Beach Lane - By Melissa de la Cruz Page 0,14

calm down this summer. He’s got to learn how to sit still or they’re not taking him back at St. Bernard’s in the fall.” She passed a list of daily prescriptions.

Mara stared at the list, mystified. A nine-year-old on drugs?

Eliza was unfazed. William’s regime was longer and more complicated than the heart medicine her father took every day, sure, but that was modern parenting for you. And with that thought, her eyes glazed over. What should she wear to the party later?

Jacqui was getting impatient. When could she begin the search for Luca? This blond insect should stop yapping already.

“Next, Madison must lose weight. As I see it, she’s carrying about fifteen more pounds than she should. Kids can be so cruel, and I don’t want any daughter of mine to be ‘the fat one.’ ” She didn’t make the quotation mark sign with her hands, but they could hear it clearly in her tone. “I’ve put her on an eight-hundred-calorie diet.” She handed out a detailed folder with nutritional charts and calorie serving information. “I’d really prefer if she only ate raw foods. It truly helped my digestion, and it’s a very healthy way to live.” She suddenly craned her neck, like a dog on the trail of a bad scent, and hollered toward the pool. “MADISON! Put that cookie down! Put it down! Do you want to be a piggy your whole life?”

Raw food? Mara wondered. What the hell?

The Christian Dior halter? Eliza mused. Or the Gucci tank top?

Water, I need water, Jacqui wheezed. All that whiskey in the car was giving her a premature hangover.

“Zoë is six and is starting first grade in the fall. I want her to learn to read this summer. We sent her to the best kindergarten and pre-K and she still can’t do her ABCs. It’s so embarrassing.” Anna shook her head.

Six years old. Reading. Got it, Mara thought.

Or maybe the Dolce mini? Eliza wondered.

Jacqui was starting to feel faint from dehydration. She gripped the edge of her seat to keep herself upright.

“And as for Cody . . .” Anna’s visage softened slightly. “The baby has got to conquer his fear of water. I mean, we’re in the Hamptons . . . and he won’t even go in the pool!

“What else? Oh. House rules. Curfew is midnight. It’s the same for the twins. Ryan you’ve met. You can drive any car that’s not being used, and you’ll need to, to get into town and take Zoë and Madison to ballet and yoga and William to his three therapists. Every Sunday we’ll all sit down for a weekly progress meeting. You’ll be paid in three installments, the first is in a few weeks. Other than that, we don’t really have a lot of rules here.”

Well, that was good to know, thought Mara.

Thank God, thought Eliza.

Water, thought Jacqui.

“Lastly, I absolutely insist that you girls have a great summer with us. Like we said in the ad—this is going to be the summer of your life! Please make yourselves at home, and we’ll see you later at the barbecue?”

“Sounds like fun,” Mara said.

“We’ll be there,” Eliza assured Anna. Seared tuna, avocado salad? She was famished!

Jacqui nodded.

“Ciao,” Anna said with a wave of her hand. They were dismissed.

“Uh—honey . . .,” Kevin Perry said.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you think they should meet the kids?”

where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire

“SO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF MOMZILLA?” ELIZA asked when they were back in their rooms.

“Problema. Women like that at my store. Dios mio. Never satisfied,” Jacqui prophesied.

“How do you know them?” Mara asked.

“Long story.” Eliza shrugged. What business was it of theirs? “My dad went to college with Kevin. He called asking if I was available for the summer. I’m only doing this as a favor. I know these kids. Absolute terrors. My advice? Stay as far away from them as possible.”

Well, that wasn’t really practical, Mara thought, since they were hired to take care of them.

“Anna’s a total witch, too. She’s his second wife. Cody—the three-year-old—is the only one that’s hers. The others are Brigitte’s. She was crazy. Anna was Kevin’s personal assistant. She was having an affair with him for years,” Eliza said as she checked herself out in the mirror. White halter top, sequin-embellished miniskirt, white sandals with satin ties that laced up the calf—yes, that would work for tonight. Jacqui pulled on a pair of low-waisted jeans and a tube top. Mara changed out of her stinky poly-blend blouse for a T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers.

Second wife.