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)
She slipped out the door with Winnie as I stood frozen in place. My entire body trembled.
“Are you really going to let her take Winnie?” Lou asked.
“What am I supposed to do? She’s her nanny,” I replied, turning on my heel and trying not to cry as I quickly made my way to my office.
Liam
I knew Aurora was there the second I stepped into Timeless Coffee Shop. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I could sense her. I glanced around and found her sitting at a table in the corner, drinking a coffee and reading a book. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her in a few days. She hadn’t taken my calls or responded to my texts. I had planned to stop by the bookstore after I got some coffee.
Smiling, I approached to see if I could join her. It was a rare day I didn’t have Winnie with me since she was with Jake and Opal today.
“Hey there, stranger! Day off today?” I asked, slipping into the seat opposite her. When she looked up, it felt like someone had gut-punched me. She had obviously been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy, with bags under them. For an instant, fear gripped at my heart. Was something wrong with Aurora, and she didn’t want to tell me?
“What’s wrong, Aurora?”
She closed her book and glanced around the coffee shop before focusing on me. “I’d rather be alone.”
Surprised, I drew back some. “Is everything okay?”
When she picked her book up again and started reading, I slowly shook my head. “Aurora, please tell me what has you so upset?”
She looked at me from over the book. When she spoke, her voice cracked. “How could you tell her?”
Confused, I asked, “Tell who what?”
She slammed the book shut. “I should have known you meant it. People don’t say things without some truth behind their words, even if they are drunk.”
I leaned in and lowered my voice. “If this is about me talking to Kim about what she did with the picture, I’m working on that problem.”
Her eyes went wide. “This has nothing to do with Hope’s picture!”
“What in the hell are you talking about, then?”
A look of hurt passed over Aurora’s face, and I had never in my life felt the wave of anger that passed through me. Who in the hell did this to her?
A tear slipped free, and she quickly swept it away. “Kim stopped by the bookstore yesterday.”
Confused, I asked, “That doesn’t make what you’re saying any clearer, Aurora.”
The look of hurt turned to anger. “She told me about your little late-night, after-work drinks and how you said Hope said I was trying to replace her. She accused me of doing the same thing, which was why she kept Winnie from seeing me, because she said I was clingy. How could you tell her that? Why would you tell her that? You told me you said it in anger. That you didn’t believe it?”
“I don’t believe it, Aurora. I don’t even remember telling Kim that.”
My mouth fell open. “You don’t remember having a conversation with her because you got that drunk?”
I felt my face heat. “I didn’t tell her. I know I didn’t tell her, and I didn’t get drunk. I don’t do that anymore. I haven’t in months.”
She slowly shook her head as she gathered up her things. She stood, and I followed. “Let’s discuss this somewhere else. Somewhere a bit more private.”
“There isn’t anything to talk about, Liam.”
She made her way outside and started walking down Main Street.
“Aurora, will you please stop and let me talk with you?”
She came to an abrupt stop, and I nearly ran into her. Turning, she looked up at me. “There is nothing to talk about. Your girlfriend made it very clear to me where I stand, and it was loud and clear.”
I nearly laughed. “My girlfriend? What in the hell are you talking about?”
Her head tilted to the side. “What’s wrong, Liam? You don’t remember sleeping with Kim? She said you rekindled your old relationship, so don’t try to deny it.”
It felt like a hammer hit my chest, and my words sputtered. “Slept with her? I didn’t sleep with Kim.”
“Maybe it was the same night you don’t remember telling her about what happened months ago.” Aurora turned to walk away but stopped. She again faced me and said, “You might want to invest in a nanny camera, Liam. Your sparkling nanny-slash-girlfriend treats your daughter like shit.”
And with that, she turned and stormed down the street. I stood there, my head reeling with everything she said.
A car drove up, and I turned to see Declan in a Moose Village police car. “Liam, is everything okay?”
I slowly shook my head. “I don’t think so, Declan.”
Turning to face him, I asked, “When do you get off work?”