Page 26 of Vengeful Secret

When I arrive at Mom’s, I realize at her doorstep that I’ve forgotten her ice cream.

“Shit!”

Ciara who opens the door at that very second, and her eyes widen.

“Mama, that’s a bad word.”

“You’re right. That’s a very bad word, and I shouldn’t have said it. I just forgot Granny’s ice cream.”

“Aw,” my mom says, but she smiles to let me know it’s all right. “At least you brought me a burger. Can’t be mad at that.”

I hand her the bag.

Ciara pouts. “What about me?”

“I got you home fries.”

Her eyes light up. “Can I eat them in the car?”

“Just a few,” I warn her, and she hugs her grandmother tightly and runs to open the back door of my car, scrambling inside.

Mom chuckles. “She sure loves fries.”

“She loves anything fried.” I laugh. “She’s going to have a heart condition by the time she’s twenty if I don't watch what she eats.”

“Aw, she’s fine. Give that baby what she needs. She’s a growing girl.”

“I know, Mom.” I smile, shaking my head.

If it were up to Mom, Ciara would have everything she wanted in an instant, no matter if it’s bad for her or not.

“Thank you again for watching her and picking her up from school.”

“Of course. That’s what grandmothers are for, isn’t it?”

“I’ll see you later.”

“I love you.”

I smile and turn to wave at her. “Love you, too, Mom.”

Ciara’s demolishing her home fries in the backseat, and finally, the feeling of being watched has faded away.

Thank God.

The next morning,dropping off Ciara at pre-school, a blue sedan seems to follow me all the way from home to school.

I keep frowning, and Ciara finally seems to notice.

“What’s wrong, Mama?”

“Nothing,mo stóirin, just thinking about work.”

She’s precocious for a four-year-old, and she often picks up on my bad moods, but there is no reason to worry her with my paranoia.

“Work is hard.” Ciara sighs, as if she’s worked a nine to five for ten years.

I can’t help but laugh, and she grins back even though there’s a bit of a puzzled look on her face.

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