The Babysitter by Diana Diamond
Author:Diana Diamond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 2011-03-10T00:00:00+00:00
August
THIRTY
They woke up slowly with dry mouths and the taste of last nightâs liquor still in their throats. Ellie raised her head to the clock and saw that it was nearly ten. She nudged Gordon, hoping that he might start the breakfast, and then eased back into the pillow.
Suddenly, she was wide awake. The children should be up by now, and yet the house was deathly quiet. She bounded up, stepped into jeans and was pulling a tank top over her head as she walked out of her bedroom. Both doors at the far end of the hall were open, and there was no one in either of the bedrooms.
âGordon!â There was an urgency in her voice that sobered him instantly.
âWhat is it?â He was already up and searching for his underwear.
âTheyâre gone. She has the children.â
âGone where?â He was hopping into his loafers.
âI donât know. Thereâs no one in the house,â she called back from the head of the stairs, then she quickly ran down.
Gordon was right behind her, wearing only his trousers and shoes. âShe probably took them down to the beach so that we could get some sleep.â
Ellie looked into the kitchen and then stepped out onto the empty screen porch. âTheyâre not on the beach,â she called back.
Gordon was past her. âIâll check the garage.â They met again in the driveway. âShe took the Range Rover. Didnât she leave a note?â He raced up the steps to the house.
She tried to keep up. âI didnât see any note.â
They had just reached the porch when they heard a car turn into their driveway. Both of them froze. The car bumped over the loose gravel and skidded to a stop somewhere behind the house. Doors opened and instantly the air was filled with voices. They heard Molly announcing exactly who would get which doughnut, while Timmy kept repeating that he wanted the chocolate one. Next there were footsteps on the outside stairs.
âWhere have you been?â Ellie demanded.
Molly pushed open the screen door and headed straight for the kitchen. âWe went down to the village. We bought doughnuts.â
âI want the chocolate one,â said Tim, who was right at his sisterâs heels.
Theresa came behind them, taking the steps with much less energy. âThey were up early. I thought Iâd get them out of the house so you could get some sleep.â
âYou should have told us,â Ellie answered. âWe were worried.â
âI left a note under the coffeepot. I thought that was the one place where you couldnât miss it. And you had to figure that they were with me.â
âStillââ Ellie began, but Gordon cut her off with a tug on her elbow.
âLetâs get that coffee going,â he said.
They kept watching Theresa for signs of distress and anger. Did she know that her date had been under the boardwalk with another girl? Had she known that she was being two-timed all along? Was she planning some diabolic revenge? But there was nothing. She set the plates, poured the milk, and wiped the chocolate from Timmyâs face every time he took a bite.
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