Cutting Scenes - The Fine Line

Annie reached down and picked up one of Steffy’s stuffed
bears. She held it in front of her and turned it this way and
that.
“Mr. Bear wants to play with you,” she said.
The baby reached for the bear and she handed it to her,
then eased her onto the floor. Annie stood up, slipped on her
coat, and picked up her pocketbook.
“Thank you,” she said.
I stood to walk her to the door, but she waved me off.
“I can find my way out,” she said.
“I’m impressed,” I replied.
_______
The house was big, a 4,500 square foot custom-built
contemporary. It had granite counters, stainless steel
appliances, a SubZero refrigerator, a wine cellar, a marble bath
with a soaking tub and Swedish shower, a master bedroom suite to
die for, heated indoor and outdoor salt water pools, a gym, a
billiards room, and a library. I bought it after I made a
killing in the stock market.
We also had a small guesthouse out back for the nanny.
Actually, it was an in-law apartment with a fireplace and a
loft, custom made closets, a flat screen TV, and a skylight. It
had a whirlpool tub and steam shower. The windows overlooked the
baby’s playground and one of our gardens. Jane’s parents were
supposed to stay there when they visited, but they never did.
_______
Annie moved in two weeks to the day we hired her. She drove
up to the guesthouse in a Honda Accord and started to unload her
stuff. She brought very little with her. Just a couple of
suitcases, a laptop computer, a cello, a box of music and a
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