Where's Mommy Now? — Rochelle Majer Krich

Kate Bauers was proud of being able to manage both her job at the gift shop and her luxurious household, even though Dr. Mark Bauers was a demanding husband and her two small children were a. handful. But as her job took more and more of her time, Kate did something she'd sworn never to do: she let a stranger care for her children and sleep in her house.

Janine was a godsend--the perfect live-in babysitter--and Mark agreed. But suddenly Kate's perfect world began to fall apart. Gone was her energetic, glowing good health; she was tired all the time. Mark gave her some pills to make her feel better, and Janine brought her cocoa with thick whipped cream, but still she felt sleepy-so sleepy that soon she couldn't get out of bed in the morning. Or in the afternoon.

Kate was so sleepy she couldn't concentrate on the little things--like a missing photograph, a pair of broken glasses, a nightgown that smelled of a perfume she never used. She was getting weaker every day and she felt like a stranger in her own house.

Not that any of it was anyone's fault--certainly not Janine's. Everyone loved Janine. Nobody could possibly be suspicious of that loving, caring, jewel of a mother's helper.