The Visit

A Round Robin

Mary Ann
(maryanncleveland@prodigy.net)

Fran opened the letter and read in horror. Her rich, eccentric aunt was coming for a visit from Florida. Fran had always been her elderly Aunt Rose's favorite. Unfortunately, over the years, Fran had let her aunt believe that she was married. Rose's one goal was for her favorite niece to be married. She had promised Fran her entire fortune when she died, but only if Fran was in wedded bliss.

"Oh no! She never comes to New York! Why is she visiting now?" Fran cried desperately rereading the letter.

Over the last few years, Fran had, through letters to her favorite aunt, led her to believe that she was happily married and living in a beautiful mansion in Manhattan. She never wrote many details about her spouse. As far as Aunt Rose knew, she was either living with a millionaire or a servant. Aunt rose didn't even care and never inquired. She was just happy that Fran was married. The generation Aunt Rose came from only knew that women were put on earth to find a husband.

"Oh no! Now what do I do?" she whispered walking to the kitchen. Niles and Maxwell were sitting at the table. They were deeply involved in a game of gin. Niles was winning which perturbed Maxwell to no end. He was grateful for the interruption. "Um, can I talk to you guys?" she said sitting down and showing them the letter. Fran explained her dire situation.

Max's eyebrows shot up. Suddenly he wasn't so grateful for the interruption. Oh no, she's going to want me to pretend that we're married. I can't do that...not after The Thing a couple months ago. He thought starting to panic a little. Max had told Fran he loved her on a very turbulent plane ride back from Paris but took it back when they safely landed. Ever since then their relationship had been slightly strained. He felt guilty and uneasy, mainly because he was truly in love with her and didn't realize it...or wouldn't admit it.

Fran had fallen in love with Maxwell Sheffield on that trip. Actually she was already in love with him but him declaring his love made her realize it. She was lately doing everything in her power to try to fall out of love with him. Poor Fran is so in love with me; I can't perpetuate it by pretending to be her husband! He rubbed his hands together nervously, ready to refuse her request.

Fran looked at the two men and shook her head. "I can't believe I have to ask you this. It's kind of humiliating because it will contain you sleeping in my bed with me for a few nights." She took a deep breath.

Max and Niles braced themselves. Actually Niles was ecstatic. This is exactly what they need to get their relationship started. He thought happily. The next words out of Fran's mouth absolutely stunned them.

"Niles, would you please pretend to be my husband while my aunt is here?" She looked at him guilelessly. She couldn't have flabbergasted them more.

"WHAT?" Max cried incredulously. He dropped his cards on the table in astonishment.

Niles just stared at her. His heart started racing as his mind digested her request. He started to settle down and realized that this might be even better. The horrified look on Max's face didn't escape him. He decided to play this ridiculous situation for all it was worth. "Oh, Miss Fine! I would be honored!" he exclaimed dropping his own cards on the table.

Max looked at him uncomprehendingly. His eyes were wide as saucers and his mouth was wide open. He was actually slightly trembling in shock. He had been positive that Miss Fine was going to ask him to play house. Niles? She wants NILES to pretend to be her husband? I don't believe it! What about me? Why the hell would she choose Niles over me? He thought incredulously. He looked at his butler and saw the satisfied grin on his face. Max wanted to knock it right off. There is no way I'm letting him sleep in the same bed with her. He was panicking. I would have a bloody stroke thinking of them in bed together.

"Um, Miss Fine. What would your aunt think of you marrying a butler?" Max didn’t care that his insulting question caused Niles to give him a dour look. He ignored Nile’s look.

Fran was stunned by his obvious distress. "Mr. Sheffield, my aunt only cares that I am married. She is worth millions. It really doesn't matter to her who I'm married to, just as long as I'm married. Besides, if she thinks I'm married to a man of little means, it justifies her leaving her fortune to me." She said giving Niles a tender look. Niles smiled back; delighted at the horror he knew this was causing his boss.

The look they gave each other caused knots to form in Max's stomach. He was a little afraid that he might have an anxiety attack. Suddenly the picture of Niles and Miss Fine in bed crowded his mind.

Niles couldn't be more pleased. He looked at Max and raised his eyebrows up and down in that secret way men looked at each other to indicate that they were going to get lucky soon. Max heard himself gasp involuntarily as he recognized that Niles was thrilled with this ridiculous situation and was probably going to take full advantage of it.

Of course, Niles wasn't. He had no designs on Miss Fine; he just wanted Mr. Sheffield to think he did. He smirked at Max again in that guy way as if to say 'wow, how the hell did I get so lucky?' Max's mouth dropped open again. The thought of his butler and beautiful nanny sleeping in the same bed paralyzed him. In his wildest dreams, Max never placed the two of them together. Niles was a bit older than Fran. Max couldn't envision them as a couple. Yet...Niles was charming, witty and British. A lethal combination.

All of a sudden, his assistant C.C. Babcock came into Max's mind. He never really analyzed it, but he knew that Niles and C.C. would be a perfect fit. Well that's not too stupid. They hate each other, He thought. Unbeknownst to Max, he had hit the nail square on the head. Niles was madly in love C.C. For years Niles had wanted his boss and Fran to be together. He knew they were perfect for each other. Niles was more than willing to sleep in Miss Fine's bed for several nights knowing that it would drive Max crazy.

Niles stood up and took Fran's hand. "Miss Fine, um, I mean Fran, darling. I think I should move my belongings to your room now. We can get used to sharing a room so it will seem very natural when your aunt gets here." He gave Max a lustful look knowing that Max was probably currently cultivating an ulcer. Max's horrified _expression gave Niles great satisfaction. Serves him right after taking back saying "The Thing".

"Niles! What a wonderful idea. C'mon, I'll help you. This is going to be fun! Like a pajama party!" she said excitedly. Fran was completely unaware of the havoc and anxiety she had caused her boss. She took Nile’s hand and led him willingly up the back stairs of the kitchen. Max could only watch them in shell-shocked dismay. "What the hell just happened here?" he whispered. "Oh my god! They are going to be sleeping in the same bed tonight!" He sat down heavily in his chair and stared at the cards he had earlier dropped on the table. To add insult to injury he ruefully noted that he had gin. If Miss Fine hadn't interrupted the game, he would of finally beat Niles. It didn't escape his mind that Niles had just beat him at a far more important game.

Max shuddered as the odious picture of them together came to his mind again. He knew he had to stop them, but how? Maxwell was so afraid of commitment that he couldn’t even admit to himself that he was in love with his children's nanny. Max sighed and gathered the cards together absent-mindedly. He put them back in the box. He could hear Fran and Niles scurrying about upstairs transferring Niles belongings to Miss Fine's bedroom. Max was feeling a little nauseous; he racked his brain but was at a total loss on how he was going put a halt to this horrible situation. Max swallowed hard and took a deep breath. He walked slowly up the back stairs. When he reached the top he almost collided with Fran, who to his consternation, was carrying Niles bedclothes and shaving utensils to her room.

"Oh, sorry Mr. Sheffield! I didn't see you," she giggled clutching Niles clothes tightly. Max followed her into her bedroom and gasped at how it had suddenly been transferred into a room that looked like a married couple had inhabited for years. Fran was preoccupied putting Niles belongings away. She was barely aware that Mr. Sheffield was even there. Se turned to look at him when he loudly cleared his throat.

"Um, Miss Fine, do you think this is a good idea? I mean it is so improper." He rubbed his hands together again straining to find a reason to halt this. Suddenly it hit him. "Miss Fine, you do remember the rule about gentlemen callers in your bedroom, don't you?" He asked lamely. A few weeks after Fran had started to work for him, Max had set the rule that no men were allowed in her room. Of course, the rule was born from the worry of seeing handsome men call on her. Max had never worried about improper behavior with his other nannies. They had all been quite older and unattractive. Plus he had never been attracted to them as he was to her.

Fran looked at him shocked. She couldn't believe what he had just said. Suddenly it hit her. "Mr. Sheffield...you’re jealous!" She looked him straight in the eyes. "You're jealous I didn't ask you to pretend to be my husband!"

Max hrumphed indignantly. "I most certainly am not." His cheeks turned pink. "I just don't think it's a good example for the children." He looked at his feet knowing how ridiculous that sounded.

"Well then, don't worry. Don't you remember? The children are going to be gone for the week. They are going to that "Children’s Golf Camp". She said going back to putting Niles things away. Golf had become so popular since Tiger Woods and Annika Sörenstam burst on the scene that all three kids had begged to be sent to camp for the week.

Max knew now he had no moral leg to stand on. Damn it, now what do I do? I really don’t want them in the same bed together. He shook his head and walked slowly out of her room to regroup. He knew he had to create a new plan. His heart was fluttering madly and he was truly afraid that he was going to suffer a bloody heart attack.

Think! You imbecile! What would stop this madness that was about to occur right under his nose? You're a smart, successful Broadway producer. Surely, you have enough brains to come up with a way to stop this.

Suddenly, he ceased the continuous movement of his head and narrowed his eyes in thought. You are a successful Broadway producer. Of course! It was so bloody obvious that he wanted to smack himself. He smiled his own devious little smile now and headed down the hallway and down the back stairs toward his office. So she thought she was so smart did she? She thought she would brush him off in favor of Niles of all people!

He entered his empty office and walked to his Rolodex, eagerly flipping through it until he found a name he was looking for. He'd crash this little party. Smacking his lips in anticipation, he reached for his telephone. Never had he relished making a phone call so much.

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