Leave a Trace: Book Three

Chapter Eleven: Lie

THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER with the kids as young kids. Next up is teenagers

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Chapter Eleven: Lie

I stand in my kitchen, watching the kids play in the living room. I'm emptying boxes into their location and Zane is somewhere else doing the same thing.

I feel so grateful to be home.

Our family is still over, helping to watch the kids while we unpack.

I mainly just want to get the beds up and the clothes away today, and then we'll start the kitchen and do the rest of the house over time.

I won't leave boxes packed for months because that bothers me. Everything will be completely unpacked quickly.

As I restock of the silver ware drawer, my mind wanders to Finn and Vanessa.

Their house is under a thousand square feet, but Zane is right. Everyone has struggled before. They're struggling because they don't know how to manage their money.

We could rent the property, but if we do that, they'll be next door, and they probably can't afford the rent, and it's not like I can be rude about money to them, because they might get mad because Zane and I aren't struggling.

I don't want to be resented because we're wealthy. Every penny we have, we worked very hard for.

Zane comes in from somewhere in the house.

"I unpacked our bedroom and Vivienne's, and Valentina's." He announces, kissing my temple.

"Okay." I yawn.

Mom picks up Vivienne and walks over to me.

"What are you guys going to do with the other house?" She wonders. I tense.

"We don't know yet." Zane says right away.

"Oh, Vanessa said Belle told her you were giving the house to her and Finn." Dad says with a frown.

"What?" Finn asks with a frown. "What's wrong with our house, Vanessa?"

"It's too small." She says.

Zane is looking at me with raised eyebrows.

I start wracking my brain for the memory of telling Vanessa they could have the house, but I didn't. I told her I would have to talk to Zane about it.

"Vanessa, I never said you could have the house." I say.

Her smile vanishes.

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't." I say, keeping my voice level, even though I'm mad she lied to my Dad. "You asked me if you could have the house and I told you I would have to talk to Zane about it."

Her eyes narrow slightly.

"No you didn't. You told me we could have the house."