Page 29 of Eleven of a Kind

“Go on. Tell him what you did,” I said.

“No. Can’t you?” Riley asked.

“Nope. You need to come clean yourself.”

“I shoved a shirt and a dress I really liked into my backpack. Please don’t kill me, Dad. I apologized to her a thousand times.”

“Wow.” He shook his head. “I cannot believe you did that. And where is your friend?”

“That little coward left her and the store first.” I smiled.

“You are grounded for life, young lady!” He pointed at her. “How much do I owe you? Even though she’s not keeping the items, I still want to pay for them for all the trouble she caused.”

“No need, Dr. Kind. Riley can have the shirt and the dress.”

“What?” Riley’s eyes widened.

“Absolutely not!” Dr. Kind spoke.

“Hear me out.” I put my hand up. “She will work for the shirt and the dress here at my store. She’ll come to my shop three days a week for a couple of hours after school. I could use the extra help unpacking boxes and odd things around here.”

“I have no way of getting her here. I own my own medical practice, and I just can’t leave. She usually takes the bus home.”

“No worries. I’ll pick her up from school and bring her here. Then you can pick her up when you finish work.” I smiled.

“I don’t want—” Riley started to speak.

“Too bad!” Dr. Kind pointed at her. “I can’t ask you to pick her up. I can try to arrange for someone to do it and bring her here.”

“It’s no trouble. I promise you.”

“Riley, go out there and wait for me while I talk to—” He scanned my left hand— “Miss Primrose. And do not touch a thing!”

She rolled her eyes and walked out of the back.

“Why are you doing this, Miss Primrose?” he asked.

“She told me that her mother passed away a few months ago. I’m very sorry for your loss,” I said.

“I appreciate it, but I haven’t seen her mother in fifteen years.”

“Oh,” I spoke with surprise.

“I just found out about Riley less than two months ago when she showed up at my practice.”

“I see. Well, in any case, Riley is a little misguided right now. She reminds me of myself when I was her age, and I think helping me out here to pay for the items she stole will help her gain some responsibility. All kids steal stuff at least once in their life, Dr. Kind. Don’t be too hard on her.”

He let out a sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess. Thank you, Miss Primrose, for not calling the police.”

“Call me Piper.” I smiled. “And I gave Riley the choice. She chose you even though she was afraid you were going to put her six feet under.”

“Again, thank you.”

When we walked out of the back, I went over to where Riley stood talking to Tara.

“You start tomorrow. What time do you get out of school?”

“Three fifteen.”

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