Photo credit: Parker Knight via Foter.com / CC BY
“How did everything go?”
“Great,” said Karen. “We ate pizza, watched Dumbo, and now they’re in bed.”
“You got them both in bed already? It’s only nine o’clock,” said Mrs. Marstead.
“Yeah, Denny fell asleep during the movie, so I was able to just pick him up and put him to bed. Abby was a little more resistant, but once I gave her a bath and got her to brush her teeth, I started reading to her and she was out before I got half way through the book.”
“Wow! Well, thank you so much,” Mrs. Marstead said as she handed Karen a wad of bills. Karen was too polite to count the money right there, but she was happy to note that at least the outer bill was a 20. “Honey, would you give Karen a ride home?”
“Sure,” said Mr. Marstead.
“Great. I am just beat. These events are always fun, but they’re so exhausting,” said Mrs. Marstead. “Thanks again, Karen. We’ll be sure to call you again the next time we need a sitter.”
“Thanks! Goodnight Mrs. Marstead.”
“Goodnight, Karen.”
Karen and Mr. Marstead smiled cordially at each other as he held the front door open for her and they made their way out into the night.
They chatted about the kids for a while, then, after they had gone a few blocks, Mr. Marstead said, “I don’t know about you, but I have a terrible craving for ice cream. What do you say we sneak off and grab a quick cone before I drop you off? It’ll be my treat.”
Never one to turn down free ice cream, Karen said, “Sure.” As soon as the word was out of her mouth, she had second thoughts.
Was it weird that the dad of the kids she had just babysat was taking her out for ice cream? It was one thing when she went out with her own dad, but to go out alone with another guy was practically a date. Did he think this was a date? Karen had heard horror stories of girls who had gone out babysitting only to have the dad make a pass at them, corner them, make them do things …
Karen tried to talk herself down. Mr. Marstead had been nothing but nice to her. From everything she had seen, she couldn’t fault him for being anything less than a devoted husband and father. Such a happy family man would never dream of doing the things that made up Karen’s nightmares.
But Karen had seen the movies. She knew the nice guys who showed every appearance of caring about nothing more than their families were sometimes the cruelest predators. She knew the men who put on the most charming faces were usually the ones you had to watch out for. Too often they used their charm to lull girls into a false sense of security. Right before they attacked.
To be continued…
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