Twice Upon a Time by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2009-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Reese almost made it across the parking lot, but ran into Nelson on the way to his car.

“Hey, Nelson. Emily said she okayed it with you to babysit tonight. Is there a problem?”

“I have no problem. She’s making good money off of you.”

Reese disliked Nelson’s smarmy smile.

“Emily deserves her wages. She works hard with the kids.” He waited, but Nelson didn’t say anything more. “So, I guess we’ll see you later, then. That is, if you’ll be there when I bring Emily home.” He tried not to make it sound like a question.

“No, I won’t. I have a lot of cleanup to do here. Olivia says she’s going out again and can’t stay late.” His eyes widened. He pretended surprise. “Oh, she’s going out with you.”

Reese glanced around the property.

“There shouldn’t be that much to do. The board members made sure things were shipshape before they left.”

“They did a great job,” Nelson said. “Really great. But there are always a few things that only people who work here recognize as out of place. I’ll handle it. I’m used to doing it.”

Alone. That was the implication.

Reese tracked his gaze to the side stairs. Olivia descended with her laptop and purse. Her car sat nearby. He lifted a hand and waved. It seemed a long time before Olivia waved back. She deposited her belongings inside her shiny new vehicle, then hurried back inside the building.

“She’s an interesting woman,” Nelson said, his voice filled with innuendo.

“She’s certainly worked hard for Byways. You all have,” Reese added lest he offend the activities director. “All afternoon the kids have been telling me how you or she has been there when you were needed. Things seem to be working out well between you and Olivia.”

“I guess.” Nelson glanced at Emily, who was playing a game of tag nearby. Reese noted the way the man’s eyes hardened as he watched her. “Olivia has an aura of mystery around her, don’t you think?”

“Mystery?” Reese frowned. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“I’m sure you’re more observant than that. Take Olivia’s car, for instance. It’s an expensive model. I wonder how she affords it. I know I have to be frugal to make the payments on my secondhand one and I’ve been working for years. This is the first job Olivia’s had in a while, apparently.”

“Nelson, I don’t know anything about her financial—”

“She paid for that cake out of her own pocket, too. A massive cake like that must have cost a lot. And her clothes.” He sucked air between his teeth in a manner that suggested something amiss.

Reese didn’t like where this was heading, but he wasn’t sure how to head Nelson off. Maybe it was better to listen and learn.

“What’s wrong with her clothes?”

“Nothing’s wrong with them. They’re all top-of-the-line. Did you notice her bag?” Nelson named a designer. “Four hundred dollars! I should know. Emily’s been admiring it so much I checked to see if I could get one for her birthday gift. But that’s way out of my league.”

“Maybe Olivia got it for her birthday.

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