Bianca :The Doctored Truth

I sat the girls down and made Heather sit with me as I spoke to them. They needed to know why I was sending them in different directions tomorrow. The How of it, what I was going to do myself, would not be for them to know.

Dinner was a silent one; the twins ate, their eyes rolling as the dishes appeared before them. Burgers with wedge fries, sweet and tangy baked beans followed by apple pie.

Nothing very special, all picked up from a local restaurant, Ms Benz assured me crisply when I thanked her. Heather picked at her food and I had to coax her to eat. It was not the thought of being denied a drink; I sensed the real worry in her as she met my eyes. We ate in silence and when she was done, Diana Benz excused herself and walked to the patio to make a few calls.

*

Left alone with my family, I looked at them. We cleared the table and as we stood in the kitchen, I hugged the twins.

“Anna, Rose, you’re …” my voice faltered and then I continued bravely,” I’ve managed to get a job wit