They reached the kitchen and Bobbie Stone, dressed in a long gown, introduced herself, keeping an eye on the clock in the kitchen as she pointed out the list of emergency numbers and allergies. Teri told her, lying through her teeth, that Kat would be along shortly, and that they babysat together a lot. She figured the Stones didn’t need to know this wasn’t true. After all, she’d been a camp counselor. It wasn’t like she had no experience with kids.

“Here they are,” Bobbie Stone said, and Teri turned to see three children standing in front of her. She blinked. She’d been expecting one, maybe two. What were the Stones thinking, having three kids? In this economy?

“This is Chris, Daryl, and Parker,” Bobbie Stone said, resting her hands in turn on the heads of a girl who looked around eleven, a boy who looked seven or eight, and a toddler who was maybe three.

“Who are you?” Chris asked. “Where’s Kat?”

“She’s coming any minute now,” Teri lied. The girl narrowed her eyes at Teri.

“So we have to be going,” Mr. Stone said, pushing back his sleeve like he was looking at a watch—but there was no watch there. “Parker!” He turned to the toddler. He knelt down in front of her, frowning. “Did you take Daddy’s watch?”

The toddler folded her arms and stuck her lower lip out, but a moment later lost her bravado. She sighed, reached into the front pocket of her overalls, and produced a diamond-studded Rolex.

“You’ll have to watch out for her,” Bobbie Stone said, shaking her head. “She steals anything that glitters. Our little magpie.”

The Stones kissed their kids goodbye. They thanked Teri again for coming on such short notice. Then they departed in an SUV, leaving the rental car in the driveway. Teri shut the door behind them. When she turned around, all the kids were staring at her.

“Why were you lying about Kat?” Chris asked. Her arms folded, her gaze direct.

“What do you mean?” Teri frowned. How did this girl know that? Unless she was a little medium, like she’d seen on Little Medium.

“It’s obvious,” Daryl said, folding his arms too. The toddler, Parker, also folded her arms but didn’t say anything.

“We watch a lot of cop shows.” Chris arched an eyebrow.

Teri relented. She’d learned the hard way at Camp Ogilvie not to lie to kids once they were onto you. “Fine. Kat’s in New York City tonight and isn’t going to make it.”

“Told you,” Chris said to Daryl.

“You were right.”

Teri looked at Parker, who stared silently back. “Does she not say much?”

“She’s a late talker,” Chris explained, turning red. “It happens to some kids.”

“Maybe she doesn’t have much to say yet,” Teri said, smiling at Parker, who gave her a small smile back.