The Caregiver by N.L. Hinkens

Author:N.L. Hinkens [Hinkens, N.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

“She’s the one who’s lying! I didn’t touch her!” Dana protests. “I swear it was Morgan in the studio.”

Kumar raises a hand to placate her. “Okay, let’s all calm down and take a deep breath. As I understand it, nothing was taken, nothing was broken, and no one was harmed. For my part, I’d like to be able to write this whole incident off as a misunderstanding. My recommendation is that both sides agree not to press charges and walk away. Of course, it’s entirely up to you if you want to hire lawyers and drag this out in court.”

Dana crosses her arms and heaves out a disgusted breath. “Fine! I’ll drop the breaking and entering charges if VV drops the bogus assault charge. But the charges I already filed against Morgan stand.” She narrows her eyes, her gaze darting from me to VV. “And I don’t want to see either of you in the studio again. I’ll clean it myself.”

Kumar turns to VV. “Are you in agreement?”

She gives a demure shrug. “Yes, is okay for me.”

“Then my work here is done.” Kumar nods in my direction. “I’ll take you and VV home.”

* * *

When I pick the kids up from preschool later that day, they’re bouncing off the walls, high on sugar from cupcakes one of the moms brought in to celebrate a birthday. I need them to burn off some of that energy before we retire to the tiny Airbnb with its thin walls and noisy floors. “Who wants to go to the park?” I say, as I escort them out to the car, dragging their backpacks.

“Me!” they shout in unison, hands shooting up in the air.

I grin back at them. “The park it is.”

The minute they run off to play, I sink down on a bench, my mind replaying everything that happened this morning. How can I ever repay VV for what she did? I owe her big time. I need to think of some tangible way to thank her for sticking her neck out like that for me. If it hadn’t been for her, I’d be sitting in a jail cell right now. She played her part perfectly — without overdramatizing a thing. Kumar swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker. At least, I think she did. She might still have some lingering suspicions about my integrity after the alleged poisoning incident.

I’m lost in thought when the twins come running over hand-in-hand with two familiar faces.

“Mommy, can Patrick and Esther come see our new house?” Ella asks, bouncing up and down with excitement.

My mouth drops open. “I . . . thought you guys moved to Florida?”

Patrick gives a confused shake of his head. “We live here.”

“Please, Mommy!” Ella repeats.

“Um, some other day, sweetie.” I rub my arms, thrown for a loop by Patrick’s response. Did Dana lie about her sister moving to Florida? Maybe I misunderstood her, and they were only going there on vacation.

Ella juts out her lip. “Not fair!”

“Your Auntie Dana’s not allowed in our house anymore,” Sam announces.

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