Free Confessions of a Teen Nanny 02 - Rich Girls by Victoria. Ashton

of him.

    "Grumpus is going to get sent to his room if he keeps torturing me with these requests," Liz said.

    "He's faking," Heather grumbled.

    David glared at Liz. Liz glared back. "I am not in the mood," she warned him.

    Liz had been out of sorts ever since Parker had told her about his trip to Aspen. Not only did it mean they couldn't spend any time together over Christmas break, but worse: He'd be hanging out with the same society group he had been with in Palm Beach. She did not have a good feeling about it.

    David picked up the soy burger and squashed it in his hands.

    "Okay, David," Liz said. "That's it. I've had it. You're going to your room."

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    "But I didn't do anything!" David said. "It was Grumpus who did it!"

    "Just stop it! Okay, David?" Liz began.

    "Elizabeth!"

    Liz winced. Dr. M-C towered in the doorway of the dining room. "Yes, Dr. Markham-Collins?"

    "What is going on?" she demanded.

    "Grumpus wanted pizza, and he smushed the soy burger," David said.

    "Then Grumpus was very bad," Dr. Markham-Collins said. "Soy burgers are very good, aren't they, David?"

    "Yes?" the five-year-old said uncertainly.

    "Then why don't you eat it, and Elizabeth will take Grumpus to your room."

    "I will?" Liz asked.

    "You will," Dr. Markham-Collins said in an ominous tone. "And then you will come and see me in my office."

    Liz sighed and started for the hall.

    "You forgot Grumpus!" David said, laughing.

    Liz forced herself not to roll her eyes. "Come on, Grumpus," she said, grabbing an invisible hand and drag- ging it out of the dining room.

    Liz walked down the hall toward Dr. M-C's office. This will be choice, she thought. I'm about to get chewed out for invisible-child abuse.

    Liz caught sight of herself in a mirror and realized she

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    was still holding Grumpus's invisible hand. I'm losing it, she thought, settling into one of the chairs in Dr. M-C's office.

    "Elizabeth," Dr. M-C said, entering the room, "this is very serious."

    "I'm sorry that I--" Liz began.

    "I have good news," Dr. M-C interrupted her. "My publisher has signed on my new book!"

    "That's great," Liz said.

    "They need me to get them the book by New Year's. They want to rush it into the next season," Dr. M-C said breathlessly.

    "Wow," Liz said, wondering what any of this had to do with her. "That means you'll have to work nonstop."

    "It means, Elizabeth, that we'll have to work nonstop!" Dr. M-C said. "Together, we can get this book done. I'll need all your notes."

    "My notes?" Liz repeated.

    "I need you to take careful notes on everything that Grumpus does. Every little thing will be important. What he eats and doesn't eat. His likes and dislikes. I will need to know everything that happens." She handed Liz a little leather-bound notebook.

    "But Christmas vacation starts next week," Liz reminded her. "I won't be able to do any of this note- taking then."

    "That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Dr. M-C

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    said."I want you to come with us on our family vacation."

    Liz's eyes bulged. I would rather stand covered in honey on a fire-ant hill.

    "We'll be spending the break at my house in Aspen."

    Aspen!

    "Yes!" Liz shouted and jumped up from her seat. She almost threw her arms around Dr. M-C. Luckily she stopped herself before she embarrassed them both. As it was, Dr. M-C still looked startled by Liz's outburst.

    Liz forced herself to calm down. "Aspen. Notes, sure. I can do that."

    "Have your mother call me," Dr. M-C continued. "I hope it will be fine."

    Mom. Right. I have to get Mom to agree to this, Liz wor- ried. She'll hate my being away for Christmas. She pushed the idea from her mind. "I'm sure it will be, Dr. Markham- Collins. Don't worry."

    Liz left the office and floated through the apartment on cloud nine. I have to call Parker! She reached for her cell and then changed her mind. I'll save it to