“I’m glad you like it,” Patrick said and took a bite of his own.
The next few minutes were quiet except for the sound of their forks tapping the plates or their chewing. Patrick stood when they were done and grabbed her hand.
“I want to take you outside and show you around.”
She almost bounced in excitement as he walked them around the vast back yard.
“There is an eight-foot-high stone wall around the property so you’ll be safe, and there are a few locked gates to get to the other side, but I’d still prefer you tell me when you want to explore the other side. Would that be okay?”
She nodded. “Oh, yes.”
He showed her where the floaties and pool toys were. He caught the look of fear in her face as she stared at the water.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
She glanced up at him and blushed. “I don’t know how to swim.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I’ll teach you. There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Eve relaxed.
“Until then, I don’t want you by the pool unless I’m with you.”
“Okay.”
“Le
t me show you around inside the house.”
They walked in and out of rooms.
“This place is huge. Are you the only one who lives here?”
“Agnes and Bentley, the caretaker, live on the premises, but that’s it. Agnes is in charge of the inside of the house. She cooks the meals and supervises a crew that comes in once a week to clean. She also has a few women who help her in the kitchen when we have guests, and Bentley takes care of everything outside.”
“What can I do to help?”
“You can do whatever you want except clean or cook unless you have a passion for it. You may bake with Agnes a little, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to do it all the time.”
“I can be useful. I’m not good at sitting around doing nothing.”
He smoothed the hair from her face—the haircut her father had subjected her to. “Let’s get you settled in first. All right, baby?”
She nodded and took the hand he held out.
“I was going to have the girls come over to swim, but I don’t want you by the pool until I can teach you, so we’ll find something else for you all to do.”
She nodded and let him lead her into his office. She seemed surprised when he sat in the big chair behind the desk and tugged her into his lap.
Patrick pulled up the Macy’s website. “We’re going to look for clothes for you.”
She stiffened. “But I don’t nee—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “I know you think you don’t need anything, but I do. I need to take care of you. It makes me happy. Will you let me do that, baby?”
She blinked back her tears and then nodded.
“Good. Let’s start with bottoms. Jeans, skirts, and shorts.”