Page 6 of Defending her Heart

“I don’t want to inconvenience you any more than I’m already asking. That would mean bringing her to work early with you, and I don’t know how my son will feel about her sleeping somewhere else. Or how Paisley would do. She’s only slept over at our house and her aunt and uncle’s in Seattle.”

“Oh.” Great. What happens if she freaks out in the middle of the night? The poor girl doesn’t have any other family or friends who can help her?

“We’ll compensate you for your time.”

“Oh. No. I don’t need any kind of compensation. I just want to make sure her father won’t mind.”

“He’ll be upset with us, but he can get over it. Chances are you won’t even see him. He’ll get home close to three in the morning, and I’m sure he’ll still be sound asleep when you leave.”

“Is it okay for me to bring her to my house first to pick up a change of clothes for tomorrow?”

“Absolutely. I’ll leave her booster seat in the front lobby. Here’s the address and some money for dinner. Feel free to order delivery.”

“I don’t—”

She pushes the envelope on me and takes her phone out of her pocket, showing me the screen. “It’s Joe,” she says with a sigh. “I need to run. I’ll leave my son a message letting him know the plan. I appreciate it, Miss Wentworth. I’d give you a hug but I don’t want to chance giving you our germs.”

She slips away before Paisley notices she was here. When the other students have left and it’s just Paisley and me, I break the news to her. She takes it really well and is excited for our impromptu sleepover.

My mom and sister aren’t home when we stop by the house, and I quickly pack a few things.

“Is this your room?” Paisley asks, hopping up on my bed.

“It is.”

“Do you live with your mommy?”

“I do. And my sister.”

“What’s your sister’s name?”

“Danielle.”

“Is she a teacher too?”

I give Paisley a sad smile. “No.”

“Is she a librarian?”

“No.” I chuckle. We talked about professions today in class and students drew pictures of what they want to be when they’re older.

“When I grow up I want to be a princess.”

I’m thankful for the change of topic. “I saw that. You drew a beautiful picture.”

“I still don’t know if I want to be Sleeping Beauty or Elsa.”

“It’s a tough decision.” I toss my toiletries in my backpack and hold out my hand for Paisley. “Ready?”

She fills the car ride with a million questions, bouncing from one topic to the next without waiting for me to completely respond before asking a new question. My GPS directs me to turn left, and the homes get larger as I make my way through the upscale neighborhood on the outskirts of Boston.

“Is this your house?” I ask as I slow in front of a gargantuan home.

“Yes. Daddy and I live here. Sometimes my cousins come and visit but I haven’t seen them in a long time because Aunt Anna is going to haveanotherbaby. Libby is five like me but I’ll be six first and Joey is a baby but he can walk and stuff.”

“You must miss them.”

“Yeah. Come see my room.” She unbuckles as soon as I park the car in front of the three-car garage.

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