Foster Mom [#Wattys2016] (completed) ✔️

16.

Tonight is the last night that I'll be staying at my brother's place. I haven't heard or seen anything from that crazy client of my Dad's.

I hope he's forgotten all about me.

I unlock the front door at 7:30pm. "It's time for bed girls."

"I don't want to do to bed." Sophie yells.

Gracie yawns. "Bed."

I carry them to their bedroom and I put them in the cot.

"Story?" Sophie says.

I walk over to the book shelf and I pull a book off it. I sit on the chair and start reading the book to the girls. I look over at Sophie and see her close her eyes. I finish the book and move over to the shelf. I start putting the books into a box. I walk out of the room and look for tape. I find it in Johnny's draw. I walk back to the room and tape the box.

At 8:30pm, I finish packing the girls stuff. I carry the boxes to the front door.

I walk to my room and start packing my suitcase.

***

I climb into bed at 11:20pm, I put the blanket over my head and fall asleep.

In the middle of the night in woken to the twins screaming.

I pull the blankets off me and jump out of bed. I move over to the cupboard and I pull out the baseball bat that Johnny keeps in the cupboard. I slip out of my room.

In the room I see a shadow leaning over the girls. I move silently through the room and I hit the person with the baseball bat.

"Hey, cut it out, sis." Johnny yells.

I move over to the wall and I switch the light on.

Johnny is on the ground with his hands over his head. "Are you going to hit me again?"

I roll my eyes. "You shouldn't sneak into the house late at night."

He rises and moves towards me. "I couldn't call you. If I did I would have put all my hard work on the line."

I cross my arms. "What are you doing here, Johnny?"

Johnny looks at the girls. "Can I spend some time with them?"

I shake my head. "It's late. The girls need to sleep. I'm going to have to deal with two grumpy girls in the morning, Johnny."

He pouts. "Please?" He kneels on the ground and he clasps his hands. "Pretty please?"

I look at him and then the girls. I throw my hands in the air. "You have ten minutes, Johnny. Then you have to put them to bed." I exit the room.

My phone beeps and I pull it out of my pocket.

I know where you've been hiding Laken. I can't wait to see you again my precious little Butterfly. Love Grant. Xx

How the hell did he find out where I am?

I hear a knock on the front door. I look at the bedroom door where my brother and kids are. I look at the clock and it ways 2:15am.

Who the hell would be here at that time of night?

I make my way toward the door. I see Johnny step out of the room.

He looks at me. "Laken, what are you doing?"

"Someone was at the door. I want to see who it is."

Johnny takes the baseball bat from me. "I'm not going to let my little sister answer the door at this time of night. It's not safe." He moves towards the door. His hand wraps around the handle and he pulls the door open.

On the ground is a box. He bends down and lifts it up. He kicks the door shut with his foot.

I follow my brother into the kitchen. I see an envelope with my name on it.

My hands begin to shake.

I think this is from Grant. I don't want to know what he left me.

Johnny turns towards me. "Do you want to read the note?"

I shake my head.

Johnny pulls the note out of the envelope. "My heart beats for you. When it stops, so will yours." He frowns. "Laken?"

"He found me, Johnny." I sob. "He's been quiet for weeks and now he's found me."

Johnny moves towards me and he hugs me. "I need to call a close friend to keep an eye on you. Do you know why he chose tonight to make himself known?"

"Maybe, it's because you showed him the way here. He didn't know where you lived. You should have waited until your mission was over before you came home."

Johnny looks away from me. "I'm sorry, sis. I didn't think anyone was going to trail me."

I whisper. "The girls are going back to mine tomorrow."

He nods. "I think that would be for the best. I had a few friends of mine install things. I have access to the videos of the house. If I see something out of the ordinary I'll call it through."

"Thank you." I look at the box. "What do you think is inside?"

Johnny shrugs. "Grant's, not a stable guy. So, whatever it is..." He trails off and rips the tape off the box.

I move next to my brother and inside I see a teddy bear with a heart on it.

What the hell?

Johnny moves foam around he pulls out a small box. He looks at me. "He left this for you." He places the box on the table.

I take a deep breath. "Should I open it?"

Johnny shakes his head. "I wouldn't. But, we need to know what's inside."

With shaking hands I lift the box up and I open the lid. Inside is a small heart. It's the same size as a child's would be. I see the heart beat couple of times.

Johnny moves closer to me. "That's sick."

The heart beats another two times before it explodes and I'm covered in something

I scream.

Johnny runs to the sink and he picks up a cloth. He starts cleaning the mess off me. "I can't believe he would do something like that."

"When are you coming home?"

He stops cleaning me up and says. "I'll be home on Saturday. Our mission finishes on Friday."

I smile. "That means my competition will be this weekend. I need to get some tips from your partner when you get back."

Johnny smiles. "I want you to meet my partner. How about we have a barbecue at mine on Saturday."

"Okay," I look at the bedroom the girls are in. "Don't set me up with him. I can't handle the girls and a guy at the moment."

Johnny laughs. "That's the last thing that was on my mind."

"Johnny, the girl's father wants to meet them." Tears fall down my face. "What if he takes them from me?"

Johnny looks at the ground. "I didn't think he would do something like this." He whispers.

What's he talking about?

I frown. "What did you say?"

Johnny clears his throat. "I didn't say anything."

My phone goes off.

I hope you liked your present. - Grant.

***

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