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)
I pushed my hand through my hair. “She doesn’t want Aurora in my life or Winnie’s, that’s why she did it. What a fucking bitch. I should have fired her right on the spot over the phone the other night.”
Declan shrugged. “Sounds like she’s jealous of Aurora. Of your friendship with her and how Winnie loves her so much.”
“Okay, so that would explain that. But how did Kim know about the whole Hope and Aurora thing?”
When Declan glanced at the bar, he asked, “Do you still have the wine bottle you were drinking from?”
“The wine bottle?”
“Yeah.”
I stood. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Declan. Are you suggesting the woman I hired to watch my daughter drugged me?”
“I’m not…not saying it.”
“She didn’t drug me, but she is one hell of a mind player.”
Then it hit me. I knew precisely where Kim had found out about what Hope had said.
“I got it. I know where she found out.”
I didn’t wait for Declan; I rushed into my bedroom and pulled open the side drawer and stared down at the journal Hope had given me when we got married.
“What is that?” Declan asked, walking up behind me.
Picking up the journal, I turned and faced Declan. I held it up. “This is my journal. I haven’t written in it since maybe May? I always put it in a certain way; don’t ask me, maybe OCD. But it was facing down in the drawer. I know I would never put it in there that way. Kim found it and read it.”
“Did you write about what Hope said?”
I shook my head. “No, I wrote about that day. The day I told Aurora that Hope had been right, that she was trying to replace her, but I only said it because I felt so fucking guilty for wanting to be with Aurora, and it was the only thing I knew to say to push her away. This is where Kim got it.”
Holding up his hands, Declan said, “Wait. Did you just say you want to be with Aurora? Liam, how long have you felt that way about her?”
I sighed. “For a while. Since before Hope found out about the cancer.”
His mouth fell open, then shut.
“I know. It’s a long story and one I don’t really want to get into right now. I need to let Aurora know about all of this.”
Declan hit the side of my arm. “At least we know she didn’t drug you.”
I shot him a dirty look. “That is a relief! Declan, the woman has lied, stolen things, and read from my personal journal, all in an attempt to do one thing.”
“Get into your pants,” Declan stated.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, probably, but to push Aurora away.” I closed my eyes and cursed. “Shit, I should have listened to Harper.”
“I’ve uttered those words a time or two myself in just the last few days. My wife is brilliant.”
“This isn’t funny, Declan.”
He walked up to me. “It isn’t, but listen, you found out before this psychopath could do anything else to you or Winnie. Fire her ass and we’ll all help you out with Winnie until you find someone else to watch her.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out. It was a text from Hope’s sister, Mary.
Mary: How would you feel if I were to move to Moose Village permanently and watch Winnie for you? I can’t stay in New York City any longer. I’ll find my own place to live, but in the meantime, I can help with Winnie. Opal and Dad said they don’t like the new nanny.
Looking up, I smiled. “That problem just took care of itself.”
“How?” Declan asked.
“Mary is moving to Moose Village and is offering to watch Winnie.”
He smiled.
“Now, I just need to figure out how to make things right with Aurora.”
Declan made a face. “Yeah, you might need help from Harper and the other girls with that one.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
I sat in my car, parked on Main Street, just down from The Book Nook. So much had happened yesterday, I was surprised my head wasn’t going to explode. Earlier I called the company I used to hire Kim, and they told me the reason her name wasn’t listed is because they had never scheduled her in for the interview. Kim must have somehow gotten in the system and added the interview and left her name off. I was so angry I nearly threw my cell phone against the wall. I told them what happened with Kim and sent them the video of her taking Perry and putting Hope’s picture in the drawer. I also alerted them that Kim had told someone we were sleeping together, which wasn’t the truth. They informed me they would be letting her go today, and I asked if they could wait until afternoon to give me a chance to fire her ass first. They had graciously agreed. I also filed a police report with Moose Village and submitted the video before Kim could say it had all been a lie.