“A babysitter?” Linda asked, her voice dripping with disgust. “You are paying a stranger to watch your own family?”

“She is a licensed professional,” I said. “She will be in charge of the children tonight.”

“And where will you be?” Linda asked.

“That is none of your business,” I said.

I looked at the children, who were watching us with wide, silent eyes.

“They will sleep in the guest room,” I said. “And tomorrow morning, everything changes.”

“We are leaving for the airport in two hours,” Hannah said. “Our flight to Europe is at midnight.”

“Then you had better get going,” I said.

“Mark,” Linda said, her voice dropping back into that low, threatening register. “Don’t think you can outsmart this.”

“I am not trying to outsmart you, Mother,” I said. “I am protecting myself.”

“We still have the phone numbers,” Linda said.

“I know you do,” I said.

I turned to Luis.

“Luis, please allow the nanny up when she arrives,” I said. “Her name is Sarah.”

“Of course, Mr. Collins,” Luis said.

I looked back at my mother and my sister.