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The door swings open and Natalie is there, Jasmine peering out from between her legs. “Good morning,” I say, kneeling down and giving her a nod. “Hi, there.”
“Hello,” she says in a quiet voice, ducking behind Natalie so she’s out of sight.
“She’s a little shy,” Natalie says.
“Nothing wrong with that.” I get back to my feet. “Can I come in?”
“I was just taking her to preschool. You can walk with us, if you want.”
“Sounds good.”
“Come on, Jasmine,” she says. “You need your jacket on. It’s cold out there today.”
“Okay, mommy. Who is that man?”
“That’s Angelo. He’s a friend of mine.”
“Oh, okay.” She disappears, coming back into the doorway a moment later with a pink raincoat on one arm. She tries to hook her other arm in and fails.
I take hold of the collar. “Here you go,” I say. “That should make it easier.” She hooks her other arm in and beams at me.
“Now I’m ready.”
“Yes, you are. Come on, monkey.”
Natalie locks the door, and then we walk down the street together. Everything about this feels right and it’s stabbing me in the heart worse than a blade. I’ve got to leave them behind so they’ll be safe. I’ve got to betray Natalie. Got to make her hate me.
Not yet. I can spend a little more time pretending this could work.
Hell, maybe it will. Maybe my plan will actually come together. Who knows, stranger things have happened, right?
“What’s your favorite TV show?” Jasmine asks. “Mine’s Paw Patrol.”
“Mine too.”
“No it isn’t.”
“It is, really.”
She giggles. “Are you sure?”
“Dead sure. Who’s your favorite character?”
“Rubble.”
“Me too!”
“All right,” Natalie says, stopping by a gate. “Time to head in. You waiting here, Angelo?”
“You want to come in?” Jasmine asks. “I can show you the painting I did last week.”
I spot someone on the corner. “I’ll come in next time,” I tell her. “How long will you be, Natalie.”
“Couple of minutes, why?”
“No reason. See you when you come out. Have a good day, Jasmine.”
She grins at me and the two of them head inside. I walk over to where Flavio is standing. He doesn’t look surprised to see me. “Good morning,” he says. “Fancy seeing you in this shitty little town.”
