Bony-assed Emma is invading our personal space and fucking up our playhouse.
I need to put an end to this.Right now.
“Emma!”I wait but hear no response.I make a half turn and yell the other way.“Emma!”Nothing.
Maybe she can’t hear me over the whirring and rumbling of the damn appliances.
I step back into the living room and listen for her.Only silence.I wonder if she’s taken off with all the dishes and called it a job well done.That would be typical.She moves around all our shit then hits the road because the job requires actual effort, and she couldn’t find any silver to thieve.
My heart is doing the racing thing again, even though I’m standing in place.I catch my image in the foyer mirror, then step closer.My face is contorted like I’m in pain, which is ridiculous.Maybe I’m supposed to have clean kitchen counters.And if I decide that’s not what I want, I’ll ask Emma not to clean them again.
Fixed.
After all, I’m the boss.She works for me.I can fire her if she doesn’t have it on lock, just like Summer said.
I can work with Emma, show her what I need.I have lots of experience working with skittish fillies.
I decide to search for her upstairs, where I can give her a talking-to about respecting the personal space of the family who employs her.Halfway up the steps, I hear her voice.When I get to the top, I realize she’s in Jasmine’s room and she’s talking to someone.
“What about this?”I hear her ask.“You want this as a ‘now’ toy or in the memory box or the donation bag?”
“Uh… memory box.My dad gave me that for my sixth birthday.”
“Memory box it is,” Emma says.
She’s talking to my daughter.
Being alone with my daughter is against every one of the fucking rules.
What the fuck?She’s not supposed to be anywhere near my daughter!
“My room is going to be so pretty,” I hear Jasmine say, as I sneak up to the bedroom door.
“It’s good when everything’s in its place and you don’t have to hunt for what you want.You’ll be able to enjoy all these nice things even more.”
I step in to Jasmine’s doorway.She and Emma are sitting cross-legged on the floor with their backs to me, surrounded by Jasmine’s belongings.They’re studying each item and deciding how to categorize it.
“Excuse me.”
Emma startles.Jasmine smiles wide, hops up, and squeezes me in a tight hug.
“Emma’s helping me with my room!I’m going to have a pretty house just like my friend Tiffany.Can we invite her to come for a sleepover?”
“Uh…sure.”
I’m caught off guard at how happy Jasmine is.How many times have I told myself that my only wish in life is for my daughter to be happy?But not like this.I don’t want her happy because she’s enjoying unsupervised contact with a stranger.“Aren’t you supposed to be helping Aunt Phyllis?”
“It’s the day her hairdresser comes over.I got bored and came back home, and Emma’s helping me organize my room!”
I let my eyes go to Emma.She’s still cross-legged on the floor, turned slightly away and looking down.It looks like she’s inspecting the carpet fibers.That’s when it hits me…
I’m seeing the carpet in Jasmine’s room.I’d forgotten what it looks like.
I pat Jasmine on her upper arm.“How about you go back over to Grandpa’s and get a couple of his secret cream sodas and bring them back over here?Do you remember where his hiding place is?”
“In the basement behind the paint cans, but do I have to go right now?”
I nod.“The organizing can wait.Cream soda cannot.”
