Mom jumped in urgently. "No, it's not what you think."
"Then what is it?"
"The postpartum nanny had a family emergency and took leave. I didn't want you to worry, so I didn't mention it. I was planning to come help out for a couple days before we left, so Vivian wouldn't be anxious about the baby while she's away…"
"Then what about the photo you sent me?"
Mom's face went ashen. She still couldn't come up with an excuse.
I looked her up and down.
Other than those reading glasses, everything she was wearing came from money I'd spent at the mall.
I don't know where I wronged her. Where I wronged this family.
For them to repay me like this.
I dug my nails hard into my palm. Even my breathing was shaking.
But with a baby in each arm, I couldn't even vent.
In the standoff, Vivian smiled and looped her arm through Mom's.
"Come on, it's fate. Perfect timing, actually. We were just about to leave."
"Since you're here, come with us. I'll call a car, Dad can grab the luggage, and Mom can buy Alex a ticket."
The moment she finished, my parents' eyes lit up.
"Vivian always thinks of everything. Fine, let's do that."
"That's exactly what Mom meant! I'm just bad with words—couldn't explain it earlier."