Belinda reached into her bag and pulled out the cookies. “These are chocolate chip. They were my mama’s favorite. I make them when I miss her. You don’t have to eat them if you don’t want to. And you don’t have to like me if you don’t want to. But I’m going to be here every day, whether you’re good or bad, happy or sad, because that’s what people who care about you do. They stick around.”
The kitchen was silent except for sniffling. Then Bobby took a tentative step toward the table. “Can I…can I try a cookie?” he asked shyly.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
Bobby took a bite and his eyes lit up. “It’s really good.”
Danny and Tommy exchanged glances and joined him. As the boys ate cookies and began to relax, John watched from the doorway in amazement. In twenty minutes, this woman had accomplished what seventeen nannies couldn’t do in months. She had reached his sons.
But John had no idea their peaceful morning was about to be shattered by news that would threaten their fragile new beginning.
Chapter Five: The Storm
John’s phone rang just as the boys were finishing their cookies. His face went pale when he saw the caller ID: Marcus, his lawyer.
“John, we have a problem,” Marcus said without greeting. “C News is running a story tonight about your family. Someone leaked information about the nannies quitting, and they’re painting you as a negligent father who can’t control his children.”
John’s stomach dropped. “What exactly are they saying?”
“The headline is ‘Billionaire’s Demon Children Drive Away 17 Nannies.’ Are the Whitaker triplets out of control? They have interviews with three former nannies who are calling the boys dangerous and emotionally disturbed. They also mentioned you hired a new nanny yesterday. They’ll probably target her next.”
John’s blood ran cold. If the media destroyed Belinda’s reputation, she might leave like all the others, and his sons would be heartbroken again.
“I have to warn her,” John said, ending the call.
When he walked into the kitchen, he found Belinda sitting on the floor with the boys, building a castle out of blocks.
“Look, Daddy!” Bobby called. “We’re building a castle for Mama. Belinda says Mama can see us from heaven, so we want to make something beautiful for her.”
John felt tears in his eyes. His sons hadn’t mentioned their mother in a positive way since she died. They’d been too angry to remember the good times.
“It’s beautiful, boys,” John said, voice thick with emotion.
But Tommy looked up, worried. “Daddy, you look sad. Is Belinda going to leave like all the others?”
Belinda watched John with concern. He knew he had to tell her about the story, but he was terrified she’d run away to protect herself.
“Boys,” Belinda said gently, “why don’t you keep working on the castle while I talk to your dad for a minute?”
John and Belinda stepped into the living room. “Belinda, there’s something I need to tell you. The local news is running a story tonight about my family. They’re going to make my sons look like monsters, and they’ll probably come after you next.”
Belinda listened quietly as John explained. “I understand if you want to leave,” John said sadly. “I won’t blame you for protecting yourself, but I want you to know that in one day you’ve done more for my boys than anyone has in six months.”
Belinda was quiet for a long moment. “Mr. Whitaker, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you believe your sons are monsters?”
