Chapter 4 - Eleanor’s DecisionEleanor Hayes arrived Saturday morning without calling.
She rarely called.
In Eleanor’s mind, family did not require appointments.
Sarah was in the breakfast room helping Lucy decorate pancakes with blueberries.
Henry was building what he claimed was a fortress from toast.
Alexander was reading something on his tablet while pretending not to watch the chaos.
Mrs. Doyle entered.
“Mrs. Hayes is here.”
Alexander looked up.
“Of course she is.”
Sarah heard the change in his voice.
Two minutes later, Eleanor walked in.
Her eyes moved across the table.
Blueberries.
Toast.
Syrup.
The teddy bear sitting in an empty chair.
Sarah wearing a paper napkin folded into a crown.
Eleanor’s lips tightened.
“What exactly is happening?”
Henry answered.
“Breakfast.”
“I can see that.”
Sarah removed the napkin crown.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hayes.”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Miss Bennett.”
Alexander placed his tablet down.
“Mother.”
“I came to see the children.”
Lucy lifted a blueberry.
“You want one?”
Eleanor’s expression softened slightly.
“No, sweetheart.”
Henry leaned toward Sarah.
“She doesn’t like fun food.”
Eleanor heard him.
Sarah coughed to hide a laugh.
Alexander did not bother hiding his.
Eleanor noticed.
That seemed to irritate her most.
“Alexander, may I speak with you?”
“We’re having breakfast.”
“It’s important.”
“So is breakfast.”
Sarah looked between them.
“I can take the kids upstairs.”
“No,” Alexander said.
Eleanor’s jaw tightened.
Sarah felt the tension immediately.
Henry felt it too.
Children always did.
Sarah stood.
“Come on.”
“Where?” Lucy asked.
“We’re going to find out whether your teddy bear can fit inside the laundry basket elevator.”
Henry immediately got up.
“That’s not an elevator.”
“Not with that attitude.”
They left.
Once the door closed, Eleanor faced her son.
“You extended her contract.”
“Yes.”
“You did not tell me.”
“I didn’t realize I needed permission.”
“Don’t be childish.”
Alexander leaned back.
“Then don’t treat me like a child.”
Eleanor lowered her voice.
“The children are vulnerable.”
“I’m aware.”
“They’re attaching themselves to a temporary employee.”
“She’s staying.”
“For a month.”
Alexander stared at her.
“How do you know that?”
Eleanor did not answer quickly enough.
“Mother.”
“The agency representative knows our family.”
“You contacted the agency.”
“I asked a question.”
“You had no right.”
“I have every right to be concerned.”
Alexander stood.
“No.”
“You have every right to be their grandmother.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Eleanor looked genuinely hurt.
But Alexander continued.
“You don’t run this house.”
“You don’t decide who works here.”
“And you definitely do not investigate people behind my back.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“I investigated her because you clearly did not.”
Alexander went still.
“What does that mean?”
Eleanor reached into her handbag.
She placed a folder on the table.
Sarah Bennett.
Personal history.
Previous employers.
Financial records.
Alexander’s face changed.
“You had her investigated.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because somebody had to.”
Alexander did not touch the folder.
“Get it off my table.”
“You should read it.”
“No.”
“She left her last position suddenly.”
“I know.”
“Did you know there was a complaint?”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“What complaint?”
Eleanor pushed the folder closer.
“A former employer accused her of becoming emotionally overinvolved with the family.”
Alexander stared.
“That is not misconduct.”
“There was an incident.”
“What incident?”
“She took a child out of the house without permission.”
Alexander looked at the folder.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared.
Eleanor saw it.
“She was dismissed.”
Alexander finally opened the folder.
The report was brief.
A family in Connecticut.
A six-year-old boy.
Sarah had taken him to a public park without notifying the parents.
Police had been called when the family discovered the child missing.
The boy was found safely with Sarah thirty minutes later.
No charges.
Employment terminated.
Alexander closed the file.
“You think this makes her dangerous?”
“I think it makes her unpredictable.”
“Why didn’t the agency disclose it?”
“Because no charges were filed.”
Alexander looked toward the ceiling.
Upstairs, faint laughter carried down the hall.
Eleanor followed his gaze.
“You hear that and think everything is fixed.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re lonely.”
Alexander looked at her sharply.
Eleanor continued.
“You’ve spent two years raising those children inside grief.”
“Then this woman arrives.”
“She makes them laugh.”
“She makes you laugh.”
“And suddenly you think she belongs here.”
Alexander’s voice became cold.
“Be careful.”
“I’m trying to protect you.”
“No.”
“You’re trying to control what you’re afraid of.”
Eleanor recoiled.
Alexander picked up the folder.
“I’ll ask Sarah.”
“You’re going to trust her explanation?”
“I’m going to give her the dignity of one.”
Upstairs, Sarah was sitting on the hallway floor.
The laundry basket had indeed become an elevator.
Lucy was inside it.
Henry was operating the imaginary controls.
Sarah laughed.
Then she saw Alexander at the far end of the hallway.
His expression told her something was wrong.
“Kids,” he said.
“Mrs. Doyle has cookies downstairs.”
Henry narrowed his eyes.
“That sounds like a trick.”
“It’s not.”
Lucy climbed out.
They ran downstairs.
Sarah stood.
“What happened?”
Alexander held up the folder.
Her face changed instantly.
He saw it.
“You know what this is.”
“Yes.”
“My mother had you investigated.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“Of course she did.”
“Tell me about Connecticut.”
Sarah looked away.
Alexander waited.
“I made a mistake.”
“What happened?”
“The boy’s parents were fighting.”
“Constantly.”
“He was scared.”
“He asked me to take him outside.”
“I thought we were going to the backyard.”
“Then he asked if we could walk to the park.”
“And you went.”
“Yes.”
“Without telling them.”
“Yes.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“I left a note.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I know.”
“They thought their child was missing.”
“I know.”
“They called the police.”
“I know.”
Sarah finally looked at him.
“I was wrong.”
“I was twenty-four.”
“I thought because he trusted me, I knew what he needed.”
“I crossed a line.”
Alexander said nothing.
“That’s why I’m careful now.”
“That’s why I don’t pretend caring gives me rights I don’t have.”
“That’s why I was going to leave Friday.”
Alexander absorbed that.
“Because you were afraid of repeating it.”
“Yes.”
He looked at the folder.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s in my agency file.”
“Not the version they sent me.”
Sarah’s expression shifted.
“I didn’t know that.”
Alexander studied her.
“Would you ever take Henry or Lucy anywhere without asking me?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“Would you ignore a rule because you thought you knew better?”
Sarah hesitated.
“Not unless the rule put them in danger.”
Alexander almost smiled.
“That’s not exactly reassuring.”
“It’s honest.”
He looked at her.
Then at the folder.
He tore it in half.
Sarah stared.
“What are you doing?”
“My mother paid someone to invade your privacy.”
He tore it again.
“She doesn’t get to use it.”
Sarah watched the pieces fall into a wastebasket.
“You’re not firing me?”
Alexander looked at her.
“Did you expect me to?”
“A little.”
“Should I?”
“No.”
“Then no.”
Sarah exhaled.
Alexander stepped closer.
“But if you ever put one of my children in a laundry basket and push them down the stairs, I’m reconsidering.”
Sarah stared.
Then laughed.
“That was one time.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I’m joking.”
“You need better jokes.”
“So I’ve heard.”
Downstairs, Eleanor waited.
Alexander returned alone.
“Well?” she asked.
“She stays.”
Eleanor stared at him.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Maybe.”
“And you’re comfortable with that?”
Alexander looked toward the stairs.
“For the first time in a long time, yes.”
Eleanor picked up her handbag.
Before leaving, she stopped near the front door.
“You think I’m the enemy.”
“I don’t.”
Alexander’s voice softened.
“I think you’re scared.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“Of what?”
“That this family might change without your permission.”
She left without answering.
Alexander watched her car disappear through the gates.
Behind him, Sarah came downstairs holding the teddy bear.
Lucy followed.
Henry carried the homemade microphone.
Sarah met Alexander’s eyes.
For now, she was staying.
But Eleanor had planted something in the house.
Not fear.
May you like
A question.
How much did any of them truly know about the people they were beginning to trust?
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