Aligned (3 page)

“Absolutely,” Mr. Ewing says.

“Are you going to be short staffed now? Or do you have someone to fill her place?”

“No, I have just the person. In fact, she retired a few months ago but told me she would be happy to fill in whenever she was needed. We can pull her back and have an intern with her until they can take over.”

“That sounds great. I’m also going to get some people to come in and talk to the kids about special friends, and I’m going to make a visit myself. I really appreciate your understanding in this matter. I am going to be observing the other classes as well to make sure this is an isolated issue. Grace has a long way to go, and I truly believe with the right amount of encouragement and understanding she will bloom.”

He smiles at me. “I fully agree. I am aware of the situation and it’s heartbreaking what that poor child has gone through. She is lucky to have you in her corner, Miss President.”

“Thank you, but I’m the lucky one. Now please don’t hesitate if you need anything at all, and I’ll get my staff started on adding additional support for you and your teachers. Have a wonderful day, Mr. Ewing.”

All in all, I feel it went well, minus me firing Grace’s teacher. It had to be done, though. Now for the best part of my day. I need to go home and change, message Dex, then I will track down my little mouse.

CHAPTER THREE

I walk in the house and go straight upstairs to change. It’s so nice to finally be in my own home. I put on some lounge clothes and head down to the kitchen to find a snack. I stop short when I find Grace sitting at the table with a plate of cookies and milk. She looks up at me as I enter, quickly abandons her cookies, and launches herself at me. I hold her tight and take in her sweet smell. I missed her so much it literally hurts me to think of how lonely she has been. After holding her for a few minutes, I set her down on the floor.

“Let me get a look at you. Wow, I didn’t think it was possible for you to get even prettier but you did.” She giggles and puts her hand on my face. “You haven’t been eating much have you, little mouse?” She looks down at the floor. “Well, that’s all going to change right now. You are going to eat a big dinner for me aren’t you?” She smiles. “I heard you started school while I was gone. Did you like it?” She looks down again and starts to fidget.

“When I was your age I would get nervous going to school too. Once I opened up a little I made some really great friends and it got much easier. I was thinking maybe I could go to school with you tomorrow and we could make some friends together. How does that sound?”

She smiles again.

“Now go eat those cookies while I talk to your brother and then we can see what kind of trouble we can get into before dinner.” She runs off to finish her snack and I can see Dex standing on the other side of the wall watching the whole scene.

“You might as well come out now so we can get this over with.”

He smiles sheepishly and walks over to me with such a soft and sweet smile, it is almost my undoing.

“You are so good with her, Roz, and she loves you so much. If I was less selfish I would let you raise her, but I can’t; I need her too much.” He looks so sad and defeated.

“You stop that nonsense right now. She needs you too, and nobody is raising her but you. I would love to be there to help if you’ll let me, though.”

“I thought about what you said, and you were right. Her living here will be the best for her, so if the offer is still open we would like to take you up on it.”

“Of course it’s still open. You can have a bottom floor guest room. There are two down here, but I’m guessing she’d prefer to stay in the same room as you for now. We can bring in a smaller bed for her.”

“Thank you, Roz, this means so much to me.”

Part of me wants to erase all the doubt and hurt I can see in those beautiful eyes. However some people can’t be saved; they have to save themselves. I can’t try to take his hurt away; he needs to heal first. “I really need to lie down for a little bit, Dex. I’m so exhausted.”

When I am halfway up the steps he calls my name, and I stop.

“Yes?”

“You went to Grace’s school?”

I bob my head.

“You talked to Miss Baxter?”

Another bob.

“You fired her?”

“I wouldn’t call it fired exactly, but starting tomorrow there will be a new teacher.” I brace myself for his inevitable anger, for him to tell me to butt out, that Grace isn’t my concern. Oddly enough, it doesn’t come. Instead a slow smile breaks out on his face and he chuckles.

“Sleep well, Roz,” he says, and walks away.

Well…I was not expecting that. I hurry up the stairs and fall into a deep sleep. I wake up around 2:30 a.m. It is pitch black outside and I’m nice and warm under my covers, but I really have to use the bathroom and I am starving since I slept through dinner. I contemplate how long I can stay here before my bladder explodes, and decide not to find out. I get out of bed. It is freezing and I quickly go to the bathroom, get my robe, and make my way downstairs as quietly as I can to see if I can find any leftovers from dinner.

I am about done eating when I hear a child’s cry pierce the night. It scares the life out of me and I take off running toward the guest room. Dex is shushing and trying to soothe Grace, and her whimpers break my heart. I lightly tap on the door and stick my head in.

“Everything okay?”

“I’m so sorry, Roz, I didn’t think about how loud she would be. We can move back into the Council housing tomorrow.”

“Oh nonsense. I only heard her because I was in the kitchen. Let me take her while you get some sleep. I’m already up and would love the company.” He looks uncertain, but he also looks only a few seconds away from falling over. He must never sleep if she does this every night. The compassion I feel for him is at an all-time high. Poor Dex…on top of being a brother he also has to be both father and mother to this little girl who is so full of fear. Not wanting to burst into tears or do anything equally as stupid like embrace him, I scoop her up and take her out the door.

I light a fire and take her over to the comfy couch. Once I get us a fluffy blanket to burrow under I hold her close and fill her head with sweet stories of fairies and princesses, places full of laughter and joy where there is no heartache. I tell story after story until my throat is hoarse and Grace is fast asleep. I must have joined her shortly after, because the next thing I know there is a tapping on my head. I look up to Wes frowning.

“Everything okay? Did you sleep down here all night?”

I put my finger to my lips, carefully scoot out from under Grace, and motion for him to follow me into the other room.

“I got up in the middle of the night to get a snack. She had a nightmare, and I took her on the couch with me so Dex could sleep. She’s only been asleep an hour or two.”

Wes looks so sad. He stands there silently for a moment then whispers, “It’s hard to lose a mother, and she lost both of her parents. It’s going to be tough.”

I know Wes is still grieving the loss of his mother. It will always be a part of him and he never even knew her. It’s a connection Grace and he will share and a pain I will never understand. I put my hand on his shoulder. “You will help her through this, Wes; I think that’s one of the reasons she feels close to you.”

His face softens a little bit. “She really is a good kid. Dex said something about you going to school with her today? Are you going to have time to do that with everything you have going on?”

“Honestly, no I don’t. It has to be done though. Her teacher wasn’t fit for the position and who knows how many others like her are there? I can’t put it off but I’m hoping it won’t take more than one day if I’m efficient enough.”

Wes looks over his shoulder into the other room where Grace is sleeping and then back to me. “I finished the project I was working on; I could go with you. We could split up and get more done,” he offers. “That way it shouldn’t take more than the one day.”

I want to kiss him. My best friend always knows what I need and he never makes me ask for help. Although I think his offer has more to do with that sweet little girl on the couch than it does me, it warms me just the same.

“Wes that would be fantastic. I would love that and so would Grace.” He smiles widely, proud of himself for thinking of it.

“Yes, well it only makes sense me going with you. I know how it feels to be different and it makes all the difference in the world to have a teacher who understands. I can make sure they are doing the right thing and you can fire them if they don’t.” He smiles and I am not sure if he is serious or joking. Either way, I laugh.

“We make quite the team don’t we, Wes?”

“That we do, Roz girl.”

“Do you think we will always be this close, even when we are old and have kids and have to live separately?” One of my greatest fears is Wes and I growing apart. I know it happens, I’ve seen it happen, but it would kill me if that happened to us. Once you add a spouse and kids and real life, maintaining a friendship is hard.

“Of course we will. I won’t let you get rid of me that easy. You can do the spouse and kid thing. I will be Uncle Wes, the strange man who never really leaves,” he says with a chuckle.

I laugh. “Sounds like a deal, Uncle Wes.”

“Hey now, we are talking future here. You better not be making me an uncle anytime soon, Rosaline Scarlett Thatcher!”

“Oh hush, you know better than that. Now let’s go. We need to get ready if we’re going to go to school today. Doesn’t that sound nice, like old times?”

He runs up the stairs. All Wes needs is the threat of being late and he is in frantic mode. I go upstairs to take a shower and get dressed.

I tell Wesley this is a late start day so he won’t be hounding me to be on time. It isn’t a lie. Since I’m president I can make it so.

Once Dex and Grace wake up, I help Grace get dressed and make them some breakfast. Dex thanks me for helping out last night and for going with her to school, while Wes entertains Grace by telling her all of the different types of germs she is likely to encounter at school and the best way to stave off the viruses. She is on his every word and bobbing her head in between bites.

“They make quite the pair don’t they?” Dex asks, following my gaze.

I smiled at the two who’ve won my heart. “That they do.”

After breakfast we leave, promising Dex we will see him after school.

When we get there with school already in progress, Wes raises his eyebrow at me, calling my bluff. I introduce myself to the teacher. Her name is Mrs. Berry and she is a grandmotherly type; round, soft, and completely sweet. She seems like the best teacher for these young kids. We arrive right as they are about to have story time, so we join in and listen to her tell the story in her soft and magical voice. After story time is over the kids go out to play. I tell Wes to go with Grace and try to get her to interact with the other kids while I talk to the teacher. He gives me his disapproving look.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t switch those jobs?”

“Nope, this will be good, a growing experience for you both.” He gives me another look of disbelief but takes Grace’s hand. “Come on, Grace, let’s go meet some friends. I don’t know if you know this about me, but apparently I tend to be popular,” he says, throwing me a look over his shoulder.

I spend the recess time talking to Mrs. Berry and I am pleased to hear we are on the same page. I tell her about the training I want all the new teachers to go through and she appears happy to hear it. Once I know Grace will be safe in her hands, I go check out the other teachers. Luckily the school is small, only one class per grade, and it shouldn’t take me longer than today. On my way to the next class I spot Wes surrounded by children who are all taking turns asking him questions. Grace is sitting in his lap smiling, and though she isn’t interacting with the kids, in a way she is participating, so it makes my visit all worth it. I am able to check out a few classes before lunch and am happy with the other teachers. Thankfully it appears Miss Baxter’s way of teaching was the exception and not the rule, which is a relief.

After lunch I trade places with Wes, deciding he’d enjoy observing the older kids and no doubt harassing the poor teachers. The kids do an art project and Mrs. Berry pairs them up. She pairs Grace with another little girl who has a head full of red ringlets and giggles non-stop. She reminds me a little of Lily, the way she flits around the room. Grace takes to her right away and they make a cute snowman together out of some cotton. When the day is over I am so glad to see Grace fitting in, and when the little red haired girl, whose name I find out is Hope, runs up and hugs Grace I know I can breathe easy. Grace and Hope—what a perfect pair.

The sadness that usually lingers in the back of her eyes is starting to lift and she giggles at Wes and his antics all the way to the house. When we get there Dex is already there, pacing the living room looking worried.

“How did it go?” he asks, looking anxious.

“It went wonderful. Grace made a friend today, listened to story time, and made an adorable snowman. She was rather popular since she brought the man who tells kids the truth,” I said looking at Wes.

“Yes, well you would be surprised the kind of nonsense parents tell their kids. They think they are making them feel better, but really most children want to know how things work and why, and I am happy to oblige. Come on, Grace, let’s go get a snack so Roz can talk your brother down from the cliff.” He takes her hand and they go to the kitchen.

I lead Dex to the couch in the living room.

“Do I look that bad?” he asks ruefully.

“That would be a yes. I’m pretty sure you wore a hole in the carpet with all that pacing. Really, Dex, she did great. I love the new teacher and she assured me she was going to stay on and train the next teacher herself and won’t leave until she thinks the teacher is ready to take over. And Grace really did meet a friend who is rather taken with her.”

He lets out a sigh of relief then a look of concern washes over his face. “We are talking about a female friend, right? I don’t want to have to worry about any little boys sniffing around her, not yet.”

I laugh out loud at his over protectiveness. “Yes, it’s a little girl. Her name is Hope and she is adorable. You know boys are bound to happen at some point in her life. She is beautiful and I have a feeling she is going to have a lot of admirers when she’s older.”