Page 64 of Wicked Tricks
I patted her twice on the back, stiffening from the stranger’s touch. She straightened, holding me at arms length, “I can never thank you enough for keeping her safe and bringing her home.”
“This is Beth, my big sister. Beth, this is Rome,” Grace smiled, hitching Elle on her hip. The little girl rubbed her eyes with her chunky fists as she adjusted to being awake. Beth still had a hold of me, and I tried to think of a way to break free without hurting feelings.
“Nice to meet you,” I smiled politely, inching back towards my car.
“Please,” she said, grabbing my hand, “come in and have a coffee.”
“I should really get going. I have work soon,” I lied.
I never had a set schedule at work, I came and went as I pleased.
“Five minutes, Rome,” Grace said softly, “you should have a break, and a coffee to stay awake.”
I smiled and nodded, “OK, that would be nice, thank you.”
I followed them inside, looking around as Beth closed the door behind us.
It was such a grand farmhouse, and I idly wondered how anybody got this kind of wealth legally. Two little dark haired boys thundered down the stairs.
“Aunty Grace!” they shouted as they noticed Grace walk through the door.
Grace backed away, hiding her face from the children.
These kids didn’t understand, they had never been exposed to this kind of violence before. They were just pure and innocent, not yet exposed to the cruel realities of life that some must live through. These suburbs and well adjusted parents housed them safely from that - just how it should be.
Beth stepped forward, redirecting her boys after noticing Grace’s panic.
“Nope,” she said, hands on her hips, “go wash up before you see the baby.”
The boys ran off “OK Mama!”
“Can I use your makeup?” Grace asked, “I don’t want them to see.”
“Sure hun, my bathroom is upstairs.”
Grace nodded, and handed Elle to Beth before heading upstairs. The baby cried out for her mother, but Beth had the natural maternal instinct and began to coo and sing to the little girl which calmed her quickly.
“Come on,” Beth waved me through to their beautiful kitchen, bouncing Elle on her hip as she started the fancy looking coffee maker.
As it started to brew, the strong aroma filled the kitchen and I was grateful that I had stayed. She poured the coffee and some perfectly frothed milk into a mug and slid it to me. I leaned against the marble counter, taking the warmth into my hands.
“Thank you.”
The sliding glass door that led to the sprawling backyard opened, and a man stepped inside, slipping off his ugly crocs. He was hugely tall, with greying blonde, curly hair and grey blue eyes. He was very handsome, even for an older guy.
“Is she here?” he asked, before looking up and noticing me.
“Yes, she’s upstairs,” Beth said, giving him a look saying‘I’ll explain later,’as the kids ran into the kitchen. He walked towards her with a sweet smile, wrapping an arm around her waist and jingling his keys in front of Elle.
Beth smiled up at him with warm eyes, their children hovering by their legs.
I looked away, not wanting to intrude on the too-sweet moment.
I tried so hard to imagine myself in this kind of life, but I just didn’t see it.
“I’m Will,” he said, holding his hand out to shake mine.
“Oh!” Beth exclaimed, “how rude of me. This is Rome, she brought Gracie back.”
