“Honestly, Henry, we should rent out her spare room. She’s never home anyway.”
Everything else faded as I held the walkie-talkie closer.
“We could get $600 a month for that room!” Sarah went on. “She wouldn’t even notice with all those late shifts.”
Henry laughed. “Mom’s too trusting. Always has been.”
“Speaking of trust,” Sarah said brightly. “Once she pays for Liam’s swimming lessons too, we can take that trip to Hawaii. She’ll watch him for free.”
My body froze. Not from fear, just that deep, empty pain that stops you cold.
“The best part?” Sarah giggled. “She thinks daycare’s $800. It’s only $500! We keep $300 every month, and she doesn’t suspect a thing.”
Henry chuckled. “Yeah, and when she’s too old to be useful, we’ll move her to a care home. Rent out her place, get some steady cash for once. That extra room’s a goldmine!”
“Your mom’s such an easy mark. She’ll do anything for Liam.”
“No doubt!”
