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Mom made an exasperated sound, and I said, “Hey, Mom, Andrew and Cora’s school is closed for today.”

“It is?” Andrew was way too hopeful.

“Oh no,” Mom said, already worrying her hands. “Far, I’m sorry, but one of the baristas called in sick, so I need to go help your dad until the shop closes.”

Living with my parents must have brought out my inner teenager because I wanted to stomp and cry and talk about how unfair the world was. I was thankful my parents helped out as much as they did, but working a full-time job with three kids in school, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. I had only hoped this day would comeafterI proved how indispensable I was to Griffen Industries.

But from my online search of Gage Griffen, I knew he had three siblings. He had to understand unexpected things popped up when you had kids.

I let out a breath. We’d just have to make it work. “Finish eating and grab your art kit,” I told Andrew. “You and Cora are coming to work with me.”

On the way to the hotel, I called Mia between bouts of trying not to completely panic. The second she answered, I cried, “HELP!”

“What’s going on?” Mia asked.

Then Cora said, “Do we get to see you today, Auntie Mia?”

Andrew said, “I can draw you something. Anything you want.”

The line was silent for a long moment. “Are you running behind?”

“I wish,” I said. “The kids’ school is closed for the day, so I have to bring them with me. I have way too much work to call in sick, and I don’t think Mr. Grumpy Pants would want me taking a three-day weekend my first week on the job!”

“Can’t your mom watch—”

“No, and I already called two of her friends to beg for help. Everyone’s busy.”

“Shit,” Mia said.

“AUNTIE MIA!” Cora scolded.

“Sorry, sorry,” Mia said quickly. “Farrah, this is not good.”

I bit my lip, glancing over my shoulder at the kids in the back seat. Andrew was coloring a knight in his sketch book, but Cora’s eyes were on me. “Doesn’t Shantel have kids?”

“She also has a live-in nanny and a stay-at-home husband. I’ve never seen anyone bring children into the office, and Gage isn’t exactly the warm, fatherly kind. I mean, there’s a reason we don’t have a daycare in the building.”

I bit my lip, worry clenching my stomach. “Drew and Cora can be quiet, especially with their tablets going. He’ll hardly know they’re there.”

“I hope so,” Mia said, sounding unconvinced. “Hey, Drew, I know what you can draw for me... How about a woman walking off the gang plank into shark-infested waters?”

“Goodbye, Mia,” I said.

“Godspeed.”

My palms were sweating more than a glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day as we walked into the hotel. Cora pulled her hand from mine and wiped it on her pink sparkly dress. The one I had to wash every night with my dress clothes so she could wear it over and over and over again.

I kept my hands on my children’s shoulders as we walked past Cliff, the security guard, into the building. Once we reached the makeshift office, Gage Griffen glanced up from his computer, icy-blue eyes darting from me to my two children. His shoulders stiffened, and Iknewthe worst was coming.

I just hoped he would send my kids into the echoing, empty lobby before he fired me so they didn’t have to see me cry.

Before he had a chance to send me packing, I hurriedly said, “They’re not sick, but their school got shut down today, and I have no options for childcare. Trust me, I’d let the neighbor’s dog watch them if it wasn’t blind.” Cora gasped up at me, and I said, “Kidding,” then held up my hand like I was whispering to Mr. Griffen. “Not kidding.”

If I wasn’t mistaken, a hint of a smile shined in his eyes.

“This is not going to be a regular thing, but it’s going to have to work for today,” I said, feigning confidence. “And trust me, I can do great work while my kids are here. I brought activities to keep them occupied and headphones for the tablets so you won’t even hear their TV shows. Right, kids?”

“Right,” they echoed, out of sync.