I Paid My Sister Double to Babysit My Kids – When I Came Back, I Found Our Pool Filled with Mud

Leaving my children with my sister while I was away was an obvious choice. However, what transpired while she was in charge and her response when I urged her to accept accountability left me feeling incredibly let down.

Claire, my sister, has always seemed like someone I could trust. She works as a nanny and is two years younger than me. She had to be the best person to deal with kids. Given how hard my work as a sales manager is, that trust was even more important.

I’m frequently worn out from long hours, never-ending phone calls, and last-minute customer meetings. My kids’ school schedule doesn’t always align with it. One day, when parent-teacher conferences and a large client meeting were planned at the same time, I recall everything coming together.

Unsure of how I could be in two locations at once, I panicked. Claire immediately stepped in at that point. Before I arrived home, she prepared snacks, picked up the kids from school, and even assisted them with their schoolwork. I was thankful for the peace of mind it provided. As a single mother, that experience gave me confidence that I could rely on her in any situation.

So I immediately thought of her when another duty arose.

I asked Claire to watch my kids for a day one weekend while I traveled to another city for a work conference. Leaving them in her care made me feel secure. I even offered to give her double her normal amount to make sure she took it seriously.

She arched her brows as I informed her.

“Double?” she tilted her head in question.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s just for the day, but I want you to feel appreciated.”

Claire smiled a little. “All right, all right. if you insist. I’ll accept it.

I gave a nod. “All right. You have my trust.”

The children were giggling in the water when I departed. Sitting close by, wearing sunglasses, Claire observed them.

“This will be alright,” I assured myself. She makes a living doing this.

I arrived at the conference room on schedule after a peaceful drive into the city. There were many attendees from various companies at the packed event. I attended back-to-back meetings, presented, and responded to client inquiries.

I had a fast sandwich at my desk for lunch, and then we had further conversations that lasted till the late afternoon. I was exhausted by the end, but I was also glad that everything had gone without a hitch.

I collected my notes and shook hands with coworkers as the last session came to an end before making my way back to the parking lot. The sun had set, and I was excited to see the children at home. I promptly checked my phone and saw that there were no texts or missed calls. I felt reassured that everything appeared to be alright.

I then began the trek back, hoping to find a peaceful home.

I pulled into the driveway a couple of hours later. Something seemed off right away. It was nasty, moist, and heavy. I wrinkled my nose as I got out of the automobile.

It was the smell that caught my attention first. It was harsh enough to make my stomach turn, and it was earthy and strong. As I hurried around the side of the house, my heart was racing.

Then I noticed it.

The once-bright, blue pool had turned into a pit of dark dirt. There was no more water. Wet cement swirled in the thick sludge. My knees nearly buckled. I ran into the home after dropping my luggage.

“What happened here?!” I let out a yell.

With her face buried in her hands, Claire sat in the living room. Her face went white as she raised her head. I didn’t wait for justifications. I hurried upstairs to see how my kids were doing.

Both of them were safely in their rooms. My son raised his head and said softly.

We are no longer able to swim, Mom. The pool is filthy. My daughter’s eyes were sorrowful as she nodded.

“What happened?” I inquired, perched on the side of the bed.

My daughter’s voice was quiet. “Some man dumped sand into our pool and then he left.”

My chest constricted. “What man?”

In a whisper, my son said, “A friend of Aunt Claire.”

I came rushing back downstairs. My chest was on fire.

“As I previously stated, you are the only one permitted in my home or yard. Never. Who did you let entry?

She shook her head and crossed her arms. “No one.”

“Claire,” I said, “don’t tell me lies.” Sand did not simply pour into the pool. I already heard from the kids that a man was present. I could feel my hands shaking, and I spoke sharply.

“So, quit acting fake. The truth is what I want.

Her face cracked.

Neither of us moved for a moment. The faint drip of mud slipping off the edge of the pool outside was the only sound to break the heavy silence. Claire’s arms remained crossed tightly as though to protect herself from the weight of my rage, and her lips quivered as she pressed them together. I refused to take my eyes off of hers as I stood rigid, my jaw clenched.

She couldn’t conceal the shame that made her eyes dart to the floor and then back to me. Each breath was louder than the last, and my chest rose and fell rapidly. The air was heavy and the room seemed smaller, as if the entire house was holding its breath alongside us. I wasn’t prepared to lose the standoff.

At last, she mumbled, “All right. It was Liam. My partner. Well, not any more. It had only been a week since we first met. He believed that surprising the children with a sandbox would be entertaining.

“A sandbox?” I said it again.

Tears streaming down her face, she nodded.

“Liam himself delivered a truckload of sand. He lost control while backing up and threw everything into the pool, even though he had intended to build a sandbox for the kids. We were unable to clean up the mess in time, but he was able to pull the vehicle out. I didn’t anticipate it becoming such a catastrophe. All I wanted was for the children to be happy.

I spoke in a chilly tone.

“Now, where is he? Take him here. My property was wrecked by him. He is able to cover the costs. It’s unbelievable that you let a stranger into my house and yard, and even worse, that you let him pour sand there like it was his playground. Are you aware of my anger? Thank God the kids were unharmed by his reckless driving.

Claire used the back of her hand to wipe her face.

“He departed. He stopped returning my calls after that. He ended our relationship. All I know is his phone number and first name. I never imagined that he would harm me in this way.

Her remarks simply made me more irate. By permitting a man she hardly knew to drive a truck into my yard when my kids were around, she had put their safety at danger. My gut twisted at the thought of what might have gone wrong. It might have turned out tragically if he had lost control any more.

The fact that she hadn’t known him long enough to have any faith in him made matters worse. I considered every scenario: what if he had been careless, or worse, dangerous? She didn’t know whether he had a criminal past, whether he had lied to her, or whether he might have hurt the children. My blood ran cold as I realized that she had allowed him in without knowing who he was.

I tightened my hands and spoke in a sharp, low voice. “Claire, you didn’t simply let him to destroy my property. You endanger my children. Are you aware of that?

She seemed to finally feel the weight of what I had spoken, as her eyes fell and she remained silent for a moment.

The stench of muck was still present as I stood silently. What I worked for had been ruined by a stranger, and my sister had disappeared without a trace.

I firmly stated, “Then you’ll pay for it,” “Every penny. since someone will.

Claire started crying.

She sobbed, “I don’t have any money,” “The cleanup will be quite expensive. Forgive me and conceal it yourself, please. The one with the money is you.

I clenched my jaw. “No, Claire. You are responsible for this. You let a mistake happen, and I won’t pay for it.”

Her eyes became acrid. “You’re not even able to verify that it was me! You don’t have any evidence that I did anything wrong.

I steadied my voice by taking a long breath. “It happened while you were watching, and the damage is directly outside. That is all the evidence I require.

Claire’s tears turned to rage as her features hardened. She snatched up her bag, shoved past me, and ran out of the house without saying another word. I was stunned.

I ended myself footing the bill for the costly cleanup. After that day, I severed my relationship with Claire. I no longer even trust the idea of leaving my kids with a nanny. As a precaution, I put cameras outside and inside my house.