Breaking Skin by Debra Doxer Read Free Book Online

I call to Langley. After a silent moment, I add, “You know I can’t see you shrugging your shoulders from in here, right?”
    That earns me a quiet giggle as I close the cabinet and smile to myself. In that moment, I make the decision not to wait around for Renee. If she wanted me to watch Langley for her, she should have told me, left me some instructions, some food, some hint of where she went and when she would be back.
    “How about McDonald’s?” I ask Langley, making sure to position myself in front of the television so she has to look at me.
    Her expression tenses in annoyance because I’m blocking her view. “I’m not allowed to eat McDonald’s.”
    I didn’t know this, but I don’t see what the big deal is. “Well, I’m in charge at the moment, and I say you can eat it today since there’s no food in the kitchen.”
    Her brows squish together. “Babysitters are supposed to do what moms tell them. Even when Mom isn’t here, she’s the boss.”
    I snort out a laugh. Renee has trained her well. “I’m not a babysitter, I’m family, and your mother never told me you couldn’t eat at McDonald’s.” She didn’t tell me anything.
    Langley gives me a skeptical look.
    “You can get salads there now and other healthy stuff. Does your mom know that?”
    She shrugs again, and I groan inwardly at all the shrugging.
    “Do you know where she keeps the keys to her car?”
    “You’re going to drive her car?” she asks, sounding appalled.
    “Yup. It’s that or starve.”
    Thankfully, Langley knows where the cars keys are. She points toward the kitchen. “On a hook in there under the phone.”
    With Renee’s car keys in hand, I pull my purse from my overnight bag. When I see the jewelry box I bought Langley wrapped in shiny pink paper, I decide to give it to her now. I need an icebreaker. Although using gifts to win her favor isn’t a tactic I’m proud of, I’m not afraid to use it.
    I have it behind my back as I move to stand in front of the television.
    Langley shifts to the side to see the screen, and I try not to roll my eyes. “I brought you something.” I bring my hand out from behind my back and offer the gift to her.
    Instead of the smile and excitement I hope for, she appears suspicious, which hurts.
    “Don’t you want it?”
    “What is it?”
    “You’ll have to open it and see. But if you don’t want it . . .” I go to move it behind my back again and her reticence falls away.
    “I want it,” she declares. Then comes forward and cautiously takes it from my hand.
    “What is it?” she asks again as she tears the wrapping off. But I don’t have to answer because she lifts the top and Princess Odette spins around as music plays.
    “A music box,” she says quietly, and I can’t tell if she likes it or not.
    “You can put your heart necklace inside and all your other jewelry too.” I show her how the top lifts out to reveal more compartments inside.
    “What heart necklace?” she asks as she lightly touches her finger to Princess Odette’s tutu.
    “The one I sent for your birthday.”
    Her finger stills. “You didn’t send me anything for my birthday.”
    “Yes, I did. A silver necklace with . . .” I break off as a realization takes hold.
    Oh no . Renee didn’t give her my present. My blood runs cold.
    “I sent you a necklace for your birthday, sweetie. It must have gotten lost in the mail. I’ll get you another one. I promise.”
    But it didn’t get lost in the mail. I know it didn’t, and my heart hurts when she just nods as if she’s not sure whether to believe me or not.
    “Thanks for the music box, Aunt Nikki,” she says politely, putting it aside.
    “You’re welcome.”
    I surprise her with a quick hug, which she doesn’t return, and I swallow my anger, but I can’t hold my tongue for long. As soon as Renee gets home, I have to have it out with her. She’s not only hurting me. She’s hurting Langley too.
    “Ready for a Happy Meal?” I ask