Abby glanced between Stella and me, just as confused as I was. I frowned. She was making more of it than had really happened, but I let it go.
I took the paper mug and refilled more hot water. “By the way, Abby, are you taking Ty to Movie and Popcorn night? Do you know about it?”
“Yes, I was going to ask you to come with us.”
I dunked the tea bag several times and tossed it into the trashcan under the table. “Sure. What are we watching?”
“I have no idea. Something animated. That’s all I know.” Abby pulled her phone from her back pocket and kicked up her feet on the table. Then she shot back up into a sitting position while scrolling through her phone. “Oh, darn it. I told my friends I was free on Saturday night. I was going to ask you to watch Ty for me.”
I mixed honey into my tea and stirred the hot liquid with a mixing stick. “Definitely. You go out with your friends and I’ll take care of Tyler.”
“I don’t know.” She bit her bottom lip. “I should spend time with him.”
“He’ll be fine. You spend almost all of your time with him—one night isn’t going to hurt. Besides, when will I ever get to take him to a function alone without you? It’ll be quality auntie-nephew bonding time.”
“As long as Ty is okay with me not being there, then I’ll take your offer. It’s been a while since I did adult things.”
I was ecstatic to see my sister wanting to go out with her friends. She deserved some fun too—needed to move forward without Steve.
“Well, break time is over.” Abby rose and stretched her arms to the ceiling. “I’m going to the back room so I can fix something.” She directed her words at me with an accusing squint.
She meant the hot mess called Mr. Medici’s Shirt.
I shrugged sheepishly and plopped down on the sofa. “I told you I was sorry.” I pouted.
When I had told Abby I had painted the huge canvas, she’d thought I’d painted something worth selling. Little did she know I had made a mess. When she’d seen the masterpiece, she’d scolded me over the phone.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. Actually, you should come with me and fix it.” She pulled me up from my seat.
I pointed at my chest. “You want me to fix Mr. Medici’s Shirt?”
“Yes. You made the mess. You fix it. And you actually gave that monstrosity a name?”
I raised my hands, palms up, as if to say who cares?
We sounded like two kids in a fight. It reminded me of the days when we argued over clothes, makeup, and art supplies. She was right though. I did make that mess and no painting was set in stone.
“Fine.” I frowned.
“Awww. You two are so cute. I wish I had a sister,” Stella said. She swiveled her rolling chair to face us.
“Are you sure you’d want what I have to deal with?” I said. I grabbed my tea and dragged my feet. “You might want to take that back, though we are cute.”
Abby shook her head and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. “She’s not as cute as me.”
We laughed like little girls as we entered the painting room.
Chapter Thirteen — After School
Abby and I decided to surprise Tyler by picking him up together after work. Abby had already signed him out and we were waiting by the bulletin board for Mrs. Fong to excuse him.
“Mom! Auntie Kate!” Tyler rushed out from this classroom and tackled his mom first and then me.
I squeezed him tight, and he made a gruff sound. “How was your day?”
“Good. We made a Christmas ornament with our picture on it, but I can’t take it home yet. We can go home now.” Tyler clutched Abby’s shirt, practically dragging her out.
“Hold on. Let me ask a question.” Abby spun to her right, leaving Tyler with me, and stopped at the front desk. “Mrs. Hall, is there a student name Roselyn Banks at this preschool?”
I shoved my fists on my hips and snarled at Abby. I didn’t care if anyone saw me act childish. She couldn’t leave it alone.
Mrs. Hall adjusted her glasses and blinked. “Mrs. Fuller. Let me take a look, but the name doesn’t sound familiar. Is she new?” She thumbed through the files and then scrolled on her computer. “No. We don’t have a student named Roselyn Banks. Are you sure you have the right name?”
Abby flashed a glance my way, schooling her face into an I told you so expression before she shifted her attention back to Mrs. Hall. “Perhaps I got the name wrong. Thanks for checking.”
“You’re welcome. Is there anything else I could help you with?”
“No, but thank you. Have a good evening. And thank you for all you do for our children and this school.”
“Kiss-butt,” I whispered to Abby when she joined us back at the bulletin board.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Call me whatever you like. Something doesn’t feel right.”
I furrowed my brow. My sister might be older, but no way would she tell me what to do.
“I’m going there Monday because I made a commitment. If anything feels strange, I’ll back out. Maybe Mrs. Hall didn’t check the records well, or maybe people who live in a house like that require more privacy. I’m just saying people make mistakes.”
“I’m just looking after you, but fine, go get yourself killed.” She stabbed me hard with her gaze.
“Mom.” Tyler pointed at a poster on the bulletin board. “Can we go to Movie and Popcorn night? Oh, please, please. They’re playing The Littlest Christmas Tree, and Jace and Bridget are going. They want me to go too.”
Abby lowered to her knees as she did when she wanted his full attention. “Ty, would it be okay if Auntie Kate took you instead of me?”
“I don’t mind. Does that mean I can go?”
Abby had been stressing, but Tyler wanted to go so badly he probably didn’t care who took him. Sometimes we gave kids no credit.
“Yes,” Abby said and kissed his forehead.
“Yah! It’s going to be fun.” His brown eyes gleamed. “I’ve never been to one before.”
Abby rose and looked at me. “I’ve taken him to school fundraiser events before, but we never stayed long. So thank you.”
“What are sisters for?” I gave her a pointed look.
I understood Abby not wanting to socialize. Having to be polite while she explained repeatedly that her husband was dead would be torture.
Tyler tugged on Abby’s shirt, leading her out the door.
Abby turned to me to whisper, “Ty won’t hold my hand at school.” Then grabbed his arm to prevent him from bumping into another parent. “Whoa, hold on Ty. Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Well, hello there,” a sultry voice said.
A gorgeous woman and a handsome boy were also heading to the parking lot.
Tyler scowled.
“Oh, hi Jessica,” Abby said nonchalantly. “This is my sister, Kaitlyn.”
When she introduced me as Kaitlyn, I knew she didn’t like this woman. It had been our secret code since high school.
Jessica’s auburn bobbed hair was immaculate, not a strand out of place. The flawless makeup brought out her blue eyes, and the red dress fitted to her curvy body made her look like a Victoria’s Secret model.