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Ыоуве Been Warned :: Patterson James
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Shefolds her arms across her Chanel gym outfit, which cost more than a month of my salary. “After I drop off the kids, I’m going for a workout. I should be home by lunch, though.”
“That reminds me,” I say, “how was your charity luncheon out in Greenwich yesterday?”
I watch her carefully, hoping Penley flinches or blinks or stammers – something that gives her away.
Instead, she’s seamless. “Oh, you know how those things are. You’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all.”
I bet.
Penley heads for her bedroom to continue getting ready, and I check on Dakota and Sean in the kitchen, where they’re finishing up their breakfast. Their mother microwaves a mean bowl of instant oatmeal.
“Hi, Miss Kristin!” they giddily say in unison. They’re surprised to see me. And happy!
“What are you doing here?” asks Sean.
“Yeah, I thought it was Mommy’s day to take us to school,” says Dakota.
“It is, honey. Silly me, I forgot.”
“But you never forget,” she says.
“Never ever, ” adds Sean.
I look at them both and smile. Kids are so smart.
They’re right. I didn’t forget.
Not by a long shot.
With a zoom lens.
Chapter 79
TEN MINUTES LATER, I follow Penley and the kids to school, hopefully at a safe distance. If any of them spots me, I’m dead. Let me change that to toast.
For maybe the tenth time I check to see that my camera is tucked safely in my shoulder bag and that the bag is actually by my side.
Up ahead, Penley, Dakota, and Sean are just past halfway to Preston Academy. It truly is a perfect opportunity for a mother to spend some quality time with her kids. Too bad Penley’s gabbing away on her cell phone, paying no attention whatsoever to Sean and Dakota.
Not that I mind. It keeps her distracted. It keeps her from looking over her shoulder.
With each step in their shadows, I can’t help thinking how strange this feels, almost like an out-of-body experience. Most every morning, that’s me up there with Dakota and Sean.
To see someone else in my place makes me realize even more how important those kids are to me. I always want to be there for them. I also know it would be selfish and wrong of me to want this if Penley was any kind of a decent mom.
We cover another block heading south and, yet again, I check to make sure I’ve got my camera.
Shefolds her arms across her Chanel gym outfit, which cost more than a month of my salary. “After I drop off the kids, I’m going for a workout. I should be home by lunch, though.”
“That reminds me,” I say, “how was your charity luncheon out in Greenwich yesterday?”
I watch her carefully, hoping Penley flinches or blinks or stammers – something that gives her away.
Instead, she’s seamless. “Oh, you know how those things are. You’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all.”
I bet.
Penley heads for her bedroom to continue getting ready, and I check on Dakota and Sean in the kitchen, where they’re finishing up their breakfast. Their mother microwaves a mean bowl of instant oatmeal.
“Hi, Miss Kristin!” they giddily say in unison. They’re surprised to see me. And happy!
“What are you doing here?” asks Sean.
“Yeah, I thought it was Mommy’s day to take us to school,” says Dakota.
“It is, honey. Silly me, I forgot.”
“But you never forget,” she says.
“Never ever, ” adds Sean.
I look at them both and smile. Kids are so smart.
They’re right. I didn’t forget.
Not by a long shot.
With a zoom lens.
Chapter 79
TEN MINUTES LATER, I follow Penley and the kids to school, hopefully at a safe distance. If any of them spots me, I’m dead. Let me change that to toast.
For maybe the tenth time I check to see that my camera is tucked safely in my shoulder bag and that the bag is actually by my side.
Up ahead, Penley, Dakota, and Sean are just past halfway to Preston Academy. It truly is a perfect opportunity for a mother to spend some quality time with her kids. Too bad Penley’s gabbing away on her cell phone, paying no attention whatsoever to Sean and Dakota.
Not that I mind. It keeps her distracted. It keeps her from looking over her shoulder.
With each step in their shadows, I can’t help thinking how strange this feels, almost like an out-of-body experience. Most every morning, that’s me up there with Dakota and Sean.
To see someone else in my place makes me realize even more how important those kids are to me. I always want to be there for them. I also know it would be selfish and wrong of me to want this if Penley was any kind of a decent mom.
We cover another block heading south and, yet again, I check to make sure I’ve got my camera.