Going For Broke by Nina Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

Victoria felt like she was waiting for an ESL class to start.  A group of nannies chatted in some Eastern European language - Polish?  The Mexican nannies huddled together.  The two Southeast Asian girls chatted on their bejeweled cell phones.  They were much too attractive - Victoria would never had hired a nanny that looked like that.  Lumi was attractive -- lord knows she wouldn’t have anyone ugly or fat working for her -- yet plain.  And more than just a little peasant in her hips. 
                  Thank God for Lumi.  She had been really quite helpful and resourceful these past few weeks.  It was Lumi who kept the children on a steady routine, made sure they got to all their lessons and tutoring appointments, she even did the laundry after Victoria had to let the laundress go.   Now that Lumi was gone too, Victoria was in unchartered waters. 
                  That was the least of her problems.  How about an empty apartment, empty pocketbook and empty bank account?  She was brought out of her thoughts by the happy squeals of her daughter.
                  “Mommy!  You’re picking us up today?  You NEVER pick us up!”
                  “Can’t a mommy pick up her special girl?” Victoria asked as she leaned down to offer her cheek to Posey.  “Where’s your brother?”
                  “He’s always late.  Lumi says it’s because he spends too much time hanging out with Rutledge Kerr after school.  Lumi says Rutledge is the kind of boy that is going to get Parker into trouble.”
                  “Is that what Lumi says?” Victoria replied.  Lumi had a good handle on that one.  Rutledge Kerr’s mother was a known afternoon drinker with a penchant for “one on one” sessions with a certain young trainer from the gym.  It would make sense that, that little acorn didn’t fall too far from the tree.  “What else does Lumi say?”
                  “Lumi says that we should be extra good while Daddy’s away.  And that if we eat the seeds from an apple a tree can grow in our stomach.”
                  Parker came sauntering up, his sandy hair side-swept across his eyes, blue blazer askew and his rep tie loosened to halfway down his chest.  If he seemed surprised to see her, he didn’t show it.  It seemed that her ten year old was entering the world of pre-teen cool.  He was very good at it. 
                  “Hey mom,” he nodded at her.  No kiss was offered, or expected.  “Where’s Lumi?”
                  “I thought I could take you guys out for some ice cream,” she said with a little too much forced levity.
                  “Whatever,” Parker said with his best cool on.
     
                  As they walked into Emacks, the premium ice cream store that was the favorite of the preppie kids on the Upper East Side, Victoria began to regret her choice.  Parker and Posey knew every kid in the place.  Thankfully, Victoria could be sure that none of their mothers would be with them.  When she saw the $9 ice cream cones, she had a bit of a financial cramp, a decidedly new feeling for her.  She had a finite amount of money now, and dropping $30 on ice cream probably wasn’t the most prudent way to spend it. Oh well, she thought.  One last hurrah until they find out what’s waiting for them at home.
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                  As the elevator door opened into their near-empty apartment, Victoria got two completely different reactions from her children.  Parker ran out and into the living room, where he slid across the parquet floor like he was sliding into second base. 
                  “Cool!” he said as he slid the other way.  “Can we keep it