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“We got to go to the media center and pick any books we liked. I brought homeThe Hidden StaircaseandBlack Beauty.” Evie’s eyes were filled with excitement, her smile wide.
“That’s wonderful.”
“Can we read together tonight?” Evie asked.
Piper hesitated. “Well... your father and I are going away for a few days. Remember?” She saw Evie’s face fall and hurried on. “But we’ll be back on Sunday. We can read them together as soon as we get back.”
Stelli glared at her. “I have a sore throat. I want Daddy to look at it.” He scowled. “And my stomach hurts, too.”
Great, thought Piper, rising from her seat and going over to Stelli. “Open your mouth,” she said, leaning toward him.
He opened it obediently and stuck out his tongue. His throat didn’t look red or inflamed, and he seemed to have no trouble swallowing the cookie. “When did it start to hurt?” she asked.
“Just now,” he said, then cocked his head. “I think it was hurting this morning, too.”
“Did you tell the nurse at school?” Piper asked.
“It stopped hurting at school.”
“When did your stomach start bothering you?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
This was ridiculous. Piper stood up straight. “I guess you’d better go to bed then. You should rest if you’re getting sick. We’ll take your temperature. Go on upstairs, and I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay,” he mumbled as he shuffled toward the stairs.
After he left, Piper walked down the hallway to Rebecca’s suite and knocked on her door. She had just gone off duty for the rest of the day, but Piper wanted to get something off her chest.
Rebecca opened it right away. “Do you need me?”
“I just wanted a quick word.”
“Yes?”
“The kids are having too much sugar. It’s not good for them. Stelli’s complaining of a stomachache. Starting next week, I’mgoing to take over making their lunches and preparing their afternoon snack.”
“Oh, okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
Piper put a hand up. “I know. It’s just, sugar lowers the immune system, and that’s the last thing they need. I’ll give you some recipes and options for healthier breakfasts as well.”
She walked away before Rebecca could respond.
Piper and Leo strolled hand in hand back to their suite after their candlelit dinner. The night was cool and clear, with thousands of stars glittering in the dark sky. She leaned her head against Leo’s shoulder as they stopped so he could unlock the door. Soft light from a bedside lamp bathed the room in a golden glow; the bed had been turned down for the night. She put her arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him. “This is perfect.” She dropped her arms. “I’m going to take a bath. Why don’t you join me?”
He grinned at her. “I will. I’m just going to call home and make sure everything’s okay. I’ll be right in.”
Piper sighed, went into the bathroom, and sat on the edge of the tub as it filled, feeling guilty for being annoyed. Of course he would want to call home—any parent would—but Stelli was a smart kid and knew exactly how to manipulate his father. She’d done the right thing to show him he couldn’t get away with that kind of thing with her. Maybe this would set a precedent and he’d stop trying to control Leo with invented ailments.
She undressed and got into the water, lying back and closing her eyes. She hadn’t been this relaxed in she didn’t know how long. She felt like she might fall asleep when suddenly there was movement and a splash and Leo slid into the tub behind her. He began to kiss the back of her neck.
“Everything all right at the house?” she asked.
“The kids were asleep. All is well.” He continued his caresses, nibbling at her ear. Every nerve ending was tingling, and she leaned back against him, savoring the feel of his body against hers. Much later, after they’d made love, she fell into a contented sleep, nestled in the crook of his arm.
They were awakened early Saturday morning by the ringing of Leo’s cell phone. “Rebecca, hi. Is everything okay?”
Piper leaned up on one elbow, now wide awake. She watched his eyebrows knit together in a frown, a knot forming in her stomach.