Chapter 7 - The Unraveling of the LieMacy crossed her arms.
“I was frustrated.”
“You lied to my mother,” Daniel said.
“I needed help.”
“You could have asked.”
“I ask all the time.”
“You never asked me to bring Mom as unpaid childcare.”
Noah tugged at Daniel’s shirt.
“Is Grandma like the other babysitters who leave?”
Silence filled the room.
Daniel looked down.
“What other babysitters?”
Macy’s expression changed.
“Noah doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
Caleb answered before she could continue.
“Yes, he does.”
Macy snapped, “Caleb, stay out of this.”
Daniel knelt in front of him.
“What babysitters?”
Caleb looked at his mother, then back at Daniel.
“The ones Mom says are bad.”
Macy stepped forward.
“That is enough.”
Daniel stood.
“No. Let him speak.”
Caleb swallowed.
“Miss Tara left because Mom came home four hours late. Miss June left because Mom made her clean the kitchen. Another lady cried because Mom yelled when she asked for more money.”
Daniel stared at Macy.
“You told me they were unreliable.”
“They were.”
“All of them?”
Tears filled Macy’s eyes.
“You have no idea what I handle every day.”
“I know three kids are difficult.”
“No, you don’t.”
Her voice cracked.
“You leave before breakfast. You return after dinner. On weekends, you answer emails or make plans. Everyone tells me to ask for help, but nobody stays when I do.”
Daniel looked stunned.
“I thought you had things under control.”
“Because I made sure you could think that.”
She pointed at me.
“Then she arrived. She loves the children. They love her. For once, I thought I could breathe.”
May you like
I understood her exhaustion.
But I still couldn’t excuse what she had done.
