Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Grabbing my purse, I leaned down and kissed Lily, then rushed toward the front door, calling over my shoulder, “Love you all! Talk soon.”
As I made my way to my car, it wasn’t lost on me that I was being a coward. Or maybe it was realizing that I had deeper feelings for Liam, causing me to freak out. Whatever it was, I turned up the radio and pushed it all away.
The bell above the door rang, and I glanced up with a smile to greet the customer, only to have it falter when I saw Kim and Winnie walk in.
“Who is that with Winnie?” Lou asked in a low whisper.
“The Wicked Witch of Moose Village,” I replied back before plastering on a smile and heading toward them.
“Rora!” Winnie called as I made my way over and bent down to catch her.
I squeezed her, then leaned back to look at her. “It’s so nice to see you, sweetheart!”
Glancing up at Kim, I said, “Storytime was at four, you guys just missed it.”
Her smile was tight. “Winnie wouldn’t stop throwing a fit until we entered the bookstore.”
“A fit?” I asked. “I’ve never known her to throw a fit.”
One brow rose like how dare I suggest Kim was lying. “Maybe you don’t know her as well as you think.”
I stood and took Winnie’s hand. “I know her better than you, Kim. I’ve never seen this child throw a fit of any kind.”
“We getting ice dream!”
“Cream. Not dream, Winnie. Ice Cream.”
“Whoa, slow down there, Cruella de Vil,” Lou said as she walked up. I nearly choked when I noticed Kim was wearing black leather pants and a black and white shirt with a weird high collar. She looked like she was ready to step out onto a catwalk.
Lou went on, despite the displeased look Kim was giving her. “She’s like what, not even three yet. I highly doubt you were barking orders in perfect sentences at three.”
I cleared my throat when Kim looked like she was about to slap my sister. “Would you like me to watch Winnie while you shop?”
Kim’s head snapped back to me. “Shop? What makes you think I want to shop?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You got a date tonight after your stint as a nanny?” Lou asked, motioning to Kim’s outfit.
Kim attempted to smile, but the effect was a snarled lip. “As a matter of fact, I do have plans…with Liam.”
I instantly felt a rush of unwanted jealousy rip through my entire body. Damn my friends for getting me to admit I liked Liam. “What? Who is going to watch Winnie?” I asked.
“You’re going on a date with your boss? That doesn’t seem very smart,” Lou added as she folded her arms over her chest and glared at Kim.
Kim ignored both of us and looked at Winnie. “Okay, you’ve seen Aunty Aurora, let’s go get your ice cream.”
“Aunty Aurora?” I asked, still holding onto Winnie’s hand.
“Come along, Winnie.”
Winnie buried herself closer to me and turned her head into my leg. “No. Stay with Rora.”
“It is Ah-rora. Not Rora.”
I gently moved Winnie to my back. “You need to take a few steps away, Kim.”
Her mouth fell open. “How dare you? I’m her nanny. Let her go so we can get her ice cream.”
“Not with you acting like a royal bitch will I let her go.”
Kim slowly shook her head as she folded her arms over her chest in the same manner as Lou had. I saw my sister drop her arms to her sides. “I see what Liam was talking about.”
Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?”
“You are so desperate to take over Hope’s place…and now mine.”
My sister drew in a sharp breath behind me as all the air in my lungs was expelled. “What did you say?” I whispered.
“We were having drinks one night after he got off work, and he told me about how you tried to take Hope’s place. It’s rather pathetic, if you ask me. You’re trying so hard to be a part of their life, Aurora. It’s giving…desperate.”
Lou took a step forward. “Oh, shut up! You’re like what, forty? Stop talking like you’re young.”
“Lou,” I warned. “Just be quiet.”
“Winnie, darling?” Kim said as she bent down. “Don’t you want to go get your ice cream now?”
Winnie poked her head out from behind me. “Can Rora come too?”
Kim looked at me. “Aunty A…rora is busy. Come along.”
Taking Kim’s outstretched hand, Winnie started to walk out with Kim. I did everything I could to keep myself from running and grabbing Winnie from Kim and then knocking the shit out of her for saying what she said to me. But then the reality of what she said hit me.
Liam had told her about what Hope said. How could he do such a thing?
Before she left, Kim turned and shot me the most evil smile I had ever seen. “Just for the record, Liam and I have rekindled our old relationship, and it was glorious. I don’t think we’ll be needing you much anymore…Aunty Rora.”