percy had called just as he needed to leave. He had to interrupt him. "I have the afternoon off, but I have a call later."

Maggie said, "Later. How much later? We have church."

Leo didn't want to go to the long Holy Thursday Mass. "It's too long for Cody. I'll stay home."

His mother frowned. "What about your nanny?"

Leo shook his head as he navigated out of the airport. "I couldn't ask her to skip church. Plus, you know where I stand."

"None of it is God's fault."

Bill Nelson sat in the back seat. "Mags, we agreed not to bring it up. Leo has enough on his mind."

Leo breathed out in relief. "No one here knows about Autumn."

Maggie looked at him. "Not even the nanny."

"None of them have."

"What do you tell them?"

He groaned. "The truth, Mom. I'm divorced."

Maggie sighed. "What about Riley?"

"She struggles from time to time. She's told people her mother's sleeping. No one questions it. They assume she had a reason not to get custody."

Bill said, "A reason all right."

"I'm not sure it's healthy for Riley. I'll have a talk with her."

"Mags, don't rock the boat."

His mother could be a wild card, but his father kept her in line. Before retiring, they had both been teachers and taught Leo his love for reading.

"So Dad, how was your flight?"

"It was fine. No turbulence. Are we doing an egg hunt?"

Leo sighed. "I haven't done anything about it. I'll need to shop on Saturday."

"You'll come to Good Friday. It's not as long." His mother didn't let up.

"Except it is. I've been going on Sundays since I hired Isla."

"I'm eager to meet this nanny who got you to go to church."

"Tread easy. She's shy."

"I always do." Coughing in the backseat disputed Maggie's statement.

The rest of the ride, his mother talked about people he didn't remember. He listened but concentrated on the traffic. The ride took longer than he hoped.

He said, "The kids will be home from school."

"And they're off for next week."

"Yes, they're on vacation."

He hoped their visit wasn't a mistake. Isla was skittish, so he may have to track her down at the shelter.

His mother went ahead into the house while he grabbed some luggage. By the time she reached the kitchen she had Riley in an embrace. Isla stood off to the side.

Leo said, "Mum, did you meet Isla?"

She let Riley go. "No."

Cody was hugging his Grandfather, as Leo introduced the two women.

Isla extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Nelson."

After the commotion, Leo carried the luggage to his bedroom. He placed it on the bed and turned around into his mother.

Maggie leaned in. "She's beautiful."

He wasn't blind and gritted his teeth. "She's the nanny."

Maggie looked around his room. "Where are you sleeping?"

"On the old pull-out sofa in the basement." He could put a kid on the floor and sleep in one of their single beds but decided to let them sleep. He'd be uncomfortable either way.

"What's for dinner?"

He shook his head. "Isla's in charge."

"I love her name."

Leo nodded and walked away. The last thing he needed was his mother pushing him towards Isla. He would tell her Isla had a boyfriend, although Leo wasn't sure. She had returned home unhappy after her last date. He didn't expect her to go out this weekend. Regardless of his parents' visit, she wasn't the type to go out with Jesus in the tomb.

Leo stayed out of the kitchen. He didn't want to hear his mother with Isla. If he jumped in, Maggie would read too much into his motives. Dinner smelled good, and Leo stopped when he looked at the table. A platter of sliced roast beef was in the center. Near it was a bowl of mashed potatoes and another of green beans.

He looked at his mother. It was one of his favorite meals growing up. "Mom?"

"Not me. Isla planned it and cooked it. Your Dad sliced it for her."

He felt foolish for staying away. Instead, he had read with Cody.

Riley smiled. "I helped mash."

Maggie nodded. "I heard she's been having Riley and Cody help in the kitchen."

Everyone sat at the table except Isla. Leo looked around, but there wasn't a plate for her. They had served dinner early because church was at seven.

Leo said, "Isla, you need to sit and eat."

She stepped back. "But it's your family."

Riley said, "You're a part of our family. Right, Dad?"

"Riley's right." He moved to make room. When she sat down with a plate in front of her, she brushed his left arm. He felt her presence as he ate his meal. "This is amazing. It was my favorite dinner growing up."

Bill laughed. "Until he went through his vegetarian stage."

Maggie said, "That was more Autumn than Leo. It didn't last long."

Riley said, "Mommy was a vegetarian?"

Leo glared at his mother but answered his daughter. "Because she loves animals. She stopped when you were in her belly."

Autumn had been a veterinarian technician. She talked about going back to school to become a vet when Cody was in school. She might have been in school. If. Always if.

Cody asked, "Does she still love animals?"

Leo shut his eyes. Maggie said, "Yes, of course she does. She loves you too."

Leo stood. "Excuse me." He needed a moment and slipped into the bathroom. In the mirror, the light reflect in his glossy eyes. It might not be healthy for his kids, but he liked to keep his memories buried.

When he returned to the kitchen, Isla watched him. He cleared his throat. "I'll clean up after you're gone."

Isla said, "Gone?"

He nodded. "I'm staying home with Cody."

"Why can't I stay home?" Riley whined.

"Because you're old enough to stay up extra late." He knew Riley would fall for his trick.

Isla said, "It's a beautiful night. One of my favorites."

Everyone left the kitchen to get ready except Isla. She smiled slightly. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"If I still lived at... Well, you know." He nodded. "I would not have been able to go to Mass tonight."

He smiled. "Thanks for my favorite meal. It was delicious."

"Were you sad about your divorce?"

He didn't know how to answer. Thankfully, his parents arrived causing Isla to jump. "I need to change. I'll be quick."

Maggie said, "Hurry." She turned to Leo. "Will it be crowded?"

"I don't know." Leo wanted them to leave, so he could have some quiet time with Cody. The poor boy didn't remember his mother.

Isla appeared with a skirt and the shirt she wore to her date. His mother was right. She was beautiful.

When they left, he turned to Cody. "What do you want to do, Code?"

"Can we look at the pictures?"

"Okay." The last thing he wanted to do was look at a happy, vibrant Autumn. "Uncle Percy is going to call, but we can look."

The pictures relived years of his life, dating, wedding, babies, their family. They ended with one last picture of Autumn sleeping. The tubes hid her face, with her eyes shut. Sometimes they opened. The memory of her vacant eyes caused him to shiver.

Cody looked. "Riley says she's sleeping."

"It's a different kind of sleep. She fell down a huge mountain. God should have taken her to heaven, but he is waiting. One day he will."

If Leo was in church, he would pray for the same thing he had been asking the past three years. He wanted God to take her. Cody switched to a game on the iPad, and Leo stared at the colorful graphics. When his phone vibrated, he jumped.

"Perce."

"You okay?" He used to be Leo's best friend.

"No. Cody wanted to look at pictures."

"Ah. Shit. Her smile."

"My mother's here for three hours, and she stirred up the emotions. Talk to me about the duo, Roman and Astara." The lead characters of Matthew's adventures.

"We're definitely interested."

Leo sat up. "To produce it or stop someone else?"

"No games. We want to make this happen."

"You gonna negotiate with me? I've got nothing to lose. I've already lost."

"You sound like shit. You have my sister's kids."

He looked at Cody. "I know. I just wish things were different."

"The crazy woman isn't changing her mind." Percy didn't agree with his mother. "Maybe I should take a few days and come East."

"Seal this deal and I'll come out to you." The last thing he needed was Percy scaring Isla away, because he would.

"We can party LA style. When was the last time you got laid?"

"Not that long ago. It was a disaster. I'll stick with celibacy."

Percy sighed. "You know you're divorced?"

"Yeah. If only I weren't."

"Now I'm depressed too. I have to go. Take it easy, okay?"

"Yeah, right. Bye."

When they came home, Cody was asleep, and Leo had silenced his memories with a manuscript.

Please vote if you like it 🌟