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take care
of.  I’ll be in my office until lunch, just let me know if you need anything. 
I’ve cleared space in the closet for your clothes.”
    “Thank you.”  She smiled briefly at him and he nodded before
walking away.
    She returned to his bedroom and carried her suitcase into
the master closet.  He had cleared an entire side of it and she grinned to
herself.  Her few clothes were going to look ridiculous in all that space. 
    She hung her clothes and carried her toiletries into the
bathroom.  She eyed the large tub with envy.  She had often daydreamed about
taking a bath in it and she wondered if she could sneak one in while Deacon was
at work.  And maybe have a soak in the hot tub while she was at it.  She did,
after all, live here now. 
    She set her toiletries bag on the counter and stared at
herself in the mirror.  She lived here now.  The reality of it sunk in and she
suddenly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  She had an entire month where
she wouldn’t once have to worry about having enough money to feed Hattie, or
pay her bills. 
    A month?  Girl, in a month you’ll never have to worry
about money again.  You can rent an apartment in a safe part of the city, buy a
car that isn’t about two seconds from dying, and finally give Hattie the life
she deserves.  Hell, the life you deserve. 
    She smiled happily to herself.  She would go back to school,
not to finish her arts degree – her dream of being an actress was long over –
but she could do something in business, marketing maybe, and find herself a
real job with actual benefits.  She’d never have to clean someone else’s toilet
again.  All she had to do was pretend for a month to be Mrs. Deacon Stone.
    “Easy-peasy,” she said.
    “What’s easy-peasy, mama?”  Hattie asked.
    The little girl was standing behind her with her favourite
truck under her arm. 
    “You!”  Claire grinned at her before picking her up and
placing loud kisses all over her face.  “You’re an easy-peasy girl!”
    Hattie giggled and kissed Claire on the mouth.  “Mama, are
you happy?”
    “Yes, baby, I am,” Claire said.  It was the first time in
years that she didn’t have to lie to the little girl.  “Are you?”
    “Sure.”  Hattie glanced at the open door.  “But I don’t like
the colour of my new room.  And the dolls and stuffed animals are creepy.”
    “I know, baby.  But I am very proud of you for thanking
Deacon so nicely.”
    “Why did he paint it pink and put so much girl stuff in it?” 
Hattie asked.  “I don’t like that stuff.”
    “Well, he didn’t know that and he was trying to do something
nice for you.”
    “Can I paint it green instead?  Like the Hulk?”
    “Well,” Claire hesitated.  There was no point in asking
Deacon if she could repaint Hattie’s room but she couldn’t very well tell
Hattie that.  “Why don’t you give it a while?  Maybe it’ll grow on you.  It
might hurt Deacon’s feelings if you ask to change the room right away.”
    “Okay,” Hattie sighed.  “I’m hungry, mama.”
    “Let’s go down to the kitchen.  It’s almost lunch and I’ll
introduce you to Mrs. Crane.”
    “Do you know her, mama?”
    “I do,” Claire said.  “I met her a few times when I was
cleaning.”
    * * *
     
    “Claire!” 
    A short, plump woman with graying hair and a white apron
covering her shirt and jeans, hurried forward.
    “Hello, Martha.  How are you?”
    “I’m good,” the woman hesitated before giving Claire a brief
hug.  “Congratulations!”
    “Thank you,” Claire said.
    “I’ll admit I was really surprised when Mr. Stone told me
Friday night that you were getting married.  I had no idea you were even in a
relationship.”
    “No one did,” Claire grinned at her.  “We kept it a secret
because I wasn’t sure what the cleaning service would say about me dating a
client.  I needed my job, you know?”
    “I do know,” Martha replied.  “I’m so happy for Mr.