Page 51 of This Heart
“Aurora said she stopped by multiple times and was told it wasn’t a good time.”
“Maybe Aurora needs to learn when Winnie goes down for a nap and not stop by then.”
Anger instantly raced through my body. “Aurora knows everything about Winnie, Kim. She was there for me and Hope when we needed her the most. There isn’t anything she doesn’t know about my daughter, and regardless of whether Winnie is sleeping or not, do not ever turn Aurora, or anyone else, away from visiting with my daughter.”
“And that is the point, Liam. She is clingy and loves on Winnie simply to get to you. I’m only doing what I think is best for you and Winnie. You can’t see it, but I can. Aurora wants what Hope had. And she has put her friends up to getting close to you so that she can spend time with you. I mean, who has a movie night with a bunch of grown-ups and watches a kid movie?”
It felt like someone had slammed something against my chest, and I fought for breath for a moment. Hope’s words flooded back into my memory, and I quickly pushed them away when a thought occurred to me.
“How did you know what Hope said about Aurora?”
“You told me,” Kim quickly said.
“I never told you what Hope said. There are only two people I have shared that with: Aurora and her brother Nathan. So, I’ll ask you again. How did you know what Hope said about Aurora?”
Kim sighed, as if I were being utterly ridiculous. “Liam, on my third day of working, you came home and poured a drink because you said it had been a long night. I stayed and talked to you. Do you remember?”
Feeling uneasy, I replied, “Yes, I remember.”
Sighing, she said. “It wasn’t just the one drink you had. You kept drinking and unburdened yourself on me. You told me that night. You might have been a bit drunk. No, you were drunk because I helped you up into your bed. I didn’t want to say anything because I thought you might be embarrassed, but you told me Hope thought Aurora was trying to take her place. That you had confronted Aurora about it.”
Sickness rolled through my stomach. “I told you that?”
“Yes. So, I did what I thought you would want me to do.”
“No, I don’t want you to do that. I was wrong. Hope was wrong. She was very sick, and it was toward the end. She said a lot of things she wouldn’t have normally said. Aurora has been nothing but a friend to both Hope and me. She adores Winnie, and I want her in our lives.”
“Liam, are you sure this isn’t guilt speaking?”
My hand pushed through my hair in frustration. “Kim, you are hired to watch Winnie, not dictate who is in or out of our lives. Or be a therapist. Do you understand that?”
She remained silent for a moment before softly saying, “Of course. I overstepped. It won’t happen again.”
Closing my eyes, I slowly let out a breath. “I was out of place first of all for drinking too much, and second for sharing that bit of information. I would appreciate it if you kept this to yourself and did not mention it to Aurora.”
My mind was spinning. I did not remember getting drunk, and there is no way I would confide in Kim. I needed to get off the phone and think this over. It was clear to me, though, that I needed to find someone to replace Kim. The sooner the better.
“Of course I won’t.”
“Thank you. We’re going to have to talk about things moving forward.”
“What do you mean?”
I slowly walked back to Winnie’s room and saw Aurora putting Winnie’s hair up in ponytails. Turning away, I lowered my voice. “Perry the Moose is very important to Winnie, so if you think of a place she might have left it, please let me know.”
“Of course, I will.” Clearing her throat, she asked again, “What do you mean things moving forward?”
That was a conversation I wasn’t about to have over the phone. “It’s nothing that can’t wait until I see you. Enjoy your day off, Kim.”
“You, as well, Liam.”
I ended the call and watched Winnie turn and hug Aurora after looking at her hair in the mirror. When Aurora saw me, she smiled weakly.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She looked at Winnie, then made her way over to me. In a lowered voice, she asked, “What happened to the picture of Hope?”
Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?”
