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I nodded. “Yeah, I’m just going to do some straightening up before I start on dinner.”
Taylor gave me a one-armed hug on her way past.
When the door to the study clicked shut behind her, I stood up and pushed my chair back. After washing both spoons and putting away the ice cream, I placed both hands on my hips and spun around. Ron was humming under his breath, hands moving steadily over the papers. In the background, the large TV mounted to the wall played a brightly colored cartoon.
With a smile, I walked over to ruffle his hair and press a kiss to his forehead. Singing under my breath, I went to the laundry room and put in a load. Then I stepped into our guest room and glanced around, taking in the two made single beds on either side of the room, the basket of toys in the other corner of the room, and the closet door propped open.
After kicking it shut with the back of my leg, I pushed our bathroom door open and glanced around. With a shake of my head, I made my way back out into the carpeted hallway and straightened the paintings on either side of the blue-colored walls. Once I was done, I rapped on Taylor’s study door. Quietly, I crept in, set a tea mug down on her desk, and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze.
She gave me a distracted smile before returning her attention to the screen.
Papers were strewn over every inch of available space, and the windows and curtains were shut, soft light playing behind them. I fixed the carpet on my way out before finding my way back to the kitchen. There, I chopped up some vegetables and took out the marinated chicken. When I set the food in the oven, I reached for the timer and set it down on the counter with a sigh.
“Taylor’s parents are going to be stopping by in a bit to watch you.” I sat down on the floor with Ron and tucked my legs underneath me. “Be a good boy and behave, okay?”
“Okay, mommy.”
“And no trying to take them outside to dig for clues like last time,” I added, shaking my head. “And make sure you pick up your toys when you’re done playing.”
Ron lifted his head and frowned at me. “Mommy, how am I supposed to find the buried treasure if I’m not allowed to dig for it?”
I chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You’re creative. You’ll find another way.”
“I like digging up dirt in the backyard,” Ron muttered, his brows furrowing together. “Why can’t I?”
“Because Aunty Tay doesn’t like it when you ruin her garden,” I replied after a brief pause. “And you don’t want to upset Aunty Tay, do you?”
Ron shook his head. “No, mommy. I don’t.”
I patted his head and rose to my feet. “Good.”
The doorbell rang, slicing through the air. I tucked my shirt into my jeans and swung the door open. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton stood in the doorway, carrying a tray of goodies and dressed similarly in dark jeans and red sweaters. Mrs. Bolton drew me in for a hug and a kiss before brushing past me. Mr. Bolton and I exchanged a quick handshake before he stepped in. After setting the tray down on the table, I reached for my purse and patted my pockets.
“Thank you so much for doing this, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton. I’m sorry the meeting is so late. It shouldn’t take long though.”
Mrs. Bolton took off her coat and draped it over the back of a chair. “We love spending time with Ron, don’t worry. And please, it’s Nancy and Sid, dear. We’re practically family, remember?”
Since they lived a few blocks down, the Boltons were usually my go-to people when Taylor was too busy to babysit. Having been forced to leave Ron behind while I went on a countless parade of interviews, ranging from cooking positions to cleaning to bartending, I’d come to rely on the Boltons to make sure Ron wasn’t alone.
“Thank you, Nancy.” I gave them both a warm smile before shoving my arms into my coat. I adjusted the folds and cleared my throat. “Dinner should be ready in two hours. I’ve set the timer, and I made extra.”
“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble, Rachel,” Mr. Bolton commented from his place on the armchair. He picked up the remote and changed the channel. “We’re fine with whatever you have.”
“It’s the least I can do,” I maintained, my eyes darting between the two of them. “Is there anything I can get you on the way home?”
Mrs. Bolton scooped Ron up and hoisted him into the air. “No, thank you, dear. Good luck with your interview.”
With one last kiss in Ron’s direction, I stepped out of the house and let the door click shut behind me. At the end of the driveway, I glanced over my shoulders and sighed. I saw their vague outline through the living room windows, and my stomach gave an odd little lurch.
Two bus stops later, I made my way to the back of the restaurant and waited.
A tall and skinny woman with dark hair and penciled-in eyebrows pushed the door open and ushered me in. “Hi, Rachel. Why don’t you wait over there until I come and get you?”
She motioned to a row of metal chairs pressed against the walls before hurrying away, black heels clicking steadily against the tile floors. “I’ll be with you soon.”
I folded my hands in my lap and resisted the urge to fiddle with my phone.
An hour later, after I was done with the interview, I made my way back to Taylor’s house, lead settling in the pit of my stomach. I shoved both hands into the pockets of my coat and inhaled the crisp night air. The rows of houses on either side of me were lit up from the inside, the sound of laughter spilling out into the sidewalk.
