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THIS TIME when Ivette walked in the door of Lake House it was like coming home. No ugly feelings about being watched arose.
The children dashed in the door and stopped dead in the middle of the huge foyer. Nanny Germaine and a second woman were waiting for them with big smiles. Both women wore smocks with large pockets over her street clothes. This must be Samula Winters, Ivette decided. The empath had a soft body and quiet brown eyes.
“Children, this is Nanny Samula,” Annie said. “Samula is the woman with empath training I spoke to you about,” she told Ivette.
“Welcome to Lake House Ms. Winter,” Ivette said. Winter's profession explained the soft looking body—empaths were used by Arcadia’s military, but they were always kept in the rear areas as far away from active combat as possible. “I hope you will be comfortable with us.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Samula said. “Annie tells me you are a good person to work for.”
“And your reading of us verified it?” Ivette asked with a smile.
Samula looked relieved. “Yes, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. We are glad to have you join us. Two of our children, Daphne and Leo, are empaths. Leo is the stronger one. He badly needs guidance in shielding himself from negative emotions. I’m hoping the peace and tranquility here will help.”
“I saw a swing set!” Gabe exclaimed. “Can we go out and play there?”
“Of course, it belongs to all of you, but first you need to change out of your dress clothes. If you go up now and change into play clothes, Nanny can take you out to the playground.”
Annie laughed. “Yes, follow us children.”
Watching the kids race upstairs in the wake of the two nannies’, Mathias threw an arm around Ivette’s shoulders.
“How about a walk along the lake?”
“I’d love one—but not in this dress and these shoes,” she replied.
“Let’s go get changed too,” he said.
It was a soft, fine afternoon. A breeze off the lake cooled the air. The children had made a beeline for the play area as soon as they rushed outside.
Holding hands, Ivette and Mathias strolled toward the lake. When they reached the beach, they kicked off their shoes, allowing their toes to dig into the fine sand.
"How safe is the water?" Mathias asked.
She shrugged. "We played in it as kids. They will need swimming lessons before they can do the same."
"No nasty critters this close to shore?"
"No, not unless a few have come in recently. Cascam is fairly shallow except in a few places. There is a deep ridge on the other side of the boathouse. It's where Grandma and Grandpa put the safe house."
"It's underwater?" he asked.
"Yes, I'll show it to you after the children go to bed tonight," she said. "There is a secret entry inside the house, and another access from the lake."
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