Pretty Dangerous by Lynn Emery Page B

We talked
about the meaning of the word girlfriend,” Adrienne said
crisply.
    “Yes, mommy.” Brayden’s tone sounded
obedient, but his eyes twinkled when MiMi winked at him.
    “Mommy’s here to take you home, Sage.” MiMi
couldn’t wait any longer.
    She strode past her sister and down the hall.
Sage was in a bedroom near the master suite. A white painted safety
gate came up waist high to keep the toddler from wandering out and
onto the stairs. Sage sat on the floor in front of a playhouse that
she could crawl inside easily. MiMi gasped. Soft light green and
pale pink decorated the room. The curtains matched the trundle bed
coverlet. A lovely oriental carpet with jewel tones covered half
the hardwood floor. Expensive toys had been artfully arranged
around the room. Several large dolls sat in an open toy box. A
voice startled MiMi out of her state of astonishment.
    “Hello Miss Landry, so nice to see you.”
Estella, Adrienne’s housekeeper, beamed at her. “Look, darling
girl.”
    Sage looked up and gave a squeal before
Estella could finish. “Mommy!”
    Estella laughed as she lifted the gate. “She
was just asking about you.”
    “Mommy.” Sage raced across the room and into
MiMi’s arms.
    “We’re going home, sweet stuff,” MiMi said.
She dusted kisses all over the round soft face as tears rolled down
her own. “Mommy missed you so much.”
    “Mommy home.” Sage grabbed onto the front of
MiMi’s blouse tightly.
    “Well I’m going home, Mrs. Fortenberry.
Welcome back.” Estella gave MiMi a maternal pat on the back.
    “Thank you so much for helping take care of
her, Estella. I know you had to work extra.”
    “It was a joy looking after her. Reminds me
of when my children were young. My youngest is fourteen now.”
Estella sighed. “Thank goodness this is the fourth and last time I
deal with a teenager.”
    “You’re still young enough for another one.”
MiMi kissed Sage’s smooth cheek again.
    “Ha! My husband knows better than to even
suggest such a thing. Goodnight ladies. Bye Brayden.” Estella waved
to them as she headed for the stairs.
    “Bye, Mrs. Estella,” Brayden yelled back. He
started to dash off to his room, then doubled back. He hugged MiMi
and Sage at the same time. “Bye.”
    “Bye little man,” MiMi said and kissed his
cheek. She went into the room still holding Sage. “Aunt Adrienne
says you’ve been such a good girl. Let’s get you packed up.”
    Adrienne followed close behind. She started
picking the few toys scattered around on the floor. “Like I said,
you’re rushing for no reason. Sage has a routine. She should be
settling in for a story and winding down for bed. My Lord, it’s
almost eight o’clock at night.”
    “What time did she have her nap? I hope it
wasn’t too long after lunch. That does keep her up late.” MiMi put
Sage down in the play pen to free both hands.
    “I know what time she needs a nap. Are you
saying I can’t care for her properly? I’m not the one who went off
for a whole month,” Adrienne muttered.
    “I didn’t leave for so long on purpose. And
no, I wasn’t criticizing you. I just asked a question. You sound
more like mother every day.” MiMi held a stack of Sage’s underwear.
“I don’t see her overnight bag.”
    “Oh, that thing you brought wasn’t big
enough. I had to buy her more clothes, so I got a bigger one.”
Adrienne went to a closet, pulled out a fancy large pink bag with
Sage’s name on it.
    “The bag I brought was just fine. You didn’t
have to spend so much money.” MiMi marched to the closet. Sage’s
old bag, a green and yellow plaid cloth duffle, was stuffed into a
corner. “What are you going to do with the room? I’m sure you won’t
have guest stay in here and sleep in a toddler bed.”
    Adrienne ignored MiMi’s comment about the
pink bag. She continued to stuff clothes and baby items into it.
“I’ll leave it as is. Sage will probably need a safe place again
with the friends you hang out