Be My Valencrime by Amy M. Reade

Author:Amy M. Reade [Reade, Amy M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amy Reade

Chapter 27

Lilly let out a breath as though she had been holding it for the last hour. She slumped back into the sofa as Bill did the same thing. Nikki closed her eyes and her lips moved ever so slightly.

“That was a close one,” Bill said.

“We can’t let this happen again,” Lilly said.

Nikki piped up. “Well, the person from the alarm company should be here sometime soon. Once the alarm is fixed, I’ll go back to arming it every night.”

Lilly glanced at Bill. “Do you think the alarm should be on all the time? Even when they’re home and it’s daylight?”

Bill took a moment before answering. “Probably. What if Nikki just has to run to the bathroom or something? We can’t risk Mom taking that opportunity to run off.”

“She wouldn’t be able to get very far,” Nikki pointed out.

“That’s true. But we also don’t want her to feel like she’s a prisoner in her own house,” Lilly said.

“Why don’t you ask your mom and see what she has to say about it?” Nikki suggested.

Lilly looked at Bill, her eyebrows raised.

“Okay, we can ask her,” he said. Lilly nodded her agreement.

The small group chatted for several minutes until they heard a heavy step outside the front door. Bill sprang to his feet. “There she is.” He opened the door.

Next to the towering police officer, Bev looked tiny. She bustled into the house and turned to invite her rescuer inside.

“Thank you, ma’am, but I should be on my way,” he said. Bill stepped onto the front porch while Bev hung up her coat and peeled off her gloves.

“I’m chilly,” she said, rubbing her hands together. She looked from Lilly to Nikki and back again. “What’s wrong?” She went through the living room and into the kitchen, where she plugged in the coffee maker. Lilly and Nikki followed her.

“Mom, what happened to you?”

“What do you mean?” Bev asked. Her eyes were wide and innocent.

Lilly tried to keep the exasperation out of her voice. “I mean, why did you leave? Where did you go? How come you didn’t tell Nikki where you were going?”

“What are you talking about?” Bev asked. “I told your father I was going to the park. You should have just asked him.” She shook her head as if Lilly were simple.

Lilly lifted up her hands and let them drop down at her sides again as she shrugged and gave Nikki a frustrated glance. What do I say to that kind of logic? she wondered.

Nikki went to the refrigerator and opened the door, scanning the contents. She took a container of yogurt and set it on the table. “Bev, why don’t you come over here and have a yogurt? I’ll pour the coffee when it’s ready.”

“All right, dear.” Bev sat down obediently and took the spoon Nikki offered her. Lilly sat down across from her mother.

“Mom, you need to tell Nikki when you want to go somewhere.”

“Why? Your father is perfectly capable of giving her a message.”

Lilly had to think quickly to come up with a response.

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