Page 9 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“Sorry. Maybe you should get them checked,” her soft voice suggested.

I smiled at her. I wished she knew how amazing she was. Her presence always made me smile. When I had first started working here, I’d kept to myself and pushed everyone who came too close away. That was the reason some of my colleagues didn’t like me. To them, I was the spoiled rich girl who had fallen from grace to grass. Malva and Donia had kept trying until I eventually gave in and agreed to be friends.

Mrs. Carter dismissed some of the staff early, including me, which, of course, came as a surprise. I called Mrs. Porter, and she told me they were still at the hospital, so I decided to meet them there.

I took a cab to the hospital. I’d changed from my housekeeper uniform into a yellow floral dress. I left my short hair down. I brushed my fingers through my hair as I walked into the hospital building. I met them on the second floor. Kayden was crying when I entered the room.

“What happened?”

I rushed to the bed where he was sitting and wiped his tears away. He moved closer and wrapped his small arms around my neck.

“He was running around the room and making so much noise. I picked him up to hold him, but he wanted me to put him down, so he could keep running around.” Mrs. Porter explained.

“Kayden, that’s not right. You don’t do that in a hospital. I will take you to the park, okay?”

He just snuggled closer, burying his face in my neck.

“Where is the doctor?” I asked as I stroked his hair.

“He left not long ago. He will be back soon.”

Kayden dozed off on my shoulder before the doctor returned. We didn’t stay for long. We left after speaking to his doctor.

“Wait here. I will get the car.” Mrs. Porter left while I stood on the sidewalk next to the hospital with Kayden asleep on my shoulder.

I stared at the mall across the hospital. My eyes caught a familiar face from a short distance. My heart stopped beating when I saw Morris. He was sitting behind the wheel of a black Porsche car. He still looked the same, except for the mustache above his lips. He immediately looked surprised when our eyes met.

I turned away quickly when I saw Tristan making his way to the car. He had just come out of the mall with two gift bags. I said a silent prayer, hoping Morris wouldn’t tell him I was here. I increased my grip around Kayden, my heart galloping and the worst-case scenario playing in my head. After three years, I didn’t know if I could look him in the face. Not now. Not here. Not with Kayden in my arms. If the universe could just grant me this one favor.

Nothing happened for a few seconds. I turned around, and the car was gone. I exhaled in relief, my heartbeat returning to its normal pace.

Mrs. Porter arrived, telling me a car had held her back. I put Kayden in his booster seat and fastened the seat belt. I looked around again, as if I would see him. It felt like I’d imagined it. I entered the car, and we left.

That was close.

***

It’d been a week since I’d almost run into Tristan. I guessed Morris hadn’t said anything, or maybe he hadn’t recognized me that day. Maybe he had told him, but Tristan decided to stay away, like he’d promised. I was not over the fear I’d felt that day, the constriction in my chest and panic slowly consuming me.

Sunday, I decided to take Kayden to the park to play. It was our normal Sunday routine, where I spent the whole day with him going to parks, the beach, or an amusement park. He loved going to the park. The sparkle of joy in his eyes and his sweet giggles always made me smile. Kayden could be a handful sometimes, and I knew Mrs. Porter had to handle all that every day.

Mrs. Porter allowed me to use her car. She had, like, five cars parked in her garage. She was a wealthy widow. Her husband had left everything to her.

I squinted my eyes at the sun and sang along to the song playing on the radio. I looked back at him and blew him a kiss, and he giggled.

We took a walk down the riverbank on our way to the park. Kayden always jumped in excitement when he saw the river. He started running around immediately after I let go of his hand. I watched him closely. He giggled as a white puppy moved closer to him. He played with an old lady’s puppy. Maybe I should get him one. I wasn’t a big fan of dogs. I was more of a cat person.

I reached for my phone to text Vina. I’d left the house while she was still sleeping. She was going to question me when I returned and make assumptions about me secretly seeing someone.

I thought of the perfect lie. I typed on my phone with a frown. I didn’t like that I was lying to her.

“Chloe?” a familiar voice called behind me.

I froze.

4

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