The Call That Changed Everything

Sandra and Andrew had built a life that many would envy—a successful restaurant, a happy home, and a growing family. They had Matteo, their 5-year-old son, who brought joy into their lives every day. However, the realities of owning a thriving business meant long hours, and the couple found themselves struggling to balance their careers with family life.

One day, after another hectic week, Sandra received a phone call that would make her question everything. It came from Matteo’s daycare teacher, Mrs. Deborah, a kind and patient woman who had been a part of Matteo’s life since he was a toddler. Sandra had always appreciated Mrs. Deborah’s calming presence, but today, her voice was tinged with concern.

“Mrs. Moore, I just wanted to mention something that’s been happening at daycare,” Mrs. Deborah began. “Every time Anthea picks up Matteo, he starts crying. This has happened three times this week, even when he’s had a good day. I just thought I should let you know.”

Sandra was taken aback. She had no idea that Matteo had been distressed when Anthea picked him up. Matteo had never been the type of child to cry, especially not when being picked up. In fact, he was usually all smiles and excitement when his parents came to get him.

“Thank you for letting me know, Mrs. Deborah. I’ll talk to him about it,” Sandra replied, trying to remain calm despite the growing concern inside her.

As soon as she hung up the phone, Sandra’s mind began to race. She and Andrew had hired Anthea, their neighbor’s daughter, to help care for Matteo while they managed the restaurant. Anthea seemed sweet, responsible, and kind. She had been a regular visitor at their home, and Sandra thought she could trust her.

But now, doubts began to creep in. Why was Matteo crying every time Anthea picked him up? Was he just missing his parents? Or was something more troubling going on?

The Discovery

The next day, after the conversation with Mrs. Deborah, Sandra felt an uneasy tension gnawing at her. The daycare teacher’s call echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the image of Matteo’s face when she asked about his time with Anthea. His reluctant nod and the quiet, almost fearful way he had responded had left Sandra unsettled. It wasn’t like Matteo to be shy or evasive about something that bothered him.

As she drove home that evening, Sandra’s thoughts raced. She wanted to believe that Mrs. Deborah’s concerns were just a misunderstanding, that maybe Matteo was just going through a phase. After all, he was a sensitive child who had always been close to her and Andrew. But something didn’t sit right. If Matteo were just missing his parents, why didn’t he express it? Why didn’t he talk about Anthea at all?

When she got home, Sandra immediately asked Andrew about what had happened at daycare. They sat at the kitchen table, the dim evening light from the window casting shadows across their faces as they tried to process everything.

“I don’t know what to think,” Sandra admitted, rubbing her temples. “He didn’t seem like himself when I asked him about Anthea. He just… nodded. It’s like he’s trying to hide something.”

Andrew looked concerned but tried to offer reassurance. “Maybe he just doesn’t want to worry us. It could be he’s just adjusting to all the changes. I know I’ve been busy with work, and you’ve been trying to juggle everything. Maybe it’s just stress.”

Sandra wasn’t convinced. She had known Matteo long enough to know when something was off. And this was different. She couldn’t ignore the feeling in her gut that told her something wasn’t right with Anthea.

“I think we need to check on it,” Sandra said, her voice firm despite the uncertainty in her heart. “I’m going to follow them tomorrow, Andrew. I need to see for myself.”

Andrew looked hesitant. “Are you sure? I mean, we’ve trusted Anthea for weeks. What if we’re just overreacting?”

Sandra shook her head, the unease growing inside her. “I can’t ignore this. Something’s wrong, and I need to know what’s happening when we’re not around.”

The Plan

The next morning, before the restaurant opened, Sandra called in to the daycare to thank Mrs. Deborah again for bringing up her concerns. She knew it was important to keep an open line of communication with the teachers. After hanging up, Sandra couldn’t shake the lingering feeling of dread, so she told Andrew about her decision to follow Anthea after daycare.

Andrew, still skeptical, agreed to go along with it. “We’ll follow them from a distance. We’ll keep it low-key. No confrontation, just observation,” he said, trying to sound supportive.

That afternoon, with the restaurant buzzing with customers and staff, Sandra and Andrew planned their secret surveillance mission. They couldn’t afford to let anyone know what they were doing, especially not Anthea. They didn’t want to alarm her or cause an unnecessary rift. Their only goal was to uncover the truth.

They arrived at the daycare early, waiting for the moment when Anthea would pick up Matteo. Sandra sat in the car, her hands clenched tightly around her purse. She was nervous, but the nagging feeling in her chest told her this was the right thing to do.

When the daycare bell rang and the kids started filing out, Sandra saw Anthea approach the entrance with a smile. Matteo’s face brightened when he saw her, but there was a quick, almost imperceptible hesitation before he walked toward her. Sandra’s stomach tightened. There was something in his demeanor that didn’t sit right.

They followed at a safe distance as Anthea and Matteo made their way down the street toward their house. At first, everything seemed fine. Matteo was walking beside Anthea, talking about his day at daycare, but then Sandra saw Anthea’s posture shift. She was walking ahead of Matteo, not looking back to see if he was following her or if he needed anything. She was too focused on her phone, tapping away with her finger, completely ignoring Matteo’s presence.

When they reached the house, Sandra and Andrew watched as Matteo entered the front yard. The house was quiet. They didn’t see any sign of Anthea coming out to check on him. Instead, Sandra saw Anthea standing by the window in the living room, fixing her makeup. The tension in Sandra’s chest grew as she realized that Matteo was left alone outside.

“Andrew, this isn’t right. She hasn’t checked on him once. He’s just sitting there,” Sandra said in a low voice. Her eyes never left the front yard, where Matteo sat on the grass, looking bored and lonely.

Andrew’s jaw tightened, and he nodded. “This is unacceptable. We need to go inside and see for ourselves.”

They parked the car a few houses away and walked to the front door. As they approached, they could hear the faint sound of a TV playing inside. It was almost as if Anthea was completely unaware that she had left Matteo unattended. Sandra knocked on the door sharply, her heart pounding in her chest.

Anthea opened the door with a look of surprise on her face. “You’re back early,” she said, clearly trying to hide the discomfort in her eyes.

Sandra didn’t waste any time. “Where is Matteo?” she demanded, her voice calm but firm.

Anthea seemed to hesitate for a moment before stepping aside. “He’s in the yard,” she said, avoiding eye contact.

Sandra walked past her, her eyes scanning the house. When she reached the front yard, she found Matteo sitting on the grass, staring at the ground, his face blank. The feeling of dread washed over Sandra as she knelt down beside her son.

“Matteo, sweetie, are you okay?” she asked softly, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead.

Matteo looked up at her with tired eyes, his lips trembling. “I was waiting for her to come check on me,” he whispered.

Sandra’s heart shattered. She looked back at the house, seeing Anthea still standing in the doorway, looking completely indifferent.

Andrew joined her by Matteo’s side. “We’re not leaving you alone anymore,” he said gently, taking Matteo’s hand.

Confrontation and Resolution

Sandra felt a burning sensation in her chest as she walked inside, holding her son’s hand. She glanced back at Anthea, who still stood in the doorway with a faint expression of surprise, trying to mask the discomfort she must have felt from being caught in her own lies.

Andrew followed closely behind her, his posture tense, his jaw clenched. He had been silent ever since Sandra had pulled up with Matteo, but the fury in his eyes was unmistakable. He knew, just like Sandra, that something wasn’t right.

As Sandra entered the living room, she saw Anthea absentmindedly adjusting the makeup she had hastily applied earlier, almost as if she were pretending to be busy. It made Sandra’s blood boil. How could someone claim to care for their child, only to leave him sitting alone in the yard, unnoticed?

“Anthea,” Sandra began, her voice calm, but laced with an underlying edge of authority. “We need to talk.”

Anthea turned toward Sandra, her eyes wide, yet her smile remained in place, a forced, strained expression. “What’s going on? Is everything alright?” she asked, attempting to maintain her composure.

“No,” Sandra replied firmly. “Everything is not alright. I don’t know what you’ve been doing when we aren’t here, but I’m not blind. We’re done here. You’re not staying.”

Anthea’s face shifted. The pleasant facade she had kept up until now faltered, but she quickly regained her posture. “Wait, what? You’re firing me? But I’ve been taking care of Matteo. He’s safe with me, I—”

“Safe?” Sandra interrupted, her voice sharp now. “Matteo has been left alone outside while you play on your phone, and you didn’t even check on him once. This is about more than just your carelessness; it’s about you not respecting the responsibility you were hired for.”

Andrew stepped forward, his tone equally stern. “Matteo should never have been neglected like that. You were supposed to take care of him, not leave him on his own while you do whatever you wanted.”

Anthea, now visibly taken aback, tried to defend herself. “I—I didn’t mean to neglect him! I just… I was busy. He’s a quiet kid, I thought he was fine on his own.”

Sandra shook her head, the words of her daycare teacher flashing in her mind. “You’re not just a babysitter, Anthea. You’re supposed to be looking after our son. And if you can’t do that, then you’re no longer welcome here.”

The silence hung in the air for a few moments before Anthea finally seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. Her shoulders slumped, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, not meeting their eyes. “I… I’ll go. I understand.”

Without another word, she grabbed her bag and hurried out the door, leaving Sandra and Andrew in the middle of the room, still reeling from what had just transpired.

As the door slammed behind her, Sandra turned to Andrew, her expression filled with a mixture of relief and guilt. “I didn’t want it to come to this. But I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”