Page 3 of Asher's Assignment
“You’re not here for fun. You’re here to teach her.”
“I know. And I promise she’ll learn from this.”
The skeptical arch to his eyebrow told her he thought otherwise, but he didn’t stop her as she left the house.
Outside, she opened her SUV’s rear hatch and popped the lid of the clear plastic tote. The candy was on top. She grabbed the bag and a few art supplies, then closed the car. Arms loaded, she turned to head inside.
Movement at the side of the house caught her attention. She paused and squinted through the drizzle that was rapidly turning to fog.
A shadow shifted, too tall to be an animal. Someone was there.
Not in the best neighborhood, she hurried up the walkway. She doubted Rob would help if someone tried to do something to her. He might give her the creeps, but being inside with him was preferable to being outside around someone with nefarious intent.
Heels clacking on the concrete as she slowly walked toward the door, she squinted into the fog to get a better look. She caught a glimpse of a figure, but nothing else.
Esther frowned, pausing at the base of the steps. Who was that? With the fog and the growing darkness, she couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman. Who would be walking up their driveway?
Rob pushed the door open. “You coming?”
Her gaze swung to his. “Huh? Oh. Yes. Yes, I’m coming.” She gave him a tight smile and stepped inside. “Thank you.”
His dark eyes latched onto her as she walked past him. Esther kept her gaze forward and said nothing else. She crossed the kitchen threshold and pasted on another smile for Leah’s benefit. “Okay, kiddo. Let’s have some fun.”
The next hour flew by while they played some fun multiplication games and made a pretty card for Leah’s mom. When their time was up, Leah had a smile on her face.
Esther gathered up all her supplies and picked up her bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I hope your mom feels better soon.”
“Me too. Thanks, Miss Campbell.” Some of the melancholy came back to Leah’s face.
It was all Esther could do not to hug the girl. Rob would not like that, though. Instead, she laid a hand on Leah’s shoulder for a moment. “You’re welcome. Have a good evening.” With a quick wave, she walked out of the kitchen.
Eyes followed her as she moved through the living room. “Have a good night, Mr. Tyler. I hope your wife feels better.”
He grunted from his chair, not bothering to get up and see her out. Esther opened the door and immediately breathed a sigh of relief when it closed behind her. She picked her way down the brittle stairs and hurried to her car. It beeped as she unlocked it.
A hooded figure emerged from the fog across the road, highlighted by the streetlamp. It was a man, about six feet tall, and thin. His baggy gray sweatshirt and dark jeans hung on his frame. He paused in the glow, facing her. She couldn’t see his face, but she could feel his eyes watching her every move.
Freaked out, Esther didn’t bother putting her things in the tote in the back. She yanked on the passenger door handle and tossed everything onto the seat. It could be sorted and put away when she got home. Where she felt safe.
Rounding the hood and keeping one eye on the stranger, she got in and pushed the lock button as soon as the door shut. From the corner of her eye, she could see the man still standing there. For the first time, she questioned whether the extra money was worth it. This was a rough neighborhood. The nights were growing darker sooner. Before long, she’d be leaving the Tylers’ home in total darkness.
But if she didn’t tutor Leah, who would? The girl’s education would lapse while the district tried to find someone to fill her place. Esther couldn’t let that happen. Maybe she’d talk to Edie about the best kind of pepper spray to buy. Or a taser. Something to help her feel safer.
Two
Esther’s stomach growled as she rinsed the rice for her dinner. She’d forgotten to cook it when she cooked the shrimp and vegetables, so now she was doubly hungry. After she ate, she was going to sink into a bath with some wine and hopefully relax. Her brain was so scattered.
The phone rang across the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder, but couldn’t see who was calling from where she stood.
Picking up the saucepan, Esther held the dripping strainer over it while she took a few steps back to look at the phone where it sat on the opposite counter. Her sister’s face lit up the screen. She set the strainer in the pot, then swiped the screen to answer and put the call on speaker. “Hi, Edie. I’m cooking dinner.”
“Oh, yum. What are you having?”
“Nothing special. Stir fry. What’s up? It’s not movie night.”
“Can’t a sister call to talk?”
“Sure. But you usually have a reason. Is everything okay?”
