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

tell him in person on our date tomorrow, she decided. He'll be so excited!

    Liz yanked open the door of her Upper West Side apartment building and dashed inside as if she were cross- ing the finish line at the Olympics.

    I can't believe I'm going to Aspen at the end of the week!

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    The elevator opened onto the florescent-lit hallway with its endless row of beige-painted doors. It was quite a con- trast to 841 Fifth Avenue, where she spent so much of her time. She let herself into Apartment 12B.

    The apartment wasn't as fancy or sparkling clean as Dr. M-C's, but it was a lot more homey and comfortable. Bookcases lined the living room walls, and the worn sofa was a cozy spot for naps. Even the lighting felt softer and friendlier.

    "Mom? Are you here?" Liz called.

    "Liz? That you?" Liz's mother stepped out of her bed- room."Hi, honey!" She crossed over and gave her daughter a hug and a kiss. "I can't believe we're both home--we never seem to overlap anymore."

    Linda Braun worked as a real estate broker for a big firm and, as a result, she worked really erratic hours. Sometimes she was free for days, and other times when she was working with clients, she seemed to barely get home at all. Ever since the divorce a few years ago, Liz's mom tried to make sure that they had dinner together every day. Once Liz started working for Dr. Markham-Collins, that wasn't really possible anymore.

    "I ordered Chinese," her mom said, pointing to the white takeout containers on the kitchen table."You're just in time."

    Liz smiled. "Sounds great," she said, folding herself

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    into her usual chair. She waited until they had both fin- ished an egg roll, then she took a deep breath. "Mom, I need to ask you for a favor."

    "Shoot," Ms. Braun said.

    "I need permission to do something really cool," Liz began.

    "When you say that, I hear, `I need permission to do something really expensive,'" Ms. Braun said, smiling.

    "No, it won't cost you anything!" Liz said. "Dr. Markham-Collins has asked me to go with her, David, and Heather to Aspen over Christmas break."

    "Oh, Liz, honey, I don't know," Ms. Braun replied. "I know how important your job is to you, and even I have to admit that Aspen sounds great, but for Christmas?"

    Liz, knowing that being away for the holiday would bother her mom, had already come up with a plan."What if I go for only the first week? That way, I'll help Dr. Markham-Collins and still get back in time to spend Christmas and New Year's with you."

    Her mother's frown softened, just a little. "I don't know. Shouldn't Dr. Markham-Collins really take someone more . . . grown up?"

    "I can handle it!" Liz exclaimed.

    She watched as her mother silently spooned chicken and broccoli onto her plate. She knew her mom was thinking, and she knew from experience that pressuring

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    her was definitely not the way to go. Liz could always wheedle things out of her dad, but he moved with his new wife to New Jersey last year. Now it was just Liz and her mom.

    She ate her food slowly--and waited.

    "Liz," her mother said finally,"I understand that you're growing up, and you want to take advantage of the oppor- tunities offered you . . ."

    Liz could feel her mother wavering. If I can just keep quiet, she'll let me go, Liz thought.

    "But I just have one question," her mom said.

    "Sure," Liz said. "What?"

    "Do the Devlins have a place in Aspen?" She took a sip of her tea and looked at Liz over the lip of her cup.

    Busted, Liz thought. There's no way she'll let me go.

    "Yes," Liz replied."They do." She sighed in frustration and leaned back in her chair, defeated.

    Ms. Braun smiled. "Liz, I didn't say you couldn't go. I just want you to know that I'm not stupid. I was a teenager once, too." She put down her teacup.

    "But, Liz, I want you to remember that you have been asked to Aspen to work.Taking care of children in an envi- ronment where there is a