Chapter 7 - The Midnight Crisis
That night, the storm returned, literal and figurative. A massive thunderstorm knocked the power out at 2:00 AM, plunging the mansion into total darkness.
Clara woke to the sound of soft crying. She grabbed a flashlight and headed toward the boys' wing. She found Ryder and Cole sitting in the hallway, huddled together, the darkness pressing in on them.
"The power went out," Ryder whispered, his voice small. "The last time the power went out, the nanny left."
Clara didn't offer empty platitudes. She sat on the floor with them, pulling them into her space. "The power is just a wire, boys. It doesn't control the house. I'm here. I’m not going anywhere."
"But it’s dark," Cole added.
Clara opened her bag and pulled out a small, battery-operated lantern she carried for emergencies. She clicked it on, casting a warm, amber glow. Then, she pulled out a deck of cards.
"We’re going to play Rummy until the lights come back on," she announced. "And I’m going to teach you how to cheat—only so you know how to spot when someone else is doing it."
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The boys let out a small, watery laugh. Within ten minutes, Mason and Theo had joined them. They played for hours by the light of the lantern. When Victor finally emerged from his office, drawn by the murmur of their voices, he found the four most chaotic children in Chicago sitting on the floor, laughing at a card trick, with Clara at the center.
He stood in the shadows, watching the scene. He realized that Clara wasn't just managing his sons; she was building a foundation for them. He had money, but Clara had the one thing he had been unable to buy: a sense of safety.
