The Trap

Chapter 55

The next day the door bell rang at about two-thirty.

"I'll get it!" Dylan said running to the front door and opening it. "Sydney what are you doing here?" he asked, shocked and thrilled to see her standing there.

"I'm here to hang out with you and your sisters!" she said smiling down at him.

"Okay come on in!" he said returning the smile as he got out of the way.

After Sydney walked through the door frame, Dylan closed the door. Then he grabbed her hand and walked straight ahead, into the family room. Before she could say hello, all the girls were around her. Sydney truly missed all these kids because they are a joy to be around and they made her job as a part-time sitter easy. She feels like an older sister to them and it showed by the way she treated them. Then Sydney gave each kid a hug. When she came across Holly, she gave her a puzzling look.

Sydney bent down to embrace Holly. "Why are you in a wheelchair?"

"I had surgery to make it easier to walk. I was born with clubbed feet."

"Well I hope the surgery works."

Holly smiled up at Sydney.

"Thanks for watching them again!" Paula said smiling at Sydney.

"Of course! I know I say it a lot, but I love your kids," Sydney replied with a smile. She loved and cared for them like a brother or sister.

"Where are you going?" Lily asked her mother, with an concerned look on her face.

"Dad and I have a work meeting," her mom said thinking out loud. She and Simon never discussed what they were going to tell the kids, but this was pretty much close to the truth. It was a meeting but to possibility adopting a little boy. Paula felt bad lying to the kids, but she didn't want to be influenced by their opinions about this situation.

"Oh okay," she replied with a nod.

"Don't worry we'll be home before dinner," Simon said, hoping to reassure the kids that they wouldn't be gone all day.

Meanwhile on the couch, Dylan leaned over to only where his sisters would hear him.

"Did you hear that? She loves me!" he said with a huge smile. Dylan didn't want his parents to hear that he had a crush on Sydney. He was afraid that they would replace her if they did know that information.

"Oh give it a rest," Lily said putting her hands on her face. Dylan was only ten and he already had a huge ego. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Okay guys please be good and listen to Sydney," Simon said pointing at each kid and in a fatherly tone.

"Don't worry Dad, we will," Dylan replied with a smile.

"Sydney, Holly can get out of her chair to only sit down," Paula said looking at the sitter.

"Okay, I'll work around it," she said nodding.

"Thanks! Okay bye kids!" she said as she blew the group a huge kiss. They were already running late and be even later if she went around the room and hugged each kid individually.

"Have a good time, Mommy!" Lily said with a huge grin. She was going to miss her parents, but she loved hanging out with Sydney.

"Thanks sweetie! Love you all!" she replied with a grin. It was still hard to leave her children in someone else's care.

"We love you too!" Holly said answering for her siblings.

Simon was waiting by the front door for Paula to arrive. Paula always had a hard time leaving the kids because she always wanted to be with them. Simon opened the door and held it for his bride-to-be to walk through first. Then he followed her out and opened the passenger side door after he unlocked the car. He loved showing her how he could be a gentleman. After he put the car in reserve, down the driveway and onto the street, Simon glanced over at Paula, who was looking out the window.