Red Phoenix

hand. She stopped when she saw the play equipment.
    ‘This is yours ?’ she said with wonder. ‘You don’t share it with anybody ?’
    ‘Go and play, dear,’ Jennifer said generously.
    Simone glanced enquiringly up at me and I nodded. She ran to play on the swings. Michael followed her and posted himself nearby, guarding.
    Jennifer sat at the table and beamed at me. ‘So, tell me all about it. You’re a nanny for this Chinese man, are you?’
    I nodded. ‘I care for Simone.’ Simone’s face was full of delight as she played. Probably one of the first times in her life she didn’t have to share. ‘Her mother’s dead, had an accident when Simone was very small. It’s a lovely family. Mr Chen is a wonderful man, and Leo is great.’
    She waited for it. Go on, Emma, give her what she wants.
    ‘I can’t get over your house, Jen,’ I said with wonder. ‘And you have this great car and everything. Your house is fabulous. I am so jealous.’
    Jennifer’s smile broadened. ‘Oh, it’s nothing really. I must have Mum and Dad over to visit. Leonard will pay for their tickets for me.’
    ‘He’s a solicitor?’
    ‘Senior partner,’ she announced with pride. She leaned forward over the table and tapped her long red nails on the surface. ‘He does work for royalty ,’ she said conspiratorially, her eyes sparkling. ‘I’ve met some princes and kings and everything.’
    ‘That is so impressive,’ I gushed, thinking of some of the princes and kings that I’d met.
    ‘Come inside. The housekeeper made tea, we can have it in the dining room.’ She rose and gestured for me to follow her. I shot a glance at Michael. He went into military at-ease position to indicate that he was guarding. I nodded. Jennifer missed the exchange completely.
    We sat at the dining table and the housekeeper brought out a tea tray of expensive china. ‘Have a look at the table, Emma, it’s an antique,’ Jennifer said. ‘Cost a fortune, but Leonard said that we have to have the very best. We bought the table, and a few other bits of furniture, at an auction in London. It was great fun.’
    ‘Wow, I am so impressed,’ I said, wide-eyed. ‘You’ve done so much incredible stuff. How old is the table?’
    ‘About two hundred years old. Doesn’t look like it, does it.’
    ‘Gee, it doesn’t.’
    The boys raced down the hallway towards the back door, their shoes clumping on the floorboards. The back door was thrown open and then slammed shut.
    ‘I hope Simone will be okay with them,’ I said. ‘She’s not really accustomed to playing with boys.’
    ‘Oh, she’ll be fine, the boys are good.’ Jennifer looked around. ‘Why haven’t your boss and the driver come back in? They should come in and have some tea. We can’t have them standing out in the front yard like that, it just won’t do.’
    She rose, smiled at me, and went out. She spoke to John and Leo as she brought them back in. She guided them into the dining room and sat them down, then poured tea for John. She slopped some tea into Leo’s cup as an afterthought.
    I really did not believe her. She had changed so much.
    The back door opened and Simone and Michael came in. They stopped when they saw all of us sitting at the table. I put my arms out to Simone and she crawled into my lap.
    They threw me off the swings, Emma, she said silently.
    ‘Not all children are like that, sweetheart,’ I whispered into her ear. ‘You’ll make lots of friends with some lovely children when you start school.’
    She nodded into my chest. Then she turned, hopped off me, skittered to Leo, and climbed into his lap. He wrapped his huge arms around her and she put her head on his chest. Probably felt safer in his arms; I would have to remember that for later. She might feel safer with Leo nearby when she first started school.
    ‘Come and sit, dear,’ Jennifer said warmly to Michael. ‘Would you like a soft drink?’
    ‘A cola?’ I added, explaining.
    Michael waited, but nobody helped him. He smiled. ‘That would be great, thanks.’
    Jennifer rose and leaned through the door to the kitchen, ordering the housekeeper.
    A car engine rumbled in the garage. ‘There’s Leonard,’ Jennifer said. ‘He said he’d love to see you, Emma.’
    The door banged in the hallway and Leonard came in.
    He was tall, dark-haired and in his mid-forties, about ten years older than Jennifer, with an intelligent, friendly face. He wore a smart pin-striped suit. He smiled kindly at all of