Jenny (Babysitter's Club 5)

I pushed the envelope across the table to her. “What’s this?”

“Your life, your real life.” I saw fear enter her eyes before she picked up the envelope and tore it open. Inside was all the information I’d gathered on her over the last few months.

The life she’d hidden from everyone, including the boy she’d met and married. “You have a choice. Leave now and never come back. Or I’ll have you locked away for the rest of your life.”

“How did you get this?” She rifled through the sheets of paper that spelled out her lies.

“That’s not important. What is important is the fact that I know. You didn’t grow up in foster care because your family died in a fire, you set that fire.”

“Those records were sealed, I was a kid, how did you…?”

“Like I said, that’s not important. What’s more important to me is the reason behind what you did. It’s all spelled out in there. The doctor at the time labeled you psychotic, but that’s not true, is it, Lauren? You’re just a narcissistic sociopath. You killed your whole family because your father refused to buy you a bicycle.”

“One little girl that you envied had one, and when he told you he couldn’t afford that particular one, but he’d get you one from the second-hand store, you waited until they fell asleep and burned the house down around them. Killing your parents and your little brother, who was three years old.”

“I was a child; I didn’t know what I was doing.”

“No, Lauren, even though you were only eight at the time, I’ve read this report. Your psychiatrist at the time may have bought into your act, but these words you spoke and the actions you took tell me differently. You knew exactly what you were doing. It’s the same thing you’re doing now. But you’re not allowed, not with my Derrick.”

She hissed at my choice of words, but I sincerely didn’t care. “It’s the day after the holiday; I need to get back to my fiancé and our kids, what’s your answer going to be?” Oh, the hate, but I needed her to keep that hate going because it would cloud her judgment, keep her from thinking straight, and using that mind of hers. That way, she will fall right into my trap.

“You think you’ve won you, stupid little girl. You think Derrick really wants you?”

“I guess that’s a no.” I got up as if to leave, knowing that she had no other option.

“Fine, I’ll leave, but how?”

“Not to worry. A lawyer will be here to see you in a little bit, and you’ll be taken before a judge. I’ll pay your bail.”

I didn’t have anything more to say to her, so I got to my feet and left. I called daddy on my way out of the building to ensure that he’d done his part. “Yeah-yeah, it’s done, but you owe me. You have to go shopping with your mom for her New Years’ Eve gown instead of me.”

“Dang-it dad.” He hung up the phone laughing. I guess it’s a fair trade He’d got the judge to set the bond hearing on a Saturday after Xmas after all, so it’s the least I can do. I felt much lighter as I left the precinct and headed back to Derrick and the girls.

“Where’ve you been? I missed you.” He met me at the door and pulled me in like we’d been apart for days instead of a measly few hours. “I had to spend some time with the parents.” Not entirely accurate but not a complete lie. I had spent the first part of the morning opening the gifts mom insisted I open before she’d let me leave the house. The woman is obsessed with Xmas.

“I needed to go somewhere, but I guess it can wait until Monday.” I had a pretty good idea what he wanted to do where he wanted to go, but hopefully, by the time Monday rolled around, there would be no need.

I kept him preoccupied the rest of the day, and since it had started snowing, we stayed in with the girls and had a quiet day. Later on, we ate leftovers and watched a sappy movie on TV cuddled up together on the couch with the fire going and cups of homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on top.

I was trying to give him normal again, something I’m sure had been missing from his life even if he didn’t realize it. I’d noticed it the first time I came here for that interview all those months ago. The man I’d met that day was nothing like the Derrick he used to be.

He looked the same sure, even sounded like him, but there was something missing. I hadn’t known until then that he’d still been carrying the guilt from his teens. Now I can see little bits of him coming back, and though it may take some time, I’m sure he’ll be back to himself someday, and I can’t wait.