It was Connie's turn to stare, and she did so in disbelief. "Hello? Is anybody home? What's got into you, Lisa? You always liked living on the edge, but you've never been so impulsive."
Lisa's face felt hot. It wasn't as though she could explain her sudden Jekyll and Hide personality, either. She shrugged. "His mother lives there with him, so it's not like we'd be all alone out there." When Connie continued to watch her dubiously, Lisa dropped to the bed and sighed heavily. "It sounded like a good chance to get away from this house and the memories for a while. I can't sleep well here." The only defense in that statement was honesty. "Besides, he offered me $250 a week."
Connie's determination softened and she dug in her purse, coming up with a pencil and an old grocery receipt. She planted both on the nightstand in front of Lisa. "If you absolutely insist on doing this, at least leave me instructions on how to get there . . . and a phone number where you can be reached."
"I have my cell phone . . ."
"Yeah, but will it work up there?"
"I don't know. By the time I got it from the car, it was down to one bar."
"You left it in the car all night?"
"No . . ." Lisa hesitated, not wanting to alarm her friend with the details. "It doesn't matter. They have a phone. I'll get the number."
Lisa did the best she could to draw a map on the small piece of paper. She handed it to Connie, describing the entrance and house.
Connie pursed her lips and whistled softly. "He doesn't need two nannies does he?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?"
Connie grinned. "You finally learned how to smile again."
Lisa sobered and nodded. "And cry."
"Great!" Connie looked startled. "Well, it's good that you're getting to be yourself again."
Lisa sighed. "I know." She picked up two suitcases and nodded to her make-up case. "Could you carry that? I'll ask him for the phone number."
But when she asked Giddon to give Connie his phone number, he looked suspiciously from one of them to the other. He tucked his hands into his pockets and fixed Connie with a hostile stare. "My number is unlisted."
Connie shot Lisa a warning look. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Giddon rolled his eyes and waved a hand. He rattled off his number and then gave Connie a stern look. "I don't want you to give that number to anyone unless it's an emergency, you understand? I don't want people harassing me."