Reaper (Valhalla Rising MC #3)

1. Kyra

1

Kyra

PRESENT DAY…

“ I can’t stay past eight tonight.”

I stare at Megan incredulously. She’s the only babysitter I’ve found who Heidi and Hunter don’t hate and who doesn’t mind my very chaotic schedule. I’ve always been able to count on her if I have to stay late at the diner, but I guess that’s changing.

“It’s Thursday,” I remind her. “You know I work late on Thursdays.”

It didn’t used to be this difficult. When I opened the diner with my ex, Jason, we both pulled our weight. But then the twins came along, and the fucker bolted.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Thomas,” she says. “But I’ve got a final tomorrow, and I have to study.”

This is what I get for relying on a college student.

“Right, um…” I shake my head. My problems are not her problems. “I’ll figure it out.”

Megan fidgets. “I can bring them to the diner before I have to go if that would help.”

“Okay.” I rub my temples, a headache forming. “Yeah, that’ll work. I can set them up in my office with a movie or something.”

Hunter and Heidi are six and full of mischief. I doubt a movie will hold their attention, but maybe I’ll get lucky, and they’ll be tired enough to cooperate.

“Thanks,” she says, her shoulders slumping with relief. “If I don’t pass this final, I’ll have to take the class over, and I really don’t want to do that.”

Before I can say anything, Heidi comes barreling into the living room with Hunter hot on her heels. “Mommy, Hunter’s being mean.”

“Am not,” my son says.

“Are too.”

“Hey, guys,” Megan says, jumping into action. “Why don’t you go get a game for us to play? Mommy’s gotta get to work.”

Her suggestion effectively stops the arguing, and they turn around to rush to the room they share.

“Love you!” I call after them, but they either don’t hear me or don’t care because they don’t say it back. Guilt settles in my chest, and I take a deep breath. “Thanks, Megan. I’ll see you later at the diner.”

She looks at me with sympathy in her eyes. “You know they love you, Ms. Thomas. They’re just…”

I sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

Not wanting to feed into the negative emotions swirling through me, I head out to my car. The drive to the diner goes by in a blur, as does most of the evening.

I don’t have a moment of downtime, and right at eight, the bell above the door jingles. Megan enters with the twins, and unfortunately, they don’t appear the least bit tired.

Megan glances around before reaching the counter. “I tried to wear them out,” she tells me.

Chuckling, I shrug. “It’s okay. I know how they can be.” I walk around the counter and help them take their jackets off. “Why don’t you two go into my office? You can watch a movie while I work.”

“I wanna milkshake,” Heidi complains, and her brother nods in agreement.

Reaching into my pocket, I grab my tips and count out Megan’s fee for the evening. After paying her, she thanks me and says goodbye to the kids before leaving. Then I turn my attention to Heidi and Hunter.

“I’ll make you a deal,” I begin, and their eyes light up. “You can each have a strawberry milkshake, but you have to drink them in my office so I can work.”

Hunter rolls his eyes, and Heidi thrusts her fist in the air with excitement. She’s definitely easier to please than her brother.

“Can we watch Monsters, Inc.?” he asks.

“Yep. And if you’re still awake when that’s over, Heidi can pick the next movie.”

“Order up!” Barry, my cranky, overweight cook hollers as he slaps the bell sitting on the passthrough window.

“Go to my office, and I’ll bring the shakes,” I tell the kids as I grab the plate piled high with loaded nachos.

They do as I tell them, and as soon as I deliver the food to the customer, I go about making the shakes. The ice cream machine gives me fits so it takes longer than it should, and by the time I carry them into my office, both kids are lying on the small couch and watching the opening credits of the movie.

“I’ll check on you guys in a bit,” I say.

Satisfied that they’ll be occupied for at least an hour and a half, I return to the front of the diner.