All eyes went to her.
Thinking quickly, she wobbled a bit. “Sorry. Excuse my language. Just… eh, feeling dizzy after so much jumping.”
She was indeed feeling dizzy, but it wasn’t because of the trampoline.
What was Athena doing there? Would she recognize Samantha as Tonya?
Calm down. Kendrick was a cop, so he’s hyper-observant. He didn’t recognize you. She won’t, either.
That did little to calm her fears. Auntie Athena seemed like the type who didn’t miss much.
Great. This could get dicey.
It was as if she could feel Auntie’s eyes on her. Did she pick up on something? Was it already starting to unravel?
The thought made Samantha want to cry. What if her life with Kendrick was derailed before it even started?
That would be just her luck.
Samantha braced herself for Athena to reveal the truth. Instead, she heard the matronly woman say, “Well hello there, Little Samantha. It’s lovely to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you!”
Samantha climbed down from the trampoline, careful to make it appear as if she was still woozy. She needed that story she’d just told to hold up, after all. Besides, she didn’t have to act much. Coming from the squishy, bouncy surface to the hard ground would take a few seconds to adjust to.
“You’ve heard about me?” she probed.
“Sure have. Kendrick has told me all about you. Honey, you’ve really put a spell over that man.”
Samantha giggled. “The feeling is mutual,” she admitted.
Silence settled over them. It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable. But she could tell Auntie Athena was searching her eyes.
No condemnation came. Only a warm smile and a soothing hand on Samantha’s shoulder. “Welcome, honey. So good to have you. I’ve heard you want to play at my nursery.”
Samantha nodded, worried that if she spoke her voice would betray how nervous she was.
“Well, tomorrow, if you’re free, why don’t you come on by and I’ll introduce you to the Littles that hang out there. It’s not the same crowd every day, but we have a few regulars who show up a few times a week.”
Samantha cleared her throat. “Thank you! But I have to work tomorrow. Maybe the next day?”
“You come anytime you’d like, sweetie. You’re always welcome at Auntie Athena’s.”
She hugged Samantha, and a warm sensation spread inside the Little’s core.
“Dinner is ready,” Kendrick called from the back door.
Everyone filed inside. There, Samantha saw Trevon and Auntie Caroline, too. She hoped her acting skills were up for the challenge as she pretended to meet them for the first time. If she wasn’t convincing, no one said anything to her.
This evening was growing more difficult by the second! She hadn’t spent a ton of time with Caroline, so she doubted she’d recognize her.
But Trevon? He was very observant. It was his job to be. Anyone who knew him knew he took his role as the nursery’s security very seriously. And he was quite intimidating.
Would he realize who Samantha actually was?
Her stomach was in knots as she took her seat at the long table in the formal dining room.
On her right side was Kendrick. On her left was Auntie Caroline. Directly across was Athena, and next to her was Trevon.
Great! Just great. If anyone was going to recognize her, it would probably be Athena, Trevon, and then Kendrick.
