The Deep Dark Web | lrh

06

Taxidermy was the act of preserving animals, either by stuffing them with sawdust or coating them in resin.

This helped to explain the numerous dead birds, badgers and whatever else I saw in Ellie's room. It also helped me understand why Luke always came home exhausted every night after I took care of the kids.

"Thank you so much, Sophie," I remember him saying to me once, his deep Australian accent prominent and smooth, "I owe you one,"

I rejected the money that he was trying to give me, shaking my head slowly, "You don't have to pay me,"

"I think I do," he chuckled, light eyes twinkling as he pressed it into my palm. "You did a wonderful job with the kids tonight. I think this is the first night in a while where they won't have nightmares,"

"Nightmares?"

It was quiet for a bit. Then Luke gave me a small smile, as if he'd made a silent decision to trust me enough to talk more about his children.

"About Chloe," he replied. I nodded solemnly; Chloe, I'd learned from my fellow coworkers back at the nursery, was his ex-wife. "They miss her, God bless. Unfortunately, she doesn't come around as often as they'd like,"

"Was she mean to them?"

"Not mean. Just never around," Luke said, sadly. I nodded again, unsure of what to say. "They get to see her once a week. We all have dinner together at the table. But she's not the same,"

"At least she still visits," I said, attempting to lighten the mood.

"She has to," Luke chuckled, and as our eyes met, a shiver ran down my spine. "Hey,"

"Hm?"

"Tomorrow's Game night," he noted randomly, leaning against the doorframe and ducking his head so that it was at level with mine. I could practically feel my heart in my throat at our proximity, "Would it be too much to ask if you stick around for it?"

"What? To watch the kids?" I questioned, puzzled.

Luke shook his head, laughing lightly. "Not quite," he then took a hold of my hand, his grip gentle. "The kids love you. They always go on and on about you,"

"They do?" needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

"Mhm," he hummed, "And if I'm being honest, I kind of want to see what all the fuss is about. Though I think I've already seen enough,"

I smiled, the blush on my cheeks creeping up at his charming words. Again, I liked Luke. Having him ask me to spend even more time with him, and Ellie and Corey, was a big bonus that I was not about to pass up.

So I nodded, biting my lip. Because like the naive, stupid little girl I was, all I could think of was, why not? What's the worst that can happen?

"I'll be there."