The look of hurt turned to anger. “She told me about your little late-night, after-work drinks and how you said Hope said I was trying to replace her. She accused me of doing the same thing, which was why she kept Winnie from seeing me, because she said I was clingy. How could you tell her that?Whywould you tell her that? You told me you said it in anger. That you didn’t believe it?”
“I don’t believe it, Aurora. I don’t even remember telling Kim that.”
My mouth fell open. “You don’t remember having a conversation with her because you got that drunk?”
I felt my face heat. “I didn’t tell her. I know I didn’t tell her, and I didn’t get drunk. I don’t do that anymore. I haven’t in months.”
She slowly shook her head as she gathered up her things. She stood, and I followed. “Let’s discuss this somewhere else. Somewhere a bit more private.”
“There isn’t anything to talk about, Liam.”
She made her way outside and started walking down Main Street.
“Aurora, will you please stop and let me talk with you?”
She came to an abrupt stop, and I nearly ran into her. Turning, she looked up at me. “There is nothing to talk about. Your girlfriend made it very clear to me where I stand, and it was loud and clear.”
I nearly laughed. “My girlfriend? What in the hell are you talking about?”
Her head tilted to the side. “What’s wrong, Liam? You don’t remember sleeping with Kim? She said you rekindled your old relationship, so don’t try to deny it.”
It felt like a hammer hit my chest, and my words sputtered. “Slept with her? I didn’t sleep with Kim.”
“Maybe it was the same night you don’t remember telling her about what happened months ago.” Aurora turned to walk away but stopped. She again faced me and said, “You might want to invest in a nanny camera, Liam. Your sparkling nanny-slash-girlfriend treats your daughter like shit.”
And with that, she turned and stormed down the street. I stood there, my head reeling with everything she said.
A car drove up, and I turned to see Declan in a Moose Village police car. “Liam, is everything okay?”
I slowly shook my head. “I don’t think so, Declan.”
Turning to face him, I asked, “When do you get off work?”
“I’m off right now.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled before asking, “Can you do me a favor?”
He nodded. “Of course I will. Just name it.”
Declan and I sat at the kitchen table, staring at my laptop.
“You don’t think she would have hurt Winnie, do you?” Declan asked.
“I’m not sure what to think anymore. But I wanted someone else here to watch with me because I don’t know what I might see…just in case.”
He nodded.
I started the video, and we watched. Everything seemed normal at first; nothing was out of the ordinary. It was on the second day that my stomach dropped.
“Dats, Perry, da Moose from Rora. It’s my favwit.”
Winnie hugged the moose tightly to her chest.
“That’s cute, Winnie. Let’s set Perry right here while we say our prayers.”
Kim set the moose on the nightstand and proceeded to tuck Winnie in.
“Oh my God,” Declan whispered. “She does murder the moose!”
