Page 70 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

After the call, I gathered the envelope to take it to the hotel safe. But then I got to thinking that I was about to hand over something someone had been willing to kill for. Something that the person texting us was growing more threatening about getting. Maybe I should have another copy just in case.

I pulled out my new phone and ran a scan to make sure it was clean of bugs or malware, and then I took a picture of each page, encrypting them as I saved them.

When I finished, I felt unsettled. When Lindsay brought the envelope, I thought finally, this issue would be resolved and I could move on. I could resolve my guilt around Liam and give myself to Lindsay. But now I realized Lindsay and I were in a most dangerous and vulnerable state. If this went sideways and Lindsay got hurt, I didn’t know how I’d be able to live with myself.

21

Lindsay

Ileft Oliver’s hotel room, rushing to the elevator and not breathing until the door closed and I was heading down to the lobby. Relief washed over me as I realized I didn't have to tell Oliver about the girls tonight. But guilt quickly followed. He deserved to know the truth. Not only had I not told him, but I’d lied to him about why I had to leave. My father wasn’t ill. Georgie was.

I hurried to Mira and my father’s house, doing my best to change my focus from my guilt at not telling Oliver about the girls to mother mode.

When I entered, Mira met me. “Georgie is resting in her bed.”

“Does she have a temperature?” I asked as I shed my coat and hung it in the closet.

“Just a small one. I gave her some pain reliever and she’s been sleeping. The rest of the bunch are in the family room. They don’t show any signs of sickness, but you know how these things are.”

I nodded. Chances were, the other kids would come down with whatever Georgie had. Hopefully, I wouldn’t.

"Thanks, Mira." I headed to the girls’ room. Georgie lay in bed sound asleep. My little busybody was completely quiet and relaxed. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I brushed her hair away from her forehead.

"Mommy?" Georgie mumbled, her blue eyes fluttering open.

"Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"I threw up.”

“I’m sorry. How do you feel now?”

She shrugged and nestled deeper into her pillow. “When can we go home?”

“I’m hoping it will be tomorrow. Do you miss your bed?”

She nodded. “And my room and my toys.”

“You rest, and tomorrow, hopefully, you’ll be back in your own room.”

“’Kay.” Georgie's eyes closed again, and her breathing evened out as she drifted back to sleep. As I watched her, I realized I too wanted our lives to return to normal. We'd be back in our own home soon, but what would happen between Oliver and me? Would he understand when I finally told him the truth about the girls?

I kissed Georgie’s forehead and then left her to sleep. I checked on Cassie and Olivia who were watching a Christmas movie in the family room.

“Georgie threw up,” Cassie announced when I entered the room.

“So I heard. How do you all feel?”

“Good.” Cassie turned her attention back to the movie.

“How about you, Olivia?”

She held up her index finger. I moved toward her, studying her finger. “Did you hurt it?”

She nodded. “Cassie closed it in a drawer.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Cassie frowned at Olivia as if she was tired of having to discuss the situation.

I kissed Olivia’s finger. “I think it will be okay. I’m going to help Mira in the kitchen, okay?”

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