So she prompted, “Why?”
“There is a thing we have to attend tonight but they are too young.”
“Have they eaten?”
“No, it is too early. You will feed them.”
Fyre narrowed her eyes at Cara, knowing full well the woman was lying through her teeth. It was past the time they should have eaten.
“And are you back for them tonight or do I get them until morning?”
“Morning.”
She grinned at the kids, who watched her with uncertain expressions. “Wonderful. We will make a grand time out of it. You two have fun.” Just like that, she dismissed them.
It broke her heart how the children weren’t sad to see their parents go, but she thrived on how they hugged her.
“Now, let me see, it has been a while since I have seen you. I hope I have not forgotten your names.”
They all looked at her, lips pursued as she tapped a finger against her chin.
“Aunt Fyre, surely you remember me. I’m Carlo.”
She gripped his chin and angled his head to the side. “Are you sure? I thought you were Elonne II.”
He giggled and wrapped his arms around her. “I missed you.”
“Missed you too. All of you, you also, Isabella. We need to get dry and after, we will get some food in our bellies.”
* * * *
Two hours later, the trio of children were fed and drowsy as the rain continued to pound the windows. As they began to doze, she moved them to her bed and tucked them in, heart aching over their absence from her life.
After she was positive they were out cold, she pulled the two books she was currently working on back to the table. She didn’t want to have all of them in the open now in case they woke, she could easily move these to where she was hiding them as opposed to trying to make six books vanish quickly.
She worked diligently until the candle was low in the holder and her eyes burned. Shaking out her hand and the cramping that had started, she closed the books and put them away.
Then she headed for bed and climbed in with the kids, who moved and shifted for her before draping all over her. She woke the same way and the rain still pounded down.
While they continued to sleep she fixed a special breakfast to share with them. They all ate together, sharing stories and memories that made her heart ache. The children helped her clean up—she never let them skip that part, wanting them to grow up knowing how to keep a tidy house.
She kept a sharp eye on the hour .
Where are Elonne and Cara?
She couldn’t leave the children alone. Not here. They were notoriously nosy and she didn’t want them finding the books by accident. Even if they weren’t here in her place, she was nervous about leaving them, given what Phillip had told her of the plan.
Just thinking about him had her lips curling up with pleasurable memories.
“Why are you smiling, Aunt Fyre?”
“Happy to see the three of you,” she said without missing a beat. “I miss you all so much.”
Opening her arms, she hugged them all.
It was time for her to head to work and they still hadn’t arrived to pick up the kids.
Elonne II watched her and cocked his head to the side. “You have to leave.” It was a statement.
“I do, yes.”
“And we are in the way.”
She shook her head right away. “You are children, precious, and never in the way.”
“Not what Mom and Dad say.”
She froze. Closed her eyes and counted to get control of her emotions. Then she looked at him again.
“Are you underfoot when she says this? Or are they speaking in general?”
Part of her knew it was wrong to pry through the children but she also had no doubt that her sister-in-law would lie through her teeth.
He glanced over at his siblings and shrugged. She got it, he didn’t want to speak in front of them.
“Carlo and Bella, can you check the bedroom please and make sure you did not leave anything?”
They dashed off and she focused on her oldest nephew. “What is it you are not telling me?”
“They fight. All the time. I think Mama is sleeping with other men and Papa is always angry.”
“I will speak with him. Right now, I have to get to work. I will take you to Mrs. Marta and see if she cannot keep an eye on you three. But you have to be good for her.”
“We cannot come with you?”
“No.” She softened her refusal with a small smile and shake of her head. “Mr. Larson will not be happy if I have children running around his store while I work.”
More and more the thought of taking Phillip up on his offer of only working for him crossed her mind. She was exhausted, and was getting nervous about who else was watching her.