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“It’s just a silly holiday,” I say. “It doesn’t mean anything in the long run.”

“I disagree,” she says, shaking her head. “These small things are what the kids look forward to the most. It’s what they’ll remember most about their childhood.”

My heart starts to beat harder. I think it’s sweet that she’slooking out for the kids like this. All of the staff members I have under my payroll take care of the kids’ basic needs and protection, but I don’t remember the last time they did something just to make the kids happy.

“It’s not my problem,” I say. “Figure out something else. I don’t care what it is as long as it’s done within the premises.”

She purses her lips and nods.

“And don’t eavesdrop on private conversations,” I add. “My personal life is none of your business."

“Okay,” she says, glancing down at the floor.

It’s better that she hates me. It’s better if there’s distance between us that can’t ever be bridged.

I just need to make sure that it stays this way.

27

EMMA

"What do you mean we can't go trick or treating?" Rosalie asks. "You promised us that we could."

"I have something else planned instead, sweetie," I say. "It's going to be equally fun."

James is looking at me with big, sad eyes. I really don't know how I'm going to get through this.

"We decorated the whole lawn," he says. "Nobody will come to see it now?"

"This is the worst," Rosalie exclaims.

Both of them are upset, but it's over different things. James is more concerned that otherkids won't be coming to admire the decorations we worked so hard on. Rosalie is disappointed we won't be going trick or treating.

I really wanted to give these kids a little bit of normalcy, but I had to improvise.

"But I have a secret surprise for you two," I say. "Don't you want to know what it is?"

"What's the secret surprise?" James asks, blinkingup at me.

"Put your costumes on first," I say. "I'll show you."

"I don't want to get dressed," Rosalie says. "What's the point if we're not going anywhere?"

"The point is that we're still going to have fun," I say. "And we don't need to go trick or treating for that."

"But everything's more fun with candy," Rosalie says, still pouting.

"I never said there's no candy involved," I say. "In fact, we're all having chocolate for dinner tonight."

"Really?" James's eyes light up with pure joy.

Rosalie is harder to convince, but I know just what to say to reel her in.

"Don't you want to seemycostume?" I ask her.

That piques her interest.

"You have a costume too?" she asks.