Soren coughs again, and I slap his back to help him out.
“I don’t believe you, but I’m loving it. Keep it going. This is the best Christmas ever.” Bella turns and skips into the family room, grabbing onto the monkey bars and hanging upside down.
The silenceis uncomfortable. Until Soren laughs. “Thatwas the best you could come up with?”
I march to the kitchen, grab the first thing I see, and chuck it at him. The soft thump of the hot pad against his chest is far from cathartic. “Sorry, I don’t lie for a living like you.”
“If you did, you wouldn’t make nearly as much as I do.”
I pause, pursing my lips. “How muchdoyou make?”
He shrugs, but there’s a confident satisfaction in his expression. Meaning it’s a lot.
I may have to consider a career change. My life is in the toilet anyway, but jail is a hard pass.
“Can we watchFive Nights at Freddy’s?” Bella pops up beside me, and I startle.
“No. I hate that movie.” I shake my head. “And it’s way past your bedtime.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot you hate blood. How aboutJaws?” Her body bounces as she talks, and it would be adorable if she weren’t insisting on horror films before bed.
Because that option is far less gruesome.
“It’s past bedtime,” I say.
“But…” She pouts out her bottom lip; it even quivers. “I already had a nap, and I’m all alone for Christmas…” Her eyes fill, but she’s used this trick on me enough for me to know she won’t let any tears fall.
“I’m here.”
She clasps her hands behind her back, looking down. “I won’t wake up to any presents under the tree. So… I don’t think I want to go to sleep.”
A pang hits my chest. I should set clear boundaries and tell her no—a word she hardly ever hears. But… this is the first genuine expression of sadness I’ve witnessed in her in… ever. And it kills a piece of my soul.
“I’ll make you a deal.”
Her head pops up, and her eyes wideneagerly.
“We can watchJawsfor thirty minutes.” She starts to pout again, and I hold up a hand. “We could go straight to bed instead?”
“Thirty minutes is good,” she says.
“Run upstairs, change your clothes, and brush your teeth.”
She immediately obeys.
“Good job,” Soren says, and I jump, forgetting he was witness to that whole exchange. “Setting boundaries while still being loving.”
He’s not my boss, so his opinion doesn’t matter. But I’ve always been a sucker for the slightest praise.
“Andyoukept your mouth shut. There may be hope for you yet.”
He chuckles and backs away. “Enjoy that movie.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have a painting to look for.” He ducks to look in the fireplace, as if I’d hide the painting there. The traces of gas could discolor it or worse.
But what if he does find it? And he just… leaves? What if the other thief comes back? Fear grips me, and I race after him as he heads for the conservatory. I’d prefer to take my chances with the enemy I know.
